What to Feed Baby, and When: A Complete Guide for New Parents

What to Feed Baby, and When: A Complete Guide for New Parents

Figuring out what and when to feed your new baby can be overwhelming for any parent. Should you breastfeed or use formula? When can you start introducing solids? What foods are safe for babies at different ages? This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about feeding infants from birth through the first year.

Breastfeeding Your Newborn

Breastfeeding provides the ideal nutrition for your baby’s first months of life. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, and continuing to breastfeed as new foods are introduced through the first year. Here’s what you need to know to get started breastfeeding successfully.

Breastfeeding Basics

Colostrum, the first milk your breasts produce, is rich in antibodies to protect your newborn. Mature milk comes in around 3-5 days after delivery. Breastmilk contains the perfect balance of fat, protein, and nutrients to fuel your baby’s growth and development.

The AAP recommends feeding newborns 8-12 times per day. Allow your baby to feed on demand rather than on a strict schedule. Watch for rooting reflexes, hand-to-mouth movements, and lip smacking as signs your baby is ready to eat.

Proper breastfeeding positioning and latch are key for an efficient and pain-free feeding. Hold your baby tummy-to-tummy with their nose level with your nipple. Allow them to latch on to the areola, not just the tip. A strong latch ensures effective milk transfer.

Overcoming Breastfeeding Challenges

Many moms encounter common breastfeeding difficulties like sore nipples, low milk supply, or balancing breastfeeding with work. Here are some tips for overcoming the top breastfeeding obstacles.

Sore Nipples

Check your baby’s latch and positioning. Apply lanolin cream after feeds and express a few drops of milk to allow nipples to air dry. If pain persists, consult a lactation consultant to evaluate potential tongue ties affecting latch.

Low Milk Supply

Increase skin-to-skin time with baby. Breastfeed frequently and use massage or warm compresses before feeds. Stay hydrated and eat foods with galactagogues like oats, brewer’s yeast, and fenugreek to boost supply. Prescription medication may also help increase milk production.

Breastfeeding After Returning to Work

Pump breastmilk on the same feeding schedule as your baby. Store milk properly and safely transport it to daycare. Schedule time to breastfeed on your lunch break. Communicate your needs clearly with your employer and negotiate accommodations like a private pumping space.

Diet and Nutrition While Breastfeeding

The foods you eat impact the flavor and nutrition of your breastmilk. Follow a balanced diet rich in key nutrients like protein, calcium, Vitamin D, and Omega-3s. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Limit caffeine to 2-3 cups of coffee per day. Avoid fish high in mercury like tuna. Alcohol consumption should be minimized to an occasional drink.

Formula Feeding Your Baby

While breastfeeding is recommended, formula feeding also provides complete nutrition for infants. Work closely with your pediatrician to choose the right formula and learn proper preparation and feeding techniques.

Types of Baby Formula

Standard cow’s milk formulas like Similac Advance or Enfamil Infant are right for most healthy babies. Soy protein formulas like Gerber Good Start Soy help with lactose sensitivity. Hypoallergenic options like Nutramigen and Alimentum are for babies with food allergies or gastrointestinal issues.

Preparing and Storing Formula

Always follow label instructions carefully when mixing formula. Start with sterilized bottles and equipment. Use proper ratios of water to powder and blend thoroughly to avoid clumps. Prepared formula must be used within 1-2 hours or refrigerated up to 24 hours.

Bottle Feeding Tips

Feed your baby slowly and responsively. Hold your baby semi-upright and gently insert the nipple into their mouth to avoid air swallowing. Offer paced bottle feedings to mimic breastfeeding. Recognize fullness cues and don’t overfeed. Follow safe formula storage and warming practices.

Introducing Solid Foods

Around 6 months, breastmilk or formula alone no longer meets your growing baby’s nutritional needs. Starting solids helps babies gain crucial practice chewing, swallowing, and self-feeding. Follow your pediatrician’s guidance on when and how to start introducing first foods.

When is Baby Ready for Solids?

Most babies are ready for solids between 4 and 6 months once they can sit upright, hold their head steady, close their lips over a spoon, and show interest in foods. Premature babies may need to wait longer. Look for signs of readiness before starting solids.

Best First Foods for Baby

Start with single ingredient purees like rice cereal mixed with breastmilk or formula. Then introduce plain pureed veggies and fruits one at a time to watch for reactions. Stick to smoother options like avocado, sweet potato, applesauce, and bananas initially.

After trying each new food for 3-5 days, you can begin offering pureed meats like chicken, turkey, or beef. Increase texture gradually by mashing or adding small soft lumps.

