Section Overview
This page provides nutrient recommendations for the first year of life as well as tips to determine when your baby is showing signs of hunger or fullness.
Infant Nutrition Recommendations
Infancy is a vital time for proper nutrition and children’s dietary needs change dramatically during their first year. Parents should exclusively breast/formula feed for the first 6 months of life. Solid foods should be introduced when the child is 6 months of age.
0-4 months:
- Breast milk or infant formula (2 – 4 oz per feeding), 8 – 12 times per day
4-6 months:
- Breast milk or infant formula (4 – 6 oz per feeding), 4 – 6 times per day
Advancing to Solids
It is recommended to introduce solid foods to infants around 6 months of age. However, infants will still require breastmilk/infant formula until 1 year of age to ensure adequate nutrient intake and to promote appropriate growth and development. Every baby develops at their own pace, so it’s best to check in with your pediatrician or pediatric dietitian to determine the right time for your baby to begin solid foods.
Infants 6-8 months:
When babies first begin solid foods, it will take some time to develop skills to chew and swallow different textures and consistencies. In the beginning couple of months of introducing solid foods, babies’ primary nutrition should still come from breastmilk or iron-fortified infant formula.
Infants 8-12 months:
By 8-12 months of age, it is recommended to introduce your baby to a variety of foods from the different food groups. As babies become more proficient at chewing and swallowing various food textures and consistencies, they will begin to consume more and rely less on breastmilk or iron-fortified infant formula. However, babies should continue to be provided with breastmilk or infant formula throughout the first year of life.
Infant Hunger & Fullness Cues
Your baby may require more or less food depending on their needs. Here are a few signs to look for to determine whether your baby is hungry or full.
| 0-4 months | 4-6 months | 6-8 months | 8-10 months | 10-12 months | |
| Hunger Cues | cries or fusses, gazes at caregiver, opens mouth during feeding to indicate desire to continue, brings hands to mouth | cries or fusses, gazes at caregiver, opens mouth during feeding to indicate desire to continue | reaches for spoon or food, points to food | reaches for spoon or food, shows excitement when food is presented | expresses desire for specific foods with words or sounds |
| Fullness Cues | spits out nipple, falls asleep, stops sucking | turns head away, stops sucking, may seem more distracted by surroundings | slows down in eating, clenches mouth shut, pushes food away, plays with food | slows down in eating, pushes food away | shakes head to indicate “no more” |
