articles > Age by Age Feeding Guide
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Age by Age Feeding GuideThis guide provides a general overview of your child’s requirements at every stage of development from birth to 36 months plus. Please note that this is only a rough guideline – keep in mind that babies, toddlers and children are all different so may eat more or less than below. Listen to your child and let them guide their interest or rejection of food.
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Birth – 4 months
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What to feed
Exclusively breastmilk or formula
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Daily Needs
The number of feeds and the amount varies between infants and overtime. Rough estimate – Age - 1 month Feeds daily - 6 to 8 Total/day– 350–600mls
Age - 2 and 3 months Feeds daily - 5 Total/day 750 – 900mls
Age - 4 months Feeds daily - 4 to 5 Total/day750–1000mls
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Points
· The digestive tract is too immature for any solid food. · To gauge whether intake is adequate - aim for 6 or more very wet nappies per day |
4 – 6 months |
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What to feed
· Breastmilk or formula PLUS
- iron-fortified cereal
- single foods such as mashed banana or avocado,
- or cooked and pureed fruit and vegetables (pear, pumpkin or carrot).
- Age appropriate commercially prepared
Breastmilk or formula remains the main source of nutrition
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Daily Needs
Rough estimated of breast milk or formula
Feeds daily - 4 to 5
Daily total 750–1000mls
Solids
· Begin with very small quantities of very runny (almost liquid) – 1- 2 teaspoons/once a day.
· Gradually thicken consistency and increase quantity to 2 or 4 tablespoons @ each sitting.
· Begin by offering solids at only one meal a day, after a breast or formula milk feed.
· Gradually increase the amount of food to 2-4 tablespoons per meal, and then increase the number of meals to three a day
Always let your baby’s appetite be the guide.
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Points
· Look for signs of readiness for solid food
· Refer to ‘Introducing Solid Food’ articles
· Try one food at a time and a new food every few days
· If your baby rejects a food – try again a few days later
· Once your baby is able to support themselves, place them in a high chair.
· Delay giving the following foods to your baby:
- Cows milk (until 12 months)
- Honey (until 12 months)
- Eggs (9 months yolk; 12 months white)
- Nuts (whole nuts avoided until after 5 years)
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6 – 9 months |
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What to feed
· Breastmilk or formula PLUS
- iron-fortified cereal
- single raw foods such as mashed banana or avocado,
- cooked and pureed fruit and vegetables
- meat, chicken and boned fish can be given. For vegetarian children, offer cooked dried beans, peas, or lentils instead
- Age appropriate commercially prepared foods
- when small lumps can be managed, provide finger foods such as pieces of steamed/baked vegetables, soft fruit, crackers, toast or bread fingers, and pieces of cooked meat
- add variety into the diet by mixing foods together
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Daily Needs
Breast milk or formula
Feeds daily - 3 to 4
Total/day 600 – 800mls
Solids -
· 3 to 9 tablespoons cereal, in 2 to 3 feedings
· 1 teaspoon fruit, gradually increased to ¼ to ½ cup in 2 to 3 feedings
· 1 teaspoon vegetables, gradually increased to ¼ to ½ cup in 2 to 3 feedings
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Points
· Look for signs of readiness for solid food
· Refer to ‘Introducing Solid Food’ articles
· Breastmilk or formula remains the main source of nutrition
· Try one food at a time and a new food every few days
· If your baby rejects a food – try again a few days later
· Once your baby is able to support themselves, place them in a high chair.
· Change the texture of foods offered to encourage chewing. Offer a thicker consistency, progressing to soft but more lumpy or mashed foods.
· Breast fed babies do not require additional water however cool boiled water maybe needed as weaning onto more solids occurs.
