From birth...
Newborn babies have tiny belly's so they need smaller more frequesnt feeds. Most will have about 6 - 8 bottle feeds a day and breastfeeding is normally done on demand and could be alot more smaller feeds even up to 12 times a day to begin 
with. The more the baby feeds off the breast the more milk is produced so its a good thing even tho you may feel like your always feeding. Your baby will have growth spurts too where they will feed alot more then normal, this usually occurs at about 6 weeks and 12 weeks.
From four months...
At about four months you baby may be ready to start on solids., its recommended to start on rice cerealmixed with breast milk or formula. then you can move on to the soft foods like pureed apple, pear. mashed avacado, potato, pumpkin, sweet potato, peeled zucchini, apricots, banana and mango. Once your baby shows a chewing action you can mash the food with a fork instead of pureeing it.
Example of a meal guide-
morning feed formula or breast feed
1 - 2 tablespoons rice cereal mixed with formula or breast milk
mid morning feed formula or breast
lunch feed formula or breast and offer pureed/mashed fruit or veg
afternoon bottle or breast if baby is hungry
dinner formula or breast milk and fruit or veg mashed/pureed
bed time formula or breast feeds as normal.
Not all babies will eat this much, start of with just a morning food or a dinner food meal and slowly work up to the three times a day.
From seven months...
They will still be having formula or breast milk but they will be having most at each feed, less often now. You can now introduce meat which will add some variety to the meals. You can also offer bread, pasta, rice and dairy products suitable for infants such as baby youghurt and custards. Dont offer sweet foods over savory tho its not a habbit you want to pass on to your baby.
Example of a meal guide
morning feed formula or breast
breakfast 2 - 4 tablespoons baby cereal mixed with formula or breast milk
mid morning fruit mashed up
lunch meat and 2 veg, custard and a bottle or breast feed
afternoon bottle or breast if needed, fruit or veg or dairy serve
dinner meat and 2 veg, fruit
bed time bottle or breast feed
night time feeds as normal
From ten months-
Bottle or breast feeds will have slowed down alot by now, having between 3 - 6 feeds a day depending on appitite and size of your baby. You should be offering three small meals a day now and healty snacks btween meals is ok too. Finger foods are great for this an=ge and also self feeding at meal time.. yes its messy but mum its fun... they can have finger sized pieces of cooked veges or fruit, toast fingers or sandwhich fingers and egg. You may also want to give them rusks to chew on to help relieve theething.
Example of a meal guide...
morning bottle or breast feed
breakfast cereal and toast fingers
mid morning, water cheese or youghurt
lunch bottle or breast feed, fish or chicken or beef for eg spag bog cut finely
afternoon snack, cooked carrot sticks or other vege water if wanted or bottle breast...
dinner meat and 2 vege or more vege custard fruit
bedtime bottle or breast feed
They can have sippy cups now with diluted juice or water and you may wish to phase out the bottle and use a non spill cup for formula.
From one year -
If you want to keep breastfeeding do so, it will only benifit you and your baby but you can stop if you want to. Cow's milk is now ok to give to your child as long as they dont have an allergy to it. Its a good idea to start giving your toddler family cooked food... that way they get used to eating what everyone else eats. Water should be offered to drink over juices it better for them in every way.
Example of meal guide
breakfast cereal, toast milk / water to drink or breast
morning snack fruit slices, cheese youghurt
lunch sandwich or baked bean on toast with grated cheese water / milk to drink
afternoon snack fruit, vege sticks cheese
dinner
meat n 2 vege custard and fruit water / milk
bedtime bottle breast depending on what you want to do.
This is just a guide, each baby had different requirements, speak to your nurse or midwife about your babies requirements. I hope this helps.
Written by A Parker
(May 8th) (
