Age-appropriate diet for children

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Diet and good health

Age-appropriate diet for children

Alternative Names:

Diet - age appropriate
Recommendations:

BIRTH TO 4 MONTHS OF AGE

During the first 4 - 6 months of life, infants need only breast milk or formula to meet all their nutritional needs. Breast milk is the recommended feeding method for the first 6 months of life although a fortified formula can adequately meet an infant's needs.

text continues below

If breastfeeding, a newborn may need to nurse 8 - 12 times per day (every 2 - 4 hours), or on demand. By 4 months, the baby is likely to cut back to 4 - 6 times per day, however, the quantity of breast milk consumed at each feeding will increase.

Formula-fed babies may need to eat about 6 - 8 times per day, starting with 2 - 5 ounces of formula per feeding (for a total of 16 - 35 ounces per day). As with breastfeeding, the number of feedings will decrease as the baby gets older, but the amount of formula will increase to approximately 6 - 8 ounces per feeding.

Never give honey to an infant, as it may contain the spores that cause botulism. An infant's immune system is not fully developed to fight off this disease.

Although an infant may sleep through the night, waking to feed may be necessary if the infant is not eating enough during the day or if they are underweight. Routine check-ups with your physician to monitor your child's growth will ensure they are eating adequately during the day. Your doctor or dietitian will inform you if waking to feed is recommended.

4 - 6 MONTHS OF AGE

At 4 - 6 months of age an infant should be consuming 28 - 45 ounces of formula, and is often ready to start the transition to solid foods. Starting solids too soon may cause the infant to choke if they are not physically ready.

There are several developmental milestones to indicate an infant is ready to eat solid foods:

The birth weight has doubled
The baby has good control of head and neck
The baby can sit up with some support
The baby can show fullness by turning the head away or by not opening the mouth
The baby begins showing interest in food when others are eating.

Start solid feedings with iron-fortified baby rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula to a thin consistency. The cereal may be mixed to a thicker consistency as the baby learns to control it in his mouth.

Initially, offer cereal 2 times per day in servings of 1 or 2 tablespoons (dry amount, before mixing with formula or breast milk). Gradually increase to 3 or 4 tablespoons of cereal. Cereal should not be given in a bottle unless a doctor or dietitian recommends it, for example, for reflux.