Feeding in the First Year

Birth to about 6 months: breast milk or infant formula is all your baby needs. The WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend exclusive breastfeeding for about the first 6 months when possible; formula is a safe, complete alternative. Babies this age do not need water, juice or solids.

Vitamin D: breast milk is low in vitamin D, so the AAP recommends a 400 IU daily vitamin D supplement for breastfed and partially breastfed babies, starting in the first days. Babies drinking enough fortified formula usually get enough from it. Ask your pediatrician what fits your baby.

Starting solids, around 6 months: look for signs of readiness rather than a date. Your baby can sit with little support, holds their head steady, opens their mouth when food comes near, and no longer pushes food straight out with their tongue. Starting a little earlier, but not before 4 months, is sometimes advised; follow your pediatrician.

First foods: iron matters most. A baby’s iron stores from birth run low around 6 months, so offer iron-rich foods early: iron-fortified cereal, meat, beans and lentils, eggs. Pair them with fruit or vegetables for vitamin C. Purees, mashed food and soft finger foods are all fine.

Allergens: current US guidelines recommend introducing common allergens such as peanut (as thinned peanut butter or powder, never whole nuts) and egg early, around 6 months, once your baby eats other solids. Babies with severe eczema or an egg allergy may need a pediatrician’s check before peanut. Keep offering allergens regularly once introduced.

6 to 9 months: build up to two or three small meals a day, with milk still the main food. Offer a little water in an open or straw cup with meals. Move from smooth textures to mashed and lumpy food and soft pieces your baby can pick up.

9 to 12 months: most babies eat soft, chopped family foods three times a day plus snacks. Breast milk or formula continues alongside. Cow’s milk as a main drink can start at 12 months, about 16 to 24 ounces (470 to 710 ml) a day.

What to avoid in the first year: honey (risk of infant botulism), juice, added sugar and salt, unpasteurized foods, and choking hazards such as whole nuts, whole grapes, popcorn and hard raw vegetables. Cut round foods into quarters and always supervise eating.

Appetite varies from day to day, and growth is the best long-term sign that a baby is eating enough. Logging weight and length in Growthling shows whether your baby is following their curve on the WHO chart.

Sources: WHO infant and young child feeding recommendations; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org); Addendum Guidelines for the Prevention of Peanut Allergy (NIAID, 2017); Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025. This article is general information, not medical advice.