Figuring out the right Baby Foods and the amount to feed your baby can be challenging, especially when introducing solids. While each baby is unique, these baby food charts offer a general guideline on what and how much to feed your baby at each age and developmental stage.
Reviewed by Erin Hinga, M.S., R.D., Registered Dietitian
Written by Dana Dubinsky
Image: Variety of colorful and nutritious baby foods on plastic plates, ready to be served.
Introducing solid baby foods is a significant milestone. After months of breast milk or formula, parents often wonder if their baby will accept new tastes and textures like dry cereal or pureed fruits.
This baby food guide provides a general framework for feeding your baby during their first year. Remember, it’s perfectly normal for your baby to eat slightly more or less than suggested, and you can choose various baby foods based on your family’s preferences and cultural norms.
While infant cereal is a common first baby food in many regions, you don’t have to follow a specific order when introducing solids. Starting with pureed vegetables, fruits, or even proteins like tofu is perfectly acceptable.
However, it’s always recommended to consult with your pediatrician before starting solid baby foods, especially if you plan to explore diverse and adventurous options.
Key Baby Foods Takeaways
- From birth to 4-6 months, babies should exclusively consume breast milk or formula.
- Around 4-6 months, when babies show readiness signs, you can begin introducing small amounts of smooth infant cereal and purees. Starting solids is generally more common around 6 months.
- By 12 months, a baby’s diet should include a balanced mix of breast milk or formula, soft bite-sized fruits and vegetables, proteins, and starchy baby foods.
Baby Foods for Newborns to 3 Months
Feeding Behavior:
At this stage, babies are primarily focused on drinking milk. Their feeding behavior is driven by hunger cues and the need for nourishment to support rapid growth. They have a natural sucking reflex and are efficient at obtaining milk from breast or bottle.
What Baby Foods to Feed:
- Exclusively breast milk or formula. These are the only recommended baby foods for this age group, providing all the necessary nutrients for healthy development.
How Much Baby Food Per Day:
| Age | Amount of Breast Milk or Formula | Feedings per 24 Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 1 to 2 ounces | 8 to 12 times |
| 1 month | 2 to 4 ounces | 6 to 8 times |
| 2 months | 5 to 6 ounces | 5 to 6 times |
| 3 months | 6 to 7 ounces | 5 to 6 times |
If you’re unsure if your baby is getting enough nutrition, consult resources on adequate infant feeding or speak with your pediatrician.
Baby Food Feeding Tips:
- Solid baby food is not appropriate at this age as your baby’s digestive system is still developing. Introducing solids too early can lead to digestive issues and allergies.
- Establishing a consistent sleep and feeding routine can be beneficial for both you and your baby. Explore sample schedules for 1-2 month olds and 3-4 month olds for routine ideas.
Baby Foods for 4 to 6 Months
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months. However, you can start introducing solid baby foods once your baby exhibits developmental readiness, typically between 4 and 6 months.
Dr. Chandani DeZure, a board-certified pediatrician and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board, emphasizes safety: “Safety is my primary concern when starting solid foods. I don’t recommend introducing them until babies can hold their heads up and ideally show signs they can move food from the front to the back of their mouths. After that, it really should be fun for babies and parents. New exposures and textures are great for babies to try and they often want to eat off of parents’ plates, which is a great way to get them interested in new foods, too!”
There are different approaches to introducing solid baby foods. The traditional method involves starting with purees. Another option is baby-led weaning, which encourages skipping purees and offering soft, easy-to-handle finger foods.
Rlr0711, a BabyCenter Community member, shares her experience: “When my oldest started puree, our doctor said to start with a tablespoon and work up, but my boy was eating the entire jar and wanting more. I think it really just depends on your baby. If they seem full, then don’t push it. but if they want the whole jar and you think they can tolerate it, I’d say that’s fine.” This highlights that baby food amounts are guidelines, and you should follow your baby’s cues.
Signs of Readiness for Solid Baby Foods:
- Ability to hold their head steady and sit upright in a high chair.
- Significant weight gain, usually doubling their birth weight and weighing at least 13 pounds.
- Ability to close their mouth around a spoon and demonstrate interest in food.
- Capacity to move food from the front to the back of their mouth and swallow effectively.
What Baby Foods to Feed:
- Breast milk or formula remains a primary source of nutrition.
- Pureed vegetables like peas, squash, and sweet potatoes.
