When do give my baby cereal

New York, N. Duryea TK. Introducing solid foods and vitamin and mineral supplementation during infancy. Accessed April 3, Policy statement — Prevention of choking among children. Fleischer DM. Introducing highly allergenic foods to infants and children. Berkowitz CD. Nutritional needs. Elk Grove Village, Ill. Accessed May 31, Younger Meek J, et al. Breastfeeding beyond infancy.

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How to swaddle a baby Spitting up in babies Starting solids Teething: Tips for soothing sore gums Vitamin D for babies Weaning tips Well-baby exam What's causing my infant's diarrhea? Updated July 10, Breastfeeding: frequently asked questions. Updated September 2, How often and how much should your baby eat? Updated October 29, Amount and schedule of formula feedings. Updated July 24, Starting solid foods.

Updated March 17, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Choking hazards. Updated March 30, Vitamin D and iron supplements for babies: AAP recommendations. Updated May 27, Your Baby's First Year, 4th edition. New York: Bantam Books, American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding and the use of human milk.

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Foods to Avoid. Feedings Per Day The expected number of breastfeedings per day are: 7 to 8 times a day by 3 to 4 months of age 5 to 7 times a day by 5 to 6 months of age 4 to 6 times a day between 7 and 12 months of age 3 to 4 times a day after 12 months of age until the baby and breastfeeding mom are ready to wean.

Common Breastfeeding Problems and Solutions. Bottles Per Day The average baby drinks: 4 to 6 bottles of formula a day until they are about 6 months old 3 to 5 bottles of formula between 7 and 9 months of age 3 to 4 bottles of formula between 10 and 12 months of age 16 to 24 ounces of whole milk a day, offered with meals once they are 12 months old.

Broadly, most babies eat: 4 to 6 months : 3 to 4 tablespoons of cereal once a day, and 1 to 2 tablespoons of a vegetable and fruit 1 or 2 times a day 7 months : 3 to 4 tablespoons of cereal once a day, 2 to 3 tablespoons of a vegetable and fruit twice a day, and 1 to 2 tablespoons of a meat and protein food once a day 8 to 12 months : 4 to 8 tablespoons of cereal once a day, 2 to 4 tablespoons of a vegetable and fruit twice a day, and 1 to 3 tablespoons of a meat and protein food twice a day.

Vitamins Your Baby Needs Babies can get most of the vitamins they need from their food. They need: Fluoride from drinking fluoridated water most brands of bottled water are not fluoridated Iron from a breast milk, iron-fortified baby formula and cereal, and other iron-rich foods Vitamin D from baby formula; exclusively breastfeeding babies will need a vitamin D supplement. Best First Foods for Babies.

There is no evidence that waiting to introduce baby-safe soft foods, such as eggs, dairy, soy, peanut products, or fish, beyond 4 to 6 months of age prevents food allergy. Check with your child's doctor about how and when to give peanut products.

Be sure to include foods that provide iron and zinc, such as baby food made with meat or iron-fortified cereals. If you feed your baby premade cereal, make sure it is made for babies and is iron fortified. Baby cereals are available premixed in individual containers or dry, to which you can add breast milk, formula, or water. Within a few months of starting solid foods, your baby's daily diet should include a variety of foods, such as breast milk, formula, or both; meats; cereal; vegetables; fruits; eggs; and fish.

Once your baby can sit up and bring her hands or other objects to her mouth, you can give her finger foods to help her learn to feed herself. To prevent choking , make sure anything you give your baby is soft, easy to swallow, and cut into small pieces. Some examples include small pieces of banana, wafer-type cookies, or crackers; scrambled eggs; well-cooked pasta; well-cooked, finely chopped chicken; and well-cooked, cut-up potatoes or peas.

At each of your baby's daily meals, she should be eating about 4 ounces, or the amount in one small jar of strained baby food. Limit giving your baby processed foods that are made for adults and older children. These foods often contain more salt and other preservatives. If you want to give your baby fresh food, use a blender or food processor, or just mash softer foods with a fork.

All fresh foods should be cooked with no added salt or seasoning. Although you can feed your baby raw bananas mashed , most other fruits and vegetables should be cooked until they are soft. Refrigerate any food you do not use, and look for any signs of spoilage before giving it to your baby.

Fresh foods are not bacteria-free, so they will spoil more quickly than food from a can or jar. NOTE: Do not give your baby any food that requires chewing at this age, or any food that ca n be a choking hazard. Foods to avoid include hot dogs including meat sticks, or baby food "hot dogs" ; nuts and seeds; chunks of meat or cheese; whole grapes; popcorn; chunks of peanut butter; raw vegetables; f ruit chunks, such as apple chunks; and hard, gooey, or sticky candy.

When your baby starts eating solid foods, his stools will become more solid and variable in color. Because of the added sugars and fats, they will have a much stronger odor, too. Peas and other green vegetables may turn the stool a deep-green color; beets may make it red. Beets sometimes make urine red as well. If your baby's meals are not strained, his stools may contain undigested pieces of food, especially hulls of peas or corn, and the skin of tomatoes or other vegetables.

All of this is normal. Your baby's digestive system is still immature and needs time before it can fully process these new foods. If the stools are extremely loose, watery, or full of mucus, however, it may mean the digestive tract is irritated.

In this case, reduce the amount of solids and introduce them more slowly. If the stools continue to be loose, watery, or full of mucus, talk with your child's doctor to find the reason. Babies do not need juice. Babies younger than 12 months should not be given juice.

Offer it only in a cup, not in a bottle. To help prevent tooth decay , do not put your child to bed with a bottle. If you do, make sure it contains only water. Juice reduces the appetite for other, more nutritious, foods, including breast milk, formula, or both.

Too much juice can also cause diaper rash, diarrhea, or excessive weight gain. Healthy babies do not need extra water. Breast milk, formula, or both provide all the fluids they need. However, it is OK to offer a little water when you begin to give your baby solid foods. Use an open, sippy or strawed cup and limit water to no more than 1 cup 8 ounces each day. Also, a small amount of water may be needed in very hot weather.