Baby Feeding Schedule

Being a mother is never easy. First, you have to go through 9 months of morning sickness and illogical eating preferences and then, the agonizing pain of labor. However, when you hold your little one in your hands, all the troubles and pain seem to be completely worthwhile. Now, wait a minute! Though you have experienced the greatest joy of the world, the difficulties are far from over. In fact, you will now have to take care of your baby and understand his each and every need, since he cannot convey them to you. One of the biggest dilemmas that a mother faces is regarding the feeding schedule of the baby, as to what to feed him and when. To help you with this, we have provided a sample feeding schedule for babies, in the following lines.

Infant Feeding Schedule

First Four Months

Feed only Breast Milk
In the initial months, the frequency of breastfeed should be every 2-3 hours. It should be gradually increased as other foods are added to the baby’s diet.

Four to Six Months

Breast milk or formula
Semi-liquid iron-fortified rice cereal
Grain cereals like oats or barley

Six to Eight Months

Breast milk or formula
Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, oats)
Pureed or strained fruits (banana, pears, peaches, etc)
Pureed or strained vegetables (well-cooked carrots, sweet potato, etc)

Eight to Ten Months

Breast milk or formula
Small amounts of soft, pasteurized cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese
Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals, etc)
Mashed fruits (bananas, peaches, pears, avocados, etc)
Mashed vegetables (cooked carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc)
Finger foods (lightly toasted bread, small pieces of ripe banana, teething crackers. low-sugar cereal, etc)
Small amounts of protein (egg yolk, well-cooked and mashed beans, split peas, etc)
Non-citrus juice like apple or pear (dilute with two parts of water)

Ten to Twelve Months

Breast milk or formula
Soft, pasteurized cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc
Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals, etc)
Fruits, cut into cubes or strips
Bite-size, soft-cooked vegetables (peas, carrots, etc)
Protein (egg yolk, well-cooked and mashed beans, split peas, etc)
Finger foods (lightly toasted bread, small pieces of ripe banana, teething crackers. low-sugar cereal, etc)
Non-citrus juice (apple or pear)

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