- Pureed fruits such as apples, bananas, and peaches.
- Pureed meats like chicken, pork, and beef, providing essential iron.
- Semi-liquid, iron-fortified single-grain cereal (oatmeal or barley are preferable to rice cereal due to arsenic concerns).
- Small amounts of unsweetened plain yogurt (dairy milk should be avoided until 12 months).
How Much Baby Food Per Day:
| Age | Breast Milk or Formula | Solid Baby Food |
|---|---|---|
| 4 months | 28 to 32 ounces | 2 to 4 teaspoons of pureed baby food, introduced once or twice a day. |
| 5 months | 28 to 32 ounces | 3 to 5 tablespoons of dry infant cereal, 3 to 10 tablespoons of pureed fruit, vegetables, and protein. Consider snacks like arrowroot cookies, toast, or crackers. |
| 6 months | 28 to 32 ounces | 3 to 5 tablespoons of dry infant cereal, 1 to 4 tablespoons each of pureed fruit, vegetables, and protein. Snacks can include arrowroot cookies, toast, or crackers. |
- Babies at this age typically have four to six milk feedings daily (4-6 ounce bottles if bottle-feeding).
- When starting solids, begin with a tiny amount (1-2 teaspoons) of a single-ingredient puree once or twice a day.
- Gradually increase the quantity to 1-2 tablespoons per feeding. Mix cereal with breast milk or formula to achieve a smooth consistency.
- Around 4 months, you can introduce simple snacks that are easy for babies to manage, such as arrowroot cookies. Always check product labels for age recommendations on baby snacks.
Baby Foods for 7 to 9 Months
Signs of Readiness for Finger Baby Foods:
- Developing pincer grasp – picking up objects with thumb and forefinger.
- Ability to transfer items from one hand to the other.
- Moving jaw in a chewing motion, indicating readiness for textured baby foods.
- Swallowing food more efficiently without pushing it out with their tongue.
- Showing interest in self-feeding and possibly trying to use a spoon.
What Baby Foods to Feed:
- Breast milk or formula remains important.
- Pureed or strained fruits (banana, pears, applesauce, peaches, avocado).
- Pureed or strained vegetables (well-cooked carrots, squash, sweet potato).
- Pureed or mashed meat (chicken, pork, beef).
- Pureed or mashed tofu as a plant-based protein option.
- Small quantities of pureed or soft pasteurized cheese, cottage cheese, or unsweetened yogurt.
- Pureed or mashed legumes (black beans, chickpeas, edamame, lentils, kidney beans), offering fiber and protein.
- Iron-fortified cereals (oats, barley), along with small pieces of soft bread and crackers for texture exploration.
How Much Baby Food Per Day:
| Age | Breast Milk or Formula | Solid Baby Food |
|---|---|---|
| 7 months | 30 to 32 ounces | 3 to 5 tablespoons dry infant cereal, 4 to 6 tablespoons each of pureed fruit and vegetables, 2 to 4 tablespoons of pureed protein. Snacks: Arrowroot cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt. |
| 8 months | 30 to 32 ounces | 5 to 8 tablespoons dry infant cereal, 4 to 6 tablespoons each of mashed fruit and vegetables, 2 to 4 tablespoons of pureed protein. Snacks: Arrowroot cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt. |
| 9 months | 30 to 32 ounces | 5 to 8 tablespoons dry infant cereal, 4 to 8 tablespoons each of mashed fruit and vegetables, 4 to 6 tablespoons of chopped protein, 1/2 to 1 cup of soft starches (rice, pasta, potatoes). Snacks: Cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt. |
- Breast milk or formula: 3-5 feedings per day (6-8 ounces if bottle-feeding).
- Fruit: Start with 2-3 tablespoons per serving, gradually increasing to 4-8 tablespoons.
- Vegetables: Begin with 2-3 tablespoons, increasing to 4-8 tablespoons.
- Grain products: 1-2 tablespoons per serving, increasing to 2-4 tablespoons.
- Protein-rich foods: 1-2 tablespoons, gradually increasing to 2-4 tablespoons.
Baby Food Feeding Tips:
- As your baby becomes more experienced with eating, introduce a wider variety of baby foods and increase meal frequency. By around 8 months, babies often eat one to two meals of solid baby food per day.
- When introducing any new baby food, start with a very small amount (a teaspoon or two) to allow your baby to adjust to new flavors and textures and monitor for any allergic reactions.
