Healthy Diet for Infancy

Feeding your infant a healthy diet will help give her a productive start in life. Healthy foods during infancy provides your baby with nourishment needed for proper brain development and growth. Babies should start eating whole foods when they show signs of readiness. For instance, your baby is ready when she is able to sit up on their own and swallow food without any problems. Give your child a sippy cup with pure water when she is able to hold a cup on her own.

Breast or Formula Feeding

• Feed your baby breast milk or formula for the first six months of life. According to the World Health Organization, breastfeeding is recommended as the number one food choice for infants for at least the first six months. In addition, the WHO also says breast milk can be a good supplement to a healthy diet up to age 2. Breast milk provides infants with protein, carbohydrates and everything they need. One tiny drop of breast milk contains millions of live white blood cells. White blood cells fight off infection and bacteria in the body. Breast milk also contains vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids. Most women choose to breastfeed their babies for one year, but any length of time is good.

  When breastfeeding is not possible, the next best option is to feed your baby formula. Look for a good nutrient dense formula that contains the fatty acid DHA. This fatty acid helps to build a healthy brain.

Six Months- Time for Vegetables and Cereal

• At six months of age most babies are ready to start eating mashed vegetables. You can make your own baby food with a food processor or you can buy baby food. There are many different varieties to choose from, including organic baby food. Start feeding your baby vegetables first so that he will get a taste for vegetables rather than sweet fruit. Start off by introducing one type of vegetable each week and watch for food allergy signs like diarrhea or a rash.

  Do not mix vegetables. Sometimes you will need to move to another vegetable for awhile until your child's digestive system matures. First start foods include carrots, peas, green beans, squash, sweet potatoes and other green vegetables. Some parents choose to give their babies rice cereal with breast milk added. This is also a great first start food, but again be sure to only give your baby solid food of any kind when he is ready.

Nine Months- Time for Fruits

• After you have been feeding your baby vegetables for a few months you can start giving her mashed fruit. Fruit also contains vitamins, minerals needed for growth. Try to be balanced when giving your little one fruits so that she still likes vegetables. The same rules apply when it comes to fruit. Start with one type of fruit at a time and watch for allergies. First start fruits include peaches, strawberries, cantaloupe, grapes, watermelon, blueberries, raspberries and nectarines. Be sure all foods are mashed. At this time you may also be able to begin feeding your baby finger foods. This will depend on individual readiness and how many teeth your child has. Start slow and be careful to avoid choking.

12 Months- Bring on the Meat, Potatoes, Whole Grains and Fish

• At 12 months old, your baby should be ready to be weaned off of mashed baby food all together. Your child should able to start eating more adult foods that you eat like fish, eggs, whole grains, turkey, chicken and vegetables. Again, start slowly introducing new foods and watch for allergies. Some mothers choose to continue nursing their babies beyond one year, and this perfectly fine if both infant and mother are content doing so. There is no set age for weaning.