Allow Babies to Decide Food Portions Based on Internal Cues

The small decisions and choices that parents make in feeding their infants will have a lasting impact on the child’s health and weight. Research proves that breast feeding helps to reduce ear infections, stomach viruses and childhood leukemia. This also raises your children’s chance of maintaining a healthy weight during their adult years.

The period between a baby’s birth and its first year is when growth attains peak. Most babies double their birth weight by 5 to 6 months and triple it by one year. Pediatricians take care to check the height and weight of the infant at every visit to ensure that the baby is gaining enough, but not too much weight. Studies also caution parents against the risk of childhood weight problems due to early overfeeding and excessive weight gain during infancy.

Hunger Cues Assist Babies in Eating Food

Take a balanced approach to weight gain during your baby’s first years. Parents should not push their children to follow a diet plan or restrict their intake of nutrient-rich foods.

Infants should be allowed to determine their food intake quantities based on internal cues of hunger and fullness. This supports the baby or infant to eat what they require for healthy growth and development. Ensure to have a word about your baby’s weight gain pattern with your health care provider during every check up to keep track of his/her growth.

Age-wise Food Chart Until your Baby’s Second Birthday

Each baby is a unique individual. Discuss with your doctor or a dietitian/nutritionist about the nutrient-rich foods required by your baby and the right time to introduce these foods. Given below is the age-wise food distribution chart for switching infants from breast milk to table foods.        

  • Birth to 6 Months: Breast milk is the only source of nutrients to the baby during the first six months. Switch over to infant formula when you decrease or stop breast-feeding. Never provide cow’s milk to your baby until the age of 1.        
  • By 4 to 6 Months: Most babies start on solids by now, while getting their share of proteins, vitamins, minerals and calories from breast milk or infant formula. You can start giving iron-fortified infant cereal or pureed meats to replenish iron reserves in your little one. Every parent enjoys watching his/her baby’s first solid food experience and many are doubtful on the safety quotient of these solids. The list of solid foods at https://www.firsteatright.com  can help you choose the right foods.        
  • By 6 to 8 Months: This period is the best time to start pureed or mashed fruits and vegetables. Keep it a point to introduce single-item foods one at a time. Keep close watch of your infant for allergic reactions such as diarrhoea, vomiting or unusual rashes.        
  • By 7 to 10 Months: Babies try to start feeding themselves with finger foods such as dry cereal or teething biscuits. They can even hold a cup of water by themselves.        
  • By 8 to 12 Months: By this age, most infants are ready for soft or cooked table foods.        
  • From 1 to 2 Years: Babies are still developing their eating skills. They begin to eat the same food as the rest of the family and also feed by themselves. Big food particles can result in choking, so cut these foods into smaller, ¼-inch squares.        
  • Be cautious against other choking hazards such as nuts and seeds, popcorn, pretzels, raw carrots and celery,whole olives and cherry tomatoes, hot dogs, whole grapes, large pieces of meat, hard candy and cough drops, chewing gum, gummy candy, marshmallows and cherries with pits.