Age-appropriate diet for children

Table of Contents

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.

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 newborns with 2 - 3 ounces of formula per feeding (for a total of 16 - 24 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.


Review Date: 06/14/2011
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, and David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine (8/2/2009).

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