Suggested Feeding Schedule: Birth to 24 months
| Birth-4 months |
4-6 months |
6-9 months |
9-12 months |
12-24 months |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breast Milk (preferred) |
On demand 5-12 feeds/day |
On demand 4-7 feeds/day |
On demand 3-5 feeds/day |
On demand 3-4 feeds/day |
On demand. May nurse for as long as desired |
| Formula (if not nursing) |
16-32 oz/day |
18-32 oz/day |
16-24 oz/day |
12-24 oz/day |
None |
| Milk/Dairy |
None |
None |
No milk yogurt/cheese |
No milk yogurt/cheese |
Whole milk 16-24 oz/day. Off bottles @ 12 mo |
| Vegetables |
None |
None* |
1-2 servings of pureed vegetables |
2-3 servings/day May add food with |
¾ cup (3-¼ cup servings) |
| Fruits |
None |
None * |
1-2 servings of pureed fruits |
2-3 servings per day May add food with |
1 cup (4-¼ cup servings) |
| Whole Grains & Cereals |
None |
None * |
1-3 servings/day |
1-3 servings/day. May introduce finger foods, breads, teething biscuits, Cheerios® † |
2-3 servings/day |
| Lean Meats, Eggs & Legumes |
None |
None * |
1-3 servings/day |
1-3 servings/day |
2-3 servings/day |
| 100% Fruit Juice |
None |
None |
0-6 oz in a cup (less is better) |
0-6 oz in a cup (less is better) |
0-6 oz in a cup (less is better) |
| Water |
None |
None |
2-4 oz/day in |
2-12 oz/day in |
Drink of choice, along with milk. In a sippy cup |
| Supplements |
Breastfed and partially breastfed infants start 400 units of Vitamin D/day when nursing is well established |
Breastfeeding infants may start |
Add fluoride if child does not consume at least 8 oz flouridated water/day |
Vitamin D Iron Fluoride Per recommendations at earlier ages |
Continue 400-600 units of Vitamin D/day unless child is taking 32 oz Vit D fortified dairy/day Fluoride if needed |
* Some infants show early signs of readiness for ‘solids;’ some babies are ready for single whole grain cereals from a spoon after 4 months of age. The AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. No wheat, egg whites, raw berries, nuts, peanuts, shellfish, corn, or acidic fruits and vegetables before 6 months of age.
† Foods with high CHOKING risk (hot dogs and sausages, raw carrots and celery, peanut butter, nuts and seeds, whole grapes, raw cherries with pits, apples, hard candies, gum, marshmallows) should not be given to infants, and given with caution at any age. HONEY should not be given to children younger than 1 year of age because of the risk of botulism.
**Establish healthy eating habits early in your child’s life. Meals should be eaten as a family at the dinner table. Avoid eating on the run. Avoid foods that are high in fat like breaded and fried foods (e.g. chicken nuggets, French fries) and simple carbohydrates (e.g. desserts, sweetened beverages) from the beginning. Sodas are not advised at any age. A parent’s job is to set meal times and to provide healthy nutritional choices. Allow your child to try new foods on the dinner tray at his/her own pace. Encourage self-feeding by 12 months of age.
Created by the physicians of Howard County Pediatrics. The information contained here represents a compilation of recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association. The purpose of this suggested schedule is to provide a flexible general guideline for feeding infants and toddlers. Please speak with your child's physician if you have any additional questions.