Feeding Schedule for 6-8 Month Olds

Breastfeed or bottle feed your baby before starting solids to ensure they get enough milk. Offer 2-3 servings of solids per day starting with breakfast, then lunch or dinner. Make single ingredient purees at first. Give your baby a few teaspoons initially and increase serving sizes slowly as their appetite grows.

Foods to Introduce Between 8-10 Months

Increase texture and start finger foods like small pieces of bananas, soft cooked carrots, cheese cubes, and toast. Try yogurt, eggs, beans, nut butters, and fish like salmon. Introduce cereals, grains like quinoa, and mixed purees. Give a sippy cup for water with meals.

Foods to Avoid for First Year

Avoid cow’s milk, honey, and large chunks or hard foods that pose choking hazards. Don’t give juice before 1 year old. Wait to introduce common allergens like peanuts, eggs, fish, and citrus fruits until after 6 months. Always watch for reactions with new foods. If a food causes hives, vomiting, or distress, stop and ask your doctor before reintroducing.

Transitioning from Purees to Solids

Once your baby masters basic purees and finger foods around 8-10 months, you can move onto table foods chopped into small pieces. Here are tips for making the change from purees to solid “grown-up” meals.

• Gradually increase lump sizes and textures. Combine smooth with lumpy purees.
• Let your baby practice feeding themselves larger pieces to develop chewing skills.
• Offer foods from your own plate for baby to pick up.
• Dice soft cooked foods into small pieces your baby can handle safely.
• Introduce cup sipping and straw practice with water.
• Keep offering previously rejected foods for taste development.
• Join in family mealtimes for observation and social learning.

By 12 months, your infant should be consuming a wide variety of solids at all meals and snacks. Follow your pediatrician’s guidance on continuing breastfeeding and formula as a vital source of nutrition through the first year and beyond. With patience and practice, your baby will transition to real table foods quickly!

Feeding Your Baby on a Healthy Schedule

Creating a consistent daily feeding routine provides babies with stability and helps ensure they get the nutrition they need. Here is a sample schedule for feeding infants in the first year:

0-3 months: Breastfeed or bottle feed on demand, 8-12 times per day. No solids yet.

4-6 months: Breast/formula fed every 2-4 hours. Offer 1-2 feedings of solids like purees.

6-8 months: Breast/formula fed every 4 hours. 2-3 solid feedings per day.

8-10 months: Breast/formula fed 3-4 times per day. 3 solid meals plus snacks.

10-12 months: Breast/formula fed 2-3 times per day. 3 solid meals plus 2 snacks.

Don’t worry if your baby wants to eat slightly more or less frequently. Pay attention to hunger and fullness cues. As long as your baby seems satisfied and is gaining weight appropriately, go with their natural rhythm.

Tips for Starting Solids

Transitioning to solid foods is a big milestone. Here are some tips to make starting solids with your baby an easier and stress-free process:

• Go slow - start with just a teaspoon or two per feeding.

• Be patient and persistent - it can take up to 10 tries for baby to accept a new food.

• Make mealtimes fun and pressure-free - don’t force your baby to eat.

• Focus on textures - increase gradually from purees to soft lumps to pieces.

• Watch for allergies - introduce new foods one at a time.

• Sit baby upright - ensure they can swallow safely.

• Avoid distractions during meals.

• Offer a sippy cup of water with solids - don’t give juice yet.

• Respect your baby’s signals - stop when they seem full or uninterested.

• Don’t worry about messes - it’s all part of the learning process!

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should a newborn breastfeed?

Newborns need to eat 8 to 12 times per day, about every 1 to 3 hours. Breastfeed on demand rather than a strict schedule.

What if I’m struggling with breastfeeding?

See a lactation consultant to get expert guidance on positions and latch. Try breast shells, nipple cream, warm compresses, and massage for pain. Eat foods and take herbs to increase milk supply. Pump to supplement at the breast. Consider prescription medication if low supply persists. Formula feeding is also a healthy option.

Can I drink coffee while breastfeeding?

Limit caffeine intake to 2 to 3 cups of coffee max per day. Avoid coffee right before nursing. Caffeine does pass into breastmilk but in moderation is safe for most babies.

How do I know when to introduce solids?

Start solids between 4 and 6 months once your baby can sit unassisted, hold their head up, close lips over a spoon, seem eager for food, and double their birth weight.

What protein food is best to start with?

Single grain cereals like rice are good first foods. Then introduce pureed meats like chicken, turkey, and beef. Babies need the iron in meats for growth. Check for any reactions before giving new proteins.

