Nutrition Guide

Birth to 3 months
4 to 5 months
6 to 7 months
8 to 9 months
10 months to 1 year
1 to 3 years
3 to 6 years

Birth to 3 months

For the first few months of your baby's life, breast milk or formula is the only food needed.
A baby normally drinks 21 to 24 ounces of breast milk or formula each day.
The baby will want to be fed six to 10 times each day. Let your baby set the feeding schedule. Expect your baby's appetite to vary from day to day.
If you are breast feeding your baby, you may need to add vitamin and mineral supplements to the diet. Some formulas already are supplemented with vitamins and minerals. Talk to your physician about vitamins and minerals for your baby.
Do not routinely add cereal to formula unless directed by a physician.

4 to 5 months

Your baby will need 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula during a 24-hour period.
Your baby will want to be fed four to six times per day.
Your doctor may advise you to give your baby vitamin and mineral supplements.
You may introduce a small amount of cereal (1 to 4 tablespoons daily) to your child at this age. Buy an iron-fortified, dry pack cereal which can be mixed with breast milk or formula to create a thin consistency. You should not add sugar, honey or salt to the cereal.
Introduce different types of cereals gradually. This will help you make sure your child does not have an allergic reaction to certain types of foods. Reactions include diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, hives or a rash.
Your child may have a difficult time learning to eat from a spoon. Be patient and realize that much of the cereal will spill back out of his or her mouth until the child learns to swallow properly.

6 to 7 months

Your baby will need 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula during a 24-hour period.
Your baby will want to be fed four to five times per day.
Your doctor may advise you to give your baby vitamin and mineral supplements.
You may introduce vegetables and fruits at this age. They should be well-cooked, strained or blended. Peel fruits before cooking or blending. You may make the fruits or vegetables yourself or buy commercially prepared baby foods.
Gradually introduce different types of fruits and vegetables. Slowly increase the serving sizes from 1 tablespoon to 4 to 5 tablespoons per day. This will help you make sure your child does not have an allergic reaction to certain types of foods. Reactions include diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, hives or a rash.
Compare labels on commercially prepared foods. Try to limit the amount of salt and sugar you give to your baby.
At this age, your child will be able to grasp and gum foods. You may offer your child toast strips, crackers and teething biscuits. Never leave your child alone with such foods.
Avoid giving your child foods which commonly cause choking.

8 to 9 months

Your baby will need 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula during a 24-hour period. Give the milk or formula three to four times per day.
Your baby may be ready to try drinking from a cup at this age. Offer 3 to 4 ounces of breast milk or formula daily in a cup.
Your doctor may advise you to give your baby vitamin and mineral supplements.
Your baby should eat 4 or more tablespoons of iron-fortified cereal each day.
Your baby also should be given 4 or more tablespoons of both fruit and vegetables daily.
You may offer your child crackers and toast.
Introduce different types of protein gradually. Types of meats include well-cooked, strained or ground chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, veal, or pork. Other sources of protein include boneless fish, pureed dried beans or split peas, tofu, mild cheese, cottage cheese or smooth peanut butter. You also may give your child egg yolk. You should not give your child egg white until after 12 months because of the possibility of an allergic reaction.
Begin by giving your baby 1 tablespoon of protein a day. Increase it to 2 tablespoons of meat, fish and poultry or 3 to 4 tablespoons of beans and split peas.
You may make these foods yourself or buy commercially prepared foods. Compare labels on foods you buy from the store to limit the amount of salt. If you are making the food at home, do not add seasonings. Make sure you remove all bones and skin before straining or blending.
You also may introduce juice containing vitamin C. Dilute one part juice with two parts water. Start with two or three swallows and, depending on your baby's appetite, increase this to 2 to 6 ounces daily. (Do not put your child down for a nap with a bottle of juice. This may contribute to tooth decay.)
At this age, your child is learning to grasp with thumb and fingers. You can help your child with this movement by giving bite-sized, finger foods. Examples include toast strips; cooked macaroni or noodles; soft, peeled fruit pieces; soft, cooked vegetable pieces and mild cheese cubes or strips.
Avoid giving your child foods which commonly cause choking.

10 months to 1 year

Your baby will need 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula during a 24-hour period. Give the milk or formula three to four times per day. Offer some of the milk in a cup.
Your doctor may advise you to give your baby vitamin and mineral supplements.
Your baby should eat 1/4 cup of iron-fortified cereal each day.
Your baby also should be given 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of soft, cooked vegetables each day. Include a dark orange or dark green vegetable at least 3 times a week.
Give your baby 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup fruits and fruit juice each day. Offer the juice in a cup.
Your child also can have one to two slices of bread or toast.
Feed your child 2 to 4 tablespoons of protein foods daily, as well.
You may give your child a variety of foods at this age. It is a good idea to introduce many kinds of foods to your child.
You may begin a feeding pattern that matches the family's eating habits. If your child's appetite permits it, offer three meals and two snacks daily.
Some mothers also begin weaning their children from breast or bottle feeding at about one year. There is no set age at which weaning should take place. However, your child should be able to drink from a cup. When weaning, gradually drop one bottle feeding at a time. Allow four to five days between the omission of each bottle feeding or nursing time.
Avoid giving your child foods which commonly cause choking.