- Consult sample sleep and feeding schedules for 7-8 month olds to help establish a healthy routine.
New exposures and textures are great for babies to try and they often want to eat off of parents’ plates, which is a great way to get them interested in new foods, too!
- Dr. Chandani DeZure, pediatrician
Baby Foods for 10 to 12 Months
What Baby Foods to Feed:
- Continue breast milk or formula.
- Soft pasteurized cheese, cottage cheese, and unsweetened yogurt remain good dairy options.
- Bite-sized, soft-cooked vegetables (carrots, squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes) offer essential vitamins and minerals.
- Fruits mashed or cut into soft cubes or strips (bananas, peaches, pears, avocados) provide natural sweetness and fiber.
- Finger foods like O-shaped cereal, small pieces of scrambled eggs, well-cooked potato and pasta pieces, teething crackers, and bagel pieces encourage self-feeding skills.
- Protein-rich foods (small bits of meat, poultry, boneless fish, tofu, well-cooked beans like lentils, split peas, pintos, or black beans) are crucial for growth and development.
- Iron-fortified cereals and other grains (barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals) provide energy and nutrients.
How Much Baby Food Per Day:
| Age | Breast Milk or Formula | Solid Baby Food |
|---|---|---|
| 10 months | 30 to 32 ounces | 5 to 8 tablespoons dry infant cereal, 4 to 8 tablespoons each of mashed fruit and bite-sized vegetables, 4 to 6 tablespoons of protein (meats, fish, cheese), 1/2 to 1 cup soft starches. Snacks: Cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt, cottage cheese. |
| 11 months | 24 to 30 ounces | 5 to 8 tablespoons dry infant cereal, 4 to 8 tablespoons each of mashed fruit and bite-sized vegetables, 4 to 6 tablespoons of protein (meats, fish, cheese), 1/2 to 1 cup soft starches. Snacks: Cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt, cottage cheese. |
| 12 months | 24 to 30 ounces | 5 to 8 tablespoons dry infant cereal, 4 to 8 tablespoons each of mashed fruit and bite-sized vegetables, 4 to 6 tablespoons of protein (meats, fish, cheese), 1/2 to 1 cup soft starches. Snacks: Cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt, cottage cheese. |
- Breast milk or formula: 3-4 feedings (breastfeeding or 7-8 ounce bottles).
- Fruit: 1/4 to 1/2 cup.
- Vegetables: 1/4 to 1/2 cup.
- Protein-rich foods: 1/4 to 1/2 cup.
- Soft starches: 1/2 to 1 cup.
Baby Food Feeding Tips:
- By 8 months and beyond, babies often transition to three meals a day and incorporate more snacks into their daily routine.
- Continue offering a wide variety of baby foods from all food groups – fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins. As your baby’s chewing and swallowing skills improve, gradually introduce more complex textures and soft finger foods.
It’s perfectly acceptable for your baby to eat what the rest of the family is eating, with minor modifications. Just be mindful of added sugars, which are not recommended for children under 2 years old. Always check nutrition labels on packaged baby foods and try to avoid products with added sugars listed as 1 gram or more.
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Sources
BabyCenter’s editorial team is dedicated to providing trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information. Our content relies on credible sources, including health organizations, medical professionals, and peer-reviewed studies. We believe in transparency and encourage you to learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.
- Chandani DeZure, M.D., FAAP, pediatric hospitalist and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board
- Erin Hinga, M.S., Registered Dietitian and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board
- AAP. 2022. Policy statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/1/e2022057988/188347/Policy-Statement-Breastfeeding-and-the-Use-ofOpens a new window [Accessed January 2025]
- AAP. 2024. Breastfeeding & Solid Foods: Working Together. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Working-Together-Breastfeeding-and-Solid-Foods.aspxOpens a new window [Accessed January 2025]
- AAP. 2023. Heavy Metals in Baby Food. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Metals-in-Baby-Food.aspxOpens a new window [Accessed January 2025]
- Stanford Children’s Health. Undated. Feeding Guide for the First Year. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=feeding-guide-for-the-first-year-90-P02209Opens a new window [Accessed January 2025]
- USDA and DHHS. 2020. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans-2020-2025.pdfOpens a new window [Accessed January 2025]
- USDA. 2019. Infant nutrition and feeding. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/infant-feeding-guide.pdfOpens a new window
