Balanced Diet for a Infant

Infant nutrition is extremely important. Making sure your baby gets the foods, vitamins and nutrients he needs helps him grow up healthy and happy. Infants grow quickly, and their dietary needs change slightly every few months. Check with your pediatrician before making any substantial changes to his feeding schedule or diet.

1- to 3-Month-Olds

• For the first three months of life, your baby requires only breast milk or formula. Breast milk is best as it contains antibodies to help your infant fight infections. After your baby is born, she eats several times a day and consumes small amounts of milk or formula at each feeding. Infants grow quickly during the first three months of life, and your baby moves toward fewer feedings and consuming more milk at each feeding. Your baby lets you know when he has had enough by slowing down or turning away. If your baby seems generally content and is gaining weight at a healthy pace, he is most likely getting enough milk or formula. Breastfed babies should take vitamin D supplements by the time they are two months old. Solid foods and juices are not recommended during the first three months. If you are feeding formula from a bottle, make sure the nipple hole is the right size so that the liquid drips out slowly. Milk that pours out of a bottle makes it easy to overfeed.

4- to 7-Month-Olds

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends gradually introducing solid foods at six months old. Your doctor may recommend starting solids earlier depending on your baby's development. Do not rush solids if your baby seems disinterested or does not want to eat them. Formula or breast milk still provides all your baby's nutritional needs up to seven months of age. Rice cereal is a good solid food to start introducing solids. Mix the cereal with a lot of liquid so that it is easier for your baby to slurp off the spoon. Do not put cereal in your baby's bottle as this can cause your baby to gain weight at an unhealthy pace. Once your baby is eating cereal, try introducing fruits and vegetables. Introduce one food at a time and avoid eggs, citrus and honey. Do not give your baby seafood, peanuts or tree nuts until she is two or three years old due to the risk of allergies.

8- to 12-Month-Olds

• By the time your baby is eight months old you can start introducing table foods that you can cut up into small pieces or mash to make them easy for your baby to handle. Fruits, vegetables and meats are all appropriate at this age, but continue to avoid eggs, seafood and citrus fruits. Give fruit juice in a spouted cup instead of a bottle to prevent the juice sugars from sitting against your baby's teeth for too long. By the time your baby is a year old you can stop giving him formula. Continue to breast feed if you choose or start giving him whole milk in a spouted cup.