Feeding Your Baby: Birth to 12 Months

Your baby's feeding needs change as they grow. Tap each age to see what and how much to feed.

Breast milk or formula only
Your newborn has a tiny stomach and needs to eat often.
How much:
Breastfeed 8-12 times every 24 hours
Pumped breast milk: 2-3 ounces every 2-3 hours
Formula:
1 to 2 ounces every 2-3 hours in the first week
3 to 4 ounces every 2-3 hours by the end of the first month
What's normal:
Eating this often is healthy and normal.
Babies may eat more during growth spurts (around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months).
In the first weeks, wake your newborn to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours, unless your baby’s doctor says it’s okay to let them sleep longer.
Breast milk or formula only
How much:
Breastfeed on demand
Pumped breast milk: 3-5 ounces on demand
Formula: 4-6 ounces every 3-4 hours
What's normal:
Your baby may start to follow a feeding schedule.
Let your baby tell you when they've had enough.
Teething babies may want to feed more often.
Dental care: Wipe your baby's gums with a clean, damp cloth after feedings.
Breast milk or formula
How much:
Breastfeed on demand (may have a growth spurt this month)
Pumped breast milk: 3-5 ounces on demand
Formula: 7-8 ounces every 3-4 hours
Option to start offering small amounts of breast milk, formula, or water in a cup
Starting solid foods
Breast milk or formula is still your baby's main source of nutrition. You can also work in solid food by making your own baby food or with baby-led weaning.
Try one new food at a time, starting with 1-2 tablespoons. Watch for allergy signs like wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.
What your baby can eat from different food groups
Cereals and breads
Amount: 2-4 tablespoons per day
What to offer:
Iron-fortified infant cereal mixed with breast milk or formula
Feed with a spoon
Small pieces of plain bread
Baby crackers
Vegetables
Amount: 4-8 tablespoons per day
What to offer:
Plain strained, mashed, or pureed cooked vegetables
No salt, butter, or seasoning
Avoid: Raw vegetables (choking hazard)
Fruits
Fruits Amount: 4-8 tablespoons per day
What to offer:
Plain strained, mashed, or pureed fruit
No added sugar
Protein and dairy
Amount: 2-4 tablespoons per day
What to offer:
Plain strained, mashed, or pureed meats, poultry, eggs, fish, or beans
Smooth whole-milk yogurt
Avoid: Nuts, hot dogs (choking hazards)
Breast milk or formula
How much:
Breastfeed on demand
Pumped breast milk: 3-5 ounces on demand
Formula: 7-8 ounces every 3-4 hours
You can offer breast milk or formula in a cup.
Tip: If your baby seems less interested in breastfeeding after starting solids, try breastfeeding before offering solid foods.
What your baby can eat from different food groups
Your baby can handle more textures now. Try experimenting with the foods in this list. Let your baby try to feed themselves, too.
Cereals and breads
Amount: 4-8 tablespoons per day
What to offer:
Different types of iron-fortified infant cereal
Plain rice or pasta
Baby crackers, bread, small pieces of soft tortillas
Corn grits
Vegetables
Amount: 8-12 tablespoons per day
What to offer:
Plain cooked vegetables mashed with a fork
Avoid: Raw vegetables, vegetables with seeds
Fruits
Amount: 8-12 tablespoons per day
What to offer:
Peeled soft fruit in bite-sized pieces (bananas, pears, peaches)
Unsweetened canned fruit
Avoid: Sweetened desserts
Protein and dairy
Amount: 4-8 tablespoons per day
What to offer:
Finely ground or chopped meats, poultry, eggs, fish
Cooked mashed beans
Cottage cheese or mild cheese
Avoid: Tough meats, combination meat/vegetable baby foods, gravy, fried foods
Breast milk or formula
How much:
Breastfeed on demand
Pumped breast milk: 3-5 ounces on demand
Formula: 7-8 ounces every 3-4 hours
At 12 months, you can start giving your baby cow’s milk. Keep in mind that breast milk is still an important nutrition source.
Exploring the food groups more
Cereals and breads
Amount: 4-8 tablespoons per day
What to offer:
Plain unsweetened adult cereals (if your baby can pick up small objects with thumb and finger)
All previous food
Vegetables
Amount: 8-12 tablespoons per day
What to offer: Cooked, bite-sized vegetable pieces
Fruits
Amount: 8-12 tablespoons per day
What to offer: Fresh fruit, peeled and in bite-sized pieces
Protein and dairy
Amount: 4-8 tablespoons per day
What to offer:
Finely ground or chopped meats, poultry, eggs, fish
Cooked mashed beans
Cottage cheese or mild cheese
Dental care
Wipe your baby's gums and teeth with a clean, damp cloth after feedings.

Important Safety Tips

Always:

Hold your baby when feeding (never prop the bottle).
Introduce one new food at a time.
Watch for allergy signs (wheezing, rash, diarrhea).
Feed right when you notice early hunger cues (hand sucking, lip smacking) to stop your baby from crying.

Never:

Put cereal in a bottle (choking hazard).
Add salt, butter, sugar, or corn syrup to food.
Give honey before age 1.
Give water before 6 months.
Put anything except breast milk, formula, or water (after 6 months) in a bottle.