Food During Baby's First Years - A Guide

Good nutrition is very important to your baby's proper growth and development.  This guide will help you make healthy choices about feeding your baby from birth to 12 years of age.

Age	Developmental Skills	Appropriate Skills
Birth to 6 Months	Baby can suck and swallow but tongue thrust reflex pushes out solid food.	Breast Milk or iron-fortified formula
6-7 Months	Baby can sit unsupported, and tongue thrust reflex is lessened.	Breast Milk or iron-fortified formula, rice cereal, applesauce, strained and pureed bananas and pears.
7-9 Months	Baby can munch food, and use thumb and index finger to pick up foods.	Breast Milk or iron-fortified formula, teething biscuits, mashed potatoes and avocados, strained and pureed peaches, carrots and squash.
9-12 Months	Baby can grind food, hold a cup and self feeding skills improve.	Breast Milk or iron-fortified formula, rice cakes, bite-sized cheese cubes, soft tortillas, egg yolks, oatmeal, yogurt, tofu, noodles, peas, strained and pureed chicken.

The Benefits of Breastfeeding

Human breast milk proved the perfect nutrition for your baby. In addition there are many other benefits to breastfeeding for both baby and mother. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding for the first year and as long thereafter as desired. Breastfeeding provides the following benefits: Breast milk is more easily digested, and reduces vomiting and diarrhea. Breast milk provides protection against certain childhood diseases. Breast milk strengthens the immune system, reducing the likelihood of allergies, ear infections, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia. Breast milk reduces the likelihood of childhood obesity. Breastfeeding increases physical contact which promotes bonding between mother and baby. Breastfeeding helps protect against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). For mothers, breastfeeding helps protect against certain cancers, and builds bone strength. Breastfeeding needs no preparation. Breastfeeding is free.

Never force your baby to finish a bottle. Throw away any formula left in the bottle. Offer small portions of food. Don't give babies sweetened drinks, sodas, gelatin, sugar water, or juice. The sugar in these drinks can cause serious tooth decay. Do not give sweeteners such as honey, corn syrups, or foods that contain these sweeteners (including cereals and graham crackers) to infants. They may contain spores that can cause infant botulism, a food poisoning that can lead to death.

SUCCESSFUL BREATSFEEDING
Get support from your health practitioner, local hospital, or lactation consultant. Just because breastfeeding is natural doesn't mean you won't need help. The following suggestions can encourage a successful start:

• Learn about breastfeeding before your baby is born.
• Breastfeed as soon as possible after your baby is born.
• Make sure your baby "latches on" correctly.
• Avoid giving your baby bottles of formula, water or pacifiers until breastfeeding is well established.
• Breastfeed often to establish a strong milk supply.
• By using a breast pump, working mothers can continue to provide their babies with the benefits of breastfeeding.

MEAL TIMES

• Feding tim eis a learning time for your baby.
• Be patient and attentive to your baby's needs
• When bottle-feeding, hold your baby close. Never prop a bottle.
• Never allow your baby to fall asleep with a bottle in his or her mouth. This can promote "baby bottle tooth decay."
• Feed your baby in a space that is easy to clean up. Getting messy is a normal part of learning to eat.
• Babies do not need desserts such as pudding, custard, and cobbler. Offer fruit for dessert instead.

INTRODUCING NEW FOODS

• Start one new food at a time.
• Wait about five days before giving the next new food to detect possible allergic reactions. Possible allergic reactions to foods include: skin rash, gas, respiratory problems, and diarrhea. Foods that commonly cause allergic reaction include: cow's milk, citrus juice and fruits, egg whites, and wheat products.
• You may need to introduce the same food many different times before your baby accepts it.

Source: Children's Home Society of California