1 to 3 years

Milk and Milk Products
Suggested serving size	General advice:
Milk - 1/2 cup Cheese - 3/4 ounces Yogurt - 1/2 cup Soups made with milk - 3/4 cup	Limit the number of servings of milk each day to no more than 3 cups. If your child fills up on milk, there is little appetite left for other important sources of vitamins, minerals and protein.
Fish, poultry, meat and beans - two or three servings per day
Suggested serving sizes:	General advice:
Cooked fish, chicken, turkey, beef, pork, lamb or liver - 1 ounce Cooked dried beans or peas - 1/4 cup Peanut butter - 1 tablespoon Cottage cheese - 1/4 cup Egg - 1	Children prefer meat that is moist and tender.
Breads and cereals - four or more servings per day
Suggested serving sizes	General advice:
Bread - 1/2 slice Cold cereal - 1/2 cup Cooked cereal - 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup Rice or pasta - 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup Bagel, muffin, biscuit, roll, pancake or waffle - 1/2 small	Breads and cereals containing whole wheat and other grains are preferred. Whole grains provide more fiber, vitamins and minerals than white bread and refined cereals.

Fruits and vegetables - four or more servings per day
Suggested serving sizes	General advice:
Four or more servings of 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup each day. Two of the servings should be high in vitamin C and one serving should be high in vitamin A.	Make sure you remove any seeds, pits, stems or other parts of fruits and vegetables that could cause choking. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before serving.
Sources
Sources high in vitamin C include asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, grapefruit juice, greens, honeydew melon, oranges, orange juice, papaya, spinach, strawberries, tangerines, tangerine juice, tomatoes and tomato juice. Sources high in vitamin A include apricots, bok choy, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, greens, nectarines, papaya, peaches, spinach, sweet potatoes, tangerine juice, tomatoes, tomato juice, watermelon and winter squash. Other recommended fruits or vegetables include apples, bananas, bean sprouts, beets, berries, celery, cherries, Chinese cabbage, corn, fruit cocktail, grapes, green beans, lettuce, pears, pineapple, plums, potatoes, prunes, raisins, turnips and zucchini.

Fats and sweets
Sources of fat	General advice:
Sources of fat include butter, margarine, mayonnaise and salad dressing. Sources of food that are high in calories and low in nutritional value include cake, candy, potato and corn chips, cookies, fruit-flavored drinks, honey, jam, jelly, pastries, pies, soft-drinks, sweet toppings and syrups.	Your child should eat these foods only occasionally. Children gaining weight too quickly should especially restrict foods high in fat and sugar.

3 to 6 years

Milk and Milk Products - four servings per day

Suggested serving sizes:

Milk - 3/4 cup
Cheese - 1 ounce
Yogurt - 3/4 cup
Soups made with milk - 1 cup

General advice:

Limit the number of servings of milk each day to no more than 3 cups. If your child fills up on milk, there is little appetite left for other important sources of vitamins, minerals and protein.

Fish, Poultry, Meat and Beans - two or three servings per day

Suggested serving sizes:

Cooked fish, chicken, turkey, beef, pork, lamb or liver - 1 1/2 ounces
Cooked dried beans or peas - 1/2 cup
Peanut butter - 2 tablespoons
Cottage cheese - 1/4 cup
Egg - 1

General advice:

Children prefer meat that has been cooked until it is moist and tender.

Breads and Cereals - four or more servings per day

Suggested serving sizes:

Bread - 1 slice
Cold cereal - 3/4 cup
Cooked cereal - 1/2 cup
Rice or pasta - 1/2 cup
Bagel, muffin, biscuit, roll, pancake, waffle - 1 small

General advice:

Breads and cereals containing whole wheat and other grains are preferred. Whole grains provide more fiber, vitamins and minerals than white bread and refined cereals.

Fruits and Vegetables - four or more servings per day

Suggested serving sizes:

Four or more servings of 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup each day. Two of the servings should be high in vitamin C and one serving should be high in vitamin A.
Sources high in vitamin C include asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, grapefruit juice, greens, honeydew melon, oranges, orange juice, papaya, spinach, strawberries, tangerines, tangerine juice, tomatoes and tomato juice.
Sources high in vitamin A include apricots, bok choy, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, greens, nectarines, papaya, peaches, spinach, sweet potatoes, tangerine juice, tomatoes, tomato juice, watermelon and winter squash.
Other recommended fruits or vegetables include apples, bananas, bean sprouts, beets, berries, celery, cherries, Chinese cabbage, corn, fruit cocktail, grapes, green beans, lettuce, pears, pineapple, plums, potatoes, prunes, raisins, turnips and zucchini.

General advice:

Make sure you remove any seeds, pits, stems or other parts of fruits and vegetables that could cause choking. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before serving. Cut foods into small pieces before giving it to a child.

Fats and Sweets

Your child should eat these foods only occasionally. Children gaining weight too quickly should especially restrict foods high in fat and sugar.

Sources of fat include butter, margarine, mayonnaise and salad dressing.
Sources of food that are high in calories and low in nutritional value include cake, candy, potato and corn chips, cookies, fruit-flavored drinks, honey, jam, jelly, pastries, pies, soft-drinks, sweet toppings and syrups.