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9 – 12 months |
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What to feed
·Breastmilk or formula PLUS
All of the above foods plus;
- iron-fortified cereal
- raw, cooked and pureed fruit and vegetables
- meat, chicken and boned fish can be given. For vegetarian children, offer cooked dried beans, peas, or lentils instead
- age appropriate commercially prepared foods
- small amounts of soft pasteurised cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese (but no cows' milk until age 1)
- finger foods such as pieces of steamed/baked vegetables, soft fruit, cooked pasta, crackers, toast or bread fingers, and pieces of cooked meat
- Egg yolk can be introduced at 9 months (if no history of allergies)
- continue to add variety into the diet by mixing foods together
breastmilk or formula remains the main source of nutrition
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Daily Needs
Breast milk or formula
Feeds daily - 3 to 4
Total/day 600 – 800mls
Solids -
• ¼ to ½ cup iron-fortified cereal • ¼ to ½ cup fruit • ¼ to ½ cup vegetables • 1/8 to ¼ cup protein foods • ¼ to 1/3 cup dairy
3 solid meals a day – morning, lunchtime and late afternoon/evening.
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Points
· Look for signs of readiness for solid food
· Refer to ‘Introducing Solid Food’ articles
· Try one food at a time and a new food every few days
· If your baby rejects a food – try again a few days later
· Continue to be adventurous with different foods and textures. Change the texture of foods offered to encourage chewing. Offer a thicker consistency, progressing to soft but more lumpy or mashed foods.
· Breast fed babies do not require additional water however cool boiled water maybe needed as weaning onto more solids occurs.
· Water and formula/breastmilk is all your child needs at this age.
· By 8-9 months baby should be able to try finger foods, self feeding and using a spoon
Readiness for finger foods
- Sitting independently
- Head control
- Picks up objects with thumb and forefinger
- Can transfer items from one hand to the other
- Puts everything in his mouth
- Moves jaw in a chewing motion
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12 – 18 months |
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What to feed
· Breast milk, formula or whole cows milk
· Solids now becomes the main source of nutrients
· As outlined above but broaden the range of – iron fortified cereals/grains, fruit, vegetables, dairy and protein
· Combinations of food
· Same food as the rest of the family – mashed or chopped into bite sized pieces
· Honey and eggs (both yolk and whites).
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Daily Needs
Breast milk, formula or cows milk (from 12 months) - 500 – 600 mls per day is all toddlers need
Solids -
The following food groups
1 serving –
¼ to 1/3 cup cereal,¼ cup pasta or rice, ¼ to ½ slice bread or bagel)
1 serving –
¼ to ½ cup fruit and ¼ to ½ cup vegetables
1 serving –
2 tablespoons ground or two 2.5cm cubes meat, poultry, or fish; 1 egg; ¼ cup tofu or cooked beans; 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter
1 serving –
½ - 1cup milk, 1 -2 slice cheese, 1/3 to ½ cup yogurt or cottage cheese)
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Points
· Self feeding – let your child use a spoon themselves (expect a little mess)
· Choking is still a hazard – always supervise your toddler when eating and encourage them to be seated whilst eating. Avoid whole nuts until 5 years old.
As a guide, provide your toddler:
· a variety and range of different of food
· enough food for growth
· plenty of healthy snacks
· small meals often
· plenty to drink (water or milk)
· treat foods now and then
· opportunity to be physically active
· Childrens’ appetites vary constantly because of growth spurts and variations in activity. Forcing your child to eat is stressful for everyone and can contribute to the development of unhealthy attitudes towards food.
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18 – 24 months |
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What to feed
· Breast milk, formula or whole cows milk
· Solids are now the main source of nutrients
· As outlined above but continue to broaden the range of – iron fortified cereals/grains, fruit, vegetables, dairy and protein
· Combinations of food
· Same food as the rest of the family – mashed or chopped into bite sized pieces
· Honey and eggs (both yolk and whites).
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Daily Needs
Breast milk, formula or cows milk (from 12 months) - 500 – 600 mls per day is all toddlers need
Solids
As a general guide, a portion size is what can fit in the palm of a child’s hand or approximately a quarter to half an adult portion size.
