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Which Foods Are Important for a Baby?

Healthy childhood development depends on nutritious foods and proper introduction of new foods into a baby's diet. Pediatricians recommend certain foods at different points in infancy to ensure the best possible nutrition for a growing baby. Improper nutrition can cause a baby to be overweight, underweight or have mild to severe illnesses.

  1. Breast Milk

    • Breast milk is the best possible food for an infant up to 6 months of age. Breast milk from a healthy mother contains everything a baby needs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a baby feed solely on breast milk for the first six months of his life. Breast milk should continue be a part of a baby's diet until he is at least 12 months old. Milk from another species should not replace breast milk before that.

    Baby Formula

    • Sometimes a mother is unable or opts not to breastfeed. In such cases, iron-enriched infant formula should replace breast milk. As with breast milk, formula should remain a part of a baby's diet until at least 12 months of age.

    Iron-Fortified Cereal

    • Soft cereal, such as rice cereal, is an important steppingstone between breast milk and solid foods. Iron must be present in a baby's diet, so the best first cereals contain iron. A baby is typically ready for cereal at around age 6 months.

    Fruit

    • Babies should start eating fruit shortly after introduction to cereals. Fruits contain a number of vitamins and nutrients that babies need. Fruit is also a healthier finger food for babies than crackers or cookies. The Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health recommends that parents wait two to seven days between each new food a baby tries. This gives the baby time to acclimate to the food and it gives the parent an opportunity to keep track of what foods are new to the child in case of an allergic reaction.

    Vegetables

    • Vegetables are an essential source of vitamins and minerals for growing babies. Babies should start receiving vegetables around the same time they start eating fruits. Start with mashed vegetables and work up to soft-cooked vegetables. Remember that babies choke easily.

    Meats

    • Meat should enter a baby's diet as soon as she is ready for solid food. At first, only pureed meat is safe. Once the baby gets used to eating solid foods and is ready for finger foods, ground meat and chopped meat will pose less of a choking risk.

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