When to Introduce Certain Foods to Baby

Hey Loves! Are you looking for a simple baby food guide to know when to introduce certain foods to your baby? I can totally relate! When I was pregnant with my little guy it seemed overwhelming not knowing when and which foods my baby should eat. With a little patience and love, you’ll be a pro in no time!

THE FOLLOWING GUIDE WILL SLIGHTLY VARY FROM FAMILY TO FAMILY. ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PEDIATRICIAN FIRST.

0 – 4 MONTHS

As soon as babies are born they will drink the majority of their calories. Depending on your family’s preference and your pediatrician’s recommendations, you may choose to feed your baby breast milk or formula milk. Newborns tend to feed every 1.5 hours about 1 – 2 ounces. As they grow, their feeding will slowing increase to 2 – 3 hours at about 2 – 4 ounces. Of course, this varies from baby to baby.

4 – 6 MONTHS

Wow, your baby’s is almost 6 month now! At this stage you can begin introducing simple fruits and grains. Milk will still remain as the main source of food at this age. Mealtime is more about them getting used to the act of eating and learning the tastes and textures of foods than it is about providing the bulk of her nutrition. I personally chose to introduce banana and apple puree since they are simple and mild fruits; perfect for baby’s young palette. You can also let your baby try baby cereal puree or grind your own oatmeal. Organic produce is always best for your little one to avoid pesticides and other unknown ingredients. I found it easy to make my baby’s baby food and oatmeal. By putting aside 20 minutes to steam, puree and clean up, you can have 3 days of baby food made. If you freeze some, you can have 2 weeks or more worth of food! To learn how easy making homemade baby’s food can be, check out our baby food post here! HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE ORGANIC BABY FOOD .

Baby’s first finger foods

6 – 8 MONTHS

At about 6 – 8 months your baby will be growing rapidly and may even have 1 – 2 teeth. This will mean he may be ready for new foods. Based on baby’s weight and your pediatrician’s recommendations, you can begin to introduce a thicker oatmeal, chicken breast puree and even yogurt. When my baby boy was about 7 – 8 months I began mixing apple puree and cinnamon in his oatmeal. I also introduced chicken breast puree and bean puree. Your baby may not like certain foods at first, but don’t give up. Allow 3-5 days for you baby to try each food, one at time. This way you can also check if there are any allergies present. It’s a good idea to keep a baby food journal and track your baby’s feeding noting any changes. This will make is easy for you to relate any important information to your pediatrician.

8 -10 MONTHS

At this stage, your baby may have more teeth growing in and eye and finger coordination is stronger. You may notice your baby is ready for soft finger foods, such as Cheerios or baby finger cereals. Be careful not to offer any hard, raw foods, such as apple slices or carrot sticks at this point. Make sure fruits and veggies are soft enough to mash with gentle pressure between your thumb and forefinger. Always keep a close eye on how your baby chews and manages this new food.

10 – 12 MONTHS

When baby reaches 10 – 12 months you may have noticed many changes and growth. By this time baby should be ready for more solid foods and less milk and puree. Although, every family has different needs so as soon as your child is able, transition them away from smooth puree. Incorporate more finger foods and make sure there’s texture in any mash. It’s also safe to feed your child soft rice and soft beans at this stage. If your baby has many teeth and after consulting with your pediatrician, you can ask if you baby is ready for apple slices or blueberries. You may even begin to introduce citrus fruits. Take notice in your child’s reactions to these fruits, allowing a few days of observation. I personally waited after 12 months to introduce citrus since they have strong sour flavors. Each family is different and has unique needs, so pay close attention to what may work or not work for your baby. Consulting with your pediatrician regularly will help with your baby’s food decisions.

Take note that there are some foods that are known to be highly allergic foods, so it would be best avoid them altogether during the first year. Most pediatricians advise to stay away from honey, peanuts, whole milk, grapes and candy. These not only can cause allergic rashes but some are also common choking hazards!

I hope this baby food feeding guide has helping in some way and made your journey as a new parent easier. If you have any ideas or just began your baby food journey please leave a comment below and share your experience!

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