When It's Time To Eat

From Birth
Development
* Newborns have a small stomach so they need at least 6 feeds
* Feeding "according to need" means baby feeds when he is hungry
* Frequent sucking at the breast stimulates breast milk production
* Growth spurts occurs at about 6 weeks and 3 months so baby will demand extra feeds
* When breastfeeding is not possible, a suitable infant formula must be used.

Breastfeeding is Best
* At least 6 feeds a day at 3-4 hourly intervals or according to need
* Night feeds are necessary for the first few weeks
* Hold your baby close and make eye contact while you feed

First Foods (around 6 months)

Fruit - slowly increase to 2-4 teaspoons
Vegetables - Slowly increase to 2-4 teaspoons
Iron enriched cereal - gradually increase to 1-2 teaspoons
Breast Milk - feed according to need
Formula - 800ml approximately

Development
* Able to hold head up
* Good head and neck control
* Reached for food
* Extrusion (tongue thrust) reflex disappears
* Iron stores depleting
* Doubles birth weight by 4-5 months

Food Guide
* breast milk or formula approximately 4-6 feeds per day
* Ready for solids around 6 months (not before 4 months)
* Offer solids after the milk feed
* Start with single food first

Introduce

* Iron Enriched Rice Cereal
* Soft vegetables eg. Avocado, potato, pumpkin, sweet potato, zucchini
* Soft fruits eg. apple, apricot, bananas, pear, mango
* Introduce meats after vegetables and fruit

Texture and Taste
* Puree or fine fork mash
* Do not add salt or sugar to baby's food
* Your baby does not need teeth to chew. Move on to fine fork mashed foods as soon as he has a chewing action

Meal Guide
Morning feed :
* Breast milk or formula

Breakfast:
* 1-2 tablespoons rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula

Mid Morning:
* Breast milk or formula

Lunch:
* Breast milk or formula
* Fruit or vegetable

Dinner :
* Breast milk or formula
* Fruit or vegetable

Before sleep:
* Breast milk or formula

7-9 Months
Meat, chicken, fish - 1 tablespoon finely minced
Meat alternatives - mashed legumes, egg yolk

Fruit - 2 to 4 tablespoons
Vegetable - 2 to 4 tablespoons

Bread - 1 slice
Cereals - Iron Enriched Cereal 2-4 tablespoons
Rice, pasta, couscous - small amounts for variety

Breast milk - feed according to need
Formula - 800ml approximately

Development
* Sitting yo unsupported
* Ready for soft lumps
* Chews with gums
* Teeth erupting
* Teeth erupting
* Able to pick up objects
* Can drink from a cup if held

Food Guide
* Breast milk / formula 3-4 feeds per day
* Solids offered before milk feed
* Introduce meats for iron
* Continue Iron enriched baby cereals
* Teething rusks help sooth tender gums

Introduce Variety

* Offer meat, chicken, fish, legumes or lentils each day for iron
* Ensure a variety of colours of fruits and vegetables
* Bread, pasta and rice (fine wholemeal bread is OK)
* Egg yolk well cooked if no family allergy. Offer 1/2 teaspoon at first, wait a couple of days, then offer more
* Infant suitable daily foods e.g yogurt, cheese, custards

Taste and Texture
* Introduce coarse texture - soft lumps, mashed rather than puree
* Finely minced meats, chicken and fish
* Mash beans and lentils
* Avoid adding salt, sugar or hot spices

Meal Guide
Morning feed :
* Breast milk or formula

Breakfast
* 2-4 tablespoons baby cereal mixed with breast milk or formula

Mid morning:
* Fruits or soft cooked mashed fruit

Lunch:
* Meat and two vegetables, custard, breast milk or formula

Mid afternoon :
* Fruit gel or yogurt

Dinner:
* Meat and two vegetables, fruit and yogurt dessert

Before sleep:
* Breast milk or formula

10-15 months

Fat - teaspoon of butter, margarine or oil
Meat, chicken, fish - finely chopped
Meat alternatives - mashed legumes, egg

Fruit - 4 to 6 tablespoons
Vegetables - 4 to 6 tablespoons (select a variety of colours)

Bread - 1 to 2 slices (fine wholemeal)
Cereal - Iron enriched 2 to 4 tablespoons
Rice, pasta, noodles - small amounts for variety

Breast milk - breastfeed according to need
Formula - approx 700ml

Development
* Breast milk / formula reducing in quantity
* Solid foods increasing
* Enjoys self feeding
* Improved co-ordination
* Learns to drink from a cup

Food Guide
* Breast milk / formula 3 feeds per day
* Offer small meals 3 times per day
* Healthy snacks are important
* Encourage self feeding / finger foods
* Introduce food variety

Introduce

* Finger size pieces of cooked vegetables
* Muesli and cereal
* Small sandwiches, toast
* Family dairy foods e.g custard, yogurt, cow's milk on cereal (not yet as a drink)
* Whole egg - gradually introduce well cooked egg white
(delay until after 12 months if there is any family allergy)

Taste and Texture
* Offer chunkier texture to encourage chewing
* Finger foods - cooked or soft foods cut into finger size pieces
* Minced meat, pieces of meat to chew on
* Avoid added salt and sugar
* Rusks still helpful to chew on

Meat Guide
Morning feed :
* Breast milk or formula

Breakfast:
* 2 to 4 tablespoons muesli and cereal with milk and fruit
* 1 slice fine wholemeal toast with butter or margarine

Mid morning :
* Water

Lunch:
* Sandwich 1-2 slices of bread with meat, fish or chicken, breast milk or formula

Mid afternoon:
* Soft cooked veggies and hommus

Dinner:
* Meat and at least 2 vegetables
* Custard and fruit

Before sleep:
* Breast milk or formula

1-3 Years
Fat : 2 teaspoons of butter, margarine or oil

Meat, Chicken, Fish - small pieces finely chopped
Meat alternatives - mashed legumes, lentils, egg

Fruit - 1 to 2 pieces
Vegetables - approx 1 cut total of 4 to 5 veggies (select a variety of colours)

Bread - 1 to 2 slices (fine wholemeal)
Cereals - 1 cup cereal (1 serve of rice, pasta or couscous

Breast milk /cow milk / dairy - 3 serves a day

Development
* Bones lengthen, less baby fat
* Walks alone
* Triples birth weight by 12 months
* Growths rate slows
* Appetite reduces accordingly
* Becomes assertive and likes to say "no"

Food Guide
* Continue breastfeeding if desired
* Cow's milk now suitable as main drink
* Encourage toddler to eat family foods
* 3 small meals and 2 snacks per day
* Offer water for extra fluid

Taste and Texture
* Cut up food into small pieces
* Offer finger foods such as soft cooked vegetables
* Ensure variety - at least 2 fruits and 5 veggies per day
* Avoid high salt / high sugar snack foods

Meal Guide
Breakfast:
* 2 to 4 tablespoons muesli and cereal with milk
* 1 slice fine wholemeal toast with butter or margarine
* milk / water to drink

Lunch:
* 1 to 2 slices of toast with baked beans and grated cheese
* fresh fruit pieces, yogurt and water to drink

Dinner:
* Meat and at least 2 vegetables
* Custard and fruit

Snacks:
* Milk / water to drink
* Bread sticks, muesli fingers
* Cheese, fresh fruit, soft cooked vegetables

Source : Heinz For Baby, Australia & The children hospital of Westmead