Can I just skip purees and do baby-led weaning?

While baby-led weaning works for some babies, most pediatricians recommend starting with smooth purees around 6 months before moving to larger soft pieces that require chewing around 8 months. Do what your baby seems ready for.

Conclusion

Determining the optimal feeding plan for your infant's first year is an important parenting task. Whether you opt for exclusive breastfeeding, formula, or a combination, consult your pediatrician to ensure your baby's nutritional needs are fully met at each stage. Introduce solid foods gradually when your baby starts showing signs of readiness. Move from smooth purees to mashed and finger foods as your baby's skills progress. Respect your baby's hunger and fullness cues rather than sticking to a rigid schedule. With patience and attentiveness, you will find the right feeding rhythms and foods to help your little one thrive!

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I breastfeed my newborn baby?

Newborns need to eat frequently, about 8 to 12 times per day. A good rule of thumb is breastfeeding every 1 to 3 hours in your baby’s first months. Feed on demand based on your baby’s hunger cues rather than sticking to a rigid schedule. Frequent nursing helps establish your milk supply.

What are some common breastfeeding problems and how can I overcome them?

Many moms deal with issues like sore nipples or concerns about low milk supply. See a lactation consultant to troubleshoot positioning and ensure a proper latch. Sore nipples can be soothed with lanolin cream and expressing a bit of milk to allow air drying after feeds. Try breast shells between feeds too. For low supply, maximize skin-to-skin time, nurse frequently, use breast massage and warm compresses before feeding, and stay hydrated. Certain foods and herbs like fenugreek, oats, and brewer’s yeast can help boost milk production as well. Talk to your doctor if problems persist.

How long should I breastfeed for?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continuing breastfeeding when you start solids through at least the first year. The longer you can breastfeed, the greater the health benefits for both mama and baby. You can nurse for as long as you and your baby desire.

Should I avoid any foods while breastfeeding?

Avoid fish that are high in mercury like tuna, tilefish, shark, and swordfish. Limit caffeine to 2-3 cups of coffee per day max. Minimize alcohol consumption to an occasional light drink, and always after breastfeeding to allow time to clear from your milk. Otherwise, focus on eating a varied, well-balanced diet with extra protein, calcium, Vitamin D, and Omega-3s. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water too.

How do I know when my baby is ready for solids?

Start solids between 4-6 months once your baby can sit up, hold their head steady, close lips over a spoon, seem eager for food, and has doubled their birth weight. Don’t start too early or force it. Wait for your baby to show signs of readiness and interest in food. Consult your pediatrician if unsure.

What foods should I start with when introducing solids?

Start with single ingredient purees of rice cereal mixed with breastmilk or formula. Move on to pureed fruits and vegetables one at a time to watch for any reactions. Stick to very smooth textures initially. Once baby tolerates these well, introduce pureed meats like chicken, turkey, and beef for the iron content. Increase texture gradually by mashing or adding soft lumps.

How do I know if my baby is having an allergic reaction to a new food?

Stop feeding the food immediately if your baby experiences hives, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, or other signs of distress. Call your pediatrician right away to report the reaction. Once any initial reaction resolves, you can try offering the food again in a few weeks under doctor supervision to confirm true allergy versus just intolerance or sensitivity. Reactions to top allergens like eggs, dairy, fish, shellfish, nuts, and citrus fruits warrant closer evaluation.

Can I skip purees and go straight to baby-led weaning with finger foods?

While some babies do well starting right off with finger foods around 6 months, most pediatricians advise beginning with smooth, thin purees to start. Once your baby masters swallowing purees and shows readiness for more texture between 8-10 months, you can gradually progress to larger soft pieces, lumps, and finger foods requiring chewing. Listen to your baby’s cues and go at their pace. Combining some purees with finger foods can help transition between textures too.

What should I do if my baby refuses solids or seems uninterested?

Don’t force it! Go back to formula/breastmilk for nutrition if baby refuses solids or turns away. Try again in a few days or week - it can take up to 8-10 tries before baby accepts a new food. Make sure you start solids when baby truly seems ready. Respect your baby’s signals rather than getting upset over rejected foods. Keep exposing them to new tastes and textures and their eating skills will continue developing on track.

How do I get my baby to drink water or other liquids from a cup?

Around 6 months when starting solids, offer your baby sips of water from a small open cup or straw cup with handles. Just give a little at a time, allowing them to get used to the process. Don’t tilt the cup - let them learn to sip independently. Offer water with meals once baby is eating solids well. Avoid juice before 1 year old. Milk and formula should still be their main liquid nutrition sources. With practice, babies catch on quickly!