With your baby in your arms, feeding your little one can be a challenge. Your first feeding session starts as soon as you become a new mother.
From the golden hour to 12 months of your baby’s life, nutritional needs change gradually. That 1 year may not be that long, but it’s a great learning experience for new moms. Breastfeeding comes naturally at these stages of your baby’s life.
Well, here is a guide curated for you, as a new mom from 0 to 12 months.
Baby food: From 0 to 6 months
Babies grow faster from 0 to 6 months. Breast milk is the only easily digestible nutrition of the newborn, which helps the baby grow. Experts always recommend that you breastfeed your baby for 6 months.
So, how will you feed your newborn from 0 to 6 months?
Newborns typically consume 2 to 3 ounces of breast milk or formula every two to three hours. However, it can be difficult to determine the exact amount while breastfeeding. Well, here’s the way out:
- In the first days of the baby’s life, the little one’s belly is small. You may not need to feed the baby breast milk at this time.
- When your baby is one month old, he will need 3 to 4 ounces every two to four hours daily.
- During the second month, breast milk intake would be 4 to 5 ounces, after every three to four hours.
- In the third, your little one would need 4 to 6 ounces of breast milk or infant formula within 3 to 4 hours.
- Breast milk or formula, every four to five hours, is the nutritional need for your 4-month-old.
- Intake of 6 to 7 ounces of breast milk or formula in the fifth month is the nutritional requirement, every four to five hours a day.
- By the time your little one reaches half a year, he has received maximum nutrition from breast milk. But this does not mean that you should stop feeding the baby. Be sure to offer 7 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula during this phase of your baby’s life. Along with breastfeeding, this is also the time to try solid foods. While that transition from exclusive breastfeeding or formula to solids may not be a cake walk, offering 1 to 9 tablespoons of fruits, vegetables, and grains can help your baby’s health and nutrition. Do not forget to give your baby yogurt during this period.
Baby food: From 7 to 8 months
Once your baby reaches 7 to 8 months, he becomes very curious about the world around him and starts achieving the most important physical milestones like sitting, slowly standing, etc. Your 7 or 8 month old can master swallowing. Your baby is slowly getting ready for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Providing your baby with a healthy, nutritious, varied diet, in addition to breast milk, can help your baby thrive.
How will you feed your child from 7 to 8 months?
You must breastfeed the baby first before giving him solid food. You don’t need to add salt or sugar when preparing your baby’s food. Adding salt or sugar to your baby’s food is unhealthy for his kidneys. Additionally, adding sugar to their food can cause tooth decay.
Your little one may not be ready to eat at the same time. You may need to give it at least 10 tries before your little one starts eating. This is a critical stage in their lives. Some days you will notice that they will take more, some days they may consume less. There will be some days when they don’t feel like eating.
Remember, your little one should make your baby food mushy and soft. Give them rice, oats, lentils, apples, mangoes and essential vegetables.
Be patient! Let them get used to decent eating habits.
If your child feels hungry between meals, let him hold your breast.
Baby food: From 9 to 10 months
Did you hear the little one screaming or calling you “mommy” or your partner “daddy”?
Ah! As a new mom, you will feel very happy and proud that your baby has started to communicate. The little one will slowly understand goodbye waves and simple words like “no” and “come here”. They will show feelings of fear, sadness or happiness. They will be aware of different emotions such as feeling fear, surprise or happiness. The game of peek-a-boo will be interesting and fun.
This means your little one’s brain is developing. Boost their brain function by providing them with nutritious food.
How will you feed your child from 9 to 10 months?
Around this time, you should fill your little one’s stomach with solid food and a healthy snack, in addition to giving them breast milk or formula-fed milk.
A 9- or 10-month-old’s breakfast will include fresh fruit, nutritious vegetables, cereals and eggs.
Lunch can include soup, vegetables, fruit, meat, rice or roti.
Give your little one crackers, cookies, butter or yogurt for snacks. What about dinner? Dinner can be just like lunch. Sometimes, little ones may want something else for dinner.
Baby food: From 11 to 12 months
Your baby will soon be one year old. During teething, your little one will start nodding, waving, pointing and talking. He or she will begin to chew and chop solid foods. They will walk independently. They can also shake, poke, throw and drop objects during this time.
This means that your 11 or 12 year old is full of energy and excitement at this time. In addition, their digestive system is still developing. So you can give your little one food full of energy.
What should you feed your child from 11 to 12 months?
As your little one approaches their 1st birthday, some may consider weaning off the breast. (Breastfeeding or not is a new mom’s personal choice). The 11- or 12-month-old is slowly getting into family meals and eating three times a day.
Try to feed your little one healthy and nutritious food. The little one can feed fish, fried etc. Instead of mother’s milk, you can give cow’s milk to your little one. Check if your 1-year-old has a love for sweets. Make him a milkshake by adding fruit or raisins to the milk instead of sugar.
