Help! My Baby is Hungry

Feeding your baby is one of the most important tasks you have as a new parent. At the beginning it is fairly straight forward, but as your baby gets older, finding the right foods for a balanced diet is a challenge. Once your baby enters the toddler years, it feels like an impossible task. Here is a very basic guide to help you understand the nutrition your baby needs as she grows.

Birth to Four Months

From birth your baby needs either breast milk or formula on a regular basis. In fact, for your baby's first year of life, this is the only nutrition he must have, although you will probably introduce solid foods at some point. Your doctor will provide you guidelines as to how much formula to feed your baby. Breastfed babies should be fed every two to three hours until they establish a good feeding routine.

Four to Eight Months

Four months is the earliest that you should start feeding your baby pureed foods. However, many babies are not ready for solids until approximately six months of age or even older. Start with baby cereal mixed with breast milk or formula in a very thin consistency. You want your baby to get accustomed to eating from a spoon. Once she is taking cereal well, start introducing pureed foods. Most doctors recommend starting with vegetables and fruits one at a time and then introducing meats closer to the eight-month mark. You can puree your own foods or feed your baby commercially prepared foods, but watch carefully for signs of an allergy. Also, do not force your baby to eat. The meal is over when your baby shows you she is done.

Eight Months to One Year

At about eight months old, you can start giving your baby small pieces of soft foods. Fruits, cooked veggies, soft meats, and crackers are all good options. The goal is to have the baby eating close to what the family is eating, only in chopped up pieces, around his first birthday. The nutrients from breast milk or formula are important so continue to feed your baby these items. Allow your baby to experiment with different foods during this time, but do not force him to eat anything he shows no interest in. If he is hungry, he will eat.

One to Two Years

If your baby is on formula, the best time to transition her to whole milk is around the first birthday. If you are breastfeeding, you can also work to make this transition at this time, but if you wish to continue breastfeeding there is no harm in doing so. This is also the time to transition your baby off of purees and onto a complete diet of table foods. If you notice your baby having trouble chewing and swallowing, do talk to his doctor.

Knowing how much food to feed your baby is a challenge. Focus on a lot of fruits, vegetables, and grains, but do not ignore proteins. Toddlers need protein in their diets, but many do not like the texture of meat. If this is the case, use other forms of protein, such as cheese, beans, and nut butters (if your pediatrician says they are safe at this point). Finally, remember to offer three meals and two snacks of healthy food to your toddler. Don't force him to eat or clean his plate, because if he is hungry, he will eat. This will teach good eating habits that will last a lifetime.