A healthy balanced diet includes the following food groups:
3 meals a day with healthy snacks in between.
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Points
· Self feeding – let your child use a spoon themselves (expect a little mess)
· Plates with suction bases, bibs, placemats & floormats are a must to help minimise mess.
· Empower your toddler to make their own food choices
· Toddlers and small children vary in the amount they eat –remember that they should eat little and often rather than three larger meals a day. Healthy snacks are important.
· If your child is getting too big for a highchair – a booster seat or the Kaboost may be a good option.
As a guide, provide your toddler:
· a variety and range of different of food
· enough food for growth
· plenty of healthy snacks
· small meals often
· plenty to drink (water or milk)
· treat foods now and then
· opportunity to be physically active
Food play, games and activities help teach children about healthy food choices.
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24 – 36 months |
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What to feed
· Breast milk, formula, whole cows milk or reduced fat cows milk
· Solids are now the main source of nutrients
· The same food as the rest of the family
· Combinations of food
· Try different textures and presentations of foods – for instance dried fruit, whole fruit and canned fruit.
· A balanced diet of the following:
- meat, fish, poultry, eggs or protein alternatives
- bread, cereals, rice, potatoes and pasta (preferably wholegrain) – fruit and vegetables (whole is preferable)
- dairy produce and other calcium-rich foods
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Daily Needs
Breast milk, formula or cows milk (from 12 months) - 500 – 600 mls per day is all preschoolers need
Solids
As a general guide, a portion size is what can fit in the palm of a child’s hand or approximately a quarter to half an adult portion size.
A healthy balanced diet includes the following food groups:
3 meals a day with healthy snacks in between.
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Points
· Preschoolers are eager to express their independence and make their own food options.
· Buffet or tapa style meals are a great way to give your preschooler options.
· Self feeding should be well established.
· Choking is still a hazard – always supervise your toddler when eating and encourage them to be seated whilst eating. Avoid whole nuts until 5 years old.
· Preschoolers childrens’ appetite will vary and may eat less than before – this is perfectly normal.
As a guide, provide your preschooler:
· many different foods
· enough food for growth
· plenty of healthy snacks
· small meals often
· plenty to drink (water or milk)
· treat foods now and then
· an opportunity to be physically active
Food play, games and activities help teach children about healthy food choices.
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36 months plus |
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What to feed
· Solid food should be the main source of nutrients
· The same food as the rest of the family
· A balanced diet of the following:
- meat, fish, poultry, eggs or protein alternatives
- bread, cereals, rice, potatoes and pasta (preferably wholegrain)
- fruit and vegetables (whole is preferable)
- dairy produce and other calcium-rich foods
Fluid – good old fashioned water is the most economical and only required fluid from this age. Milk is also a good fluid source
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Daily Needs
Water –
it is the best fluid and cows milk is also a good fluid source.
As a rough guideline –
children need 4 – 6 glasses of water a day*
*this varies based on the child, temperature, activity level etc and therefore is only a guideline.
Solids -
As a general guide, a portion size is what can fit in the palm of a child’s hand or approximately a quarter to half an adult portion size.
A healthy balanced diet includes the following food groups:
3 meals a day with healthy snacks in between.
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Points
· Children need to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
· Offer water frequently and educate your child as to the importance of water.
· Empower your child to make their own food choices and educate them about food.
· Children love to help in the garden, shopping, choosing food or in the kitchen - which is great way for them to learn about food.
· Offer your children new foods and different ethnic foods to keep food fun.
· Choking is still a hazard – always supervise your toddler when eating and encourage them to be seated whilst eating. Avoid whole nuts until 5 years old.
· Small children vary in the amount they eat –remember that they should eat little and often rather than three larger meals a day.
· Healthy snacks are an important part of a healthy diet.
As a guide, provide your child:
· many different foods
· enough food for growth
· plenty of healthy snacks
· small meals often
· plenty to drink (water or milk)
· treat foods now and then
· the opportunity to be physically active
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For more information see the following articles:
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