Skip to content

What to feed your baby, and when…

I’ve been getting mixed advice from random Brooklynites with regards to what I should be feeding my 7 month old son. Along with breastmilk, I puree veggies and oatmeal for him everyday. I also give him a bottle with water in it to sip from. My upstairs neighbor recommends chicken soup broth and soft boiled egg whites mashed up, while a nanny I met at the playground says not to give them any type of chicken yet. Friends recommend everything from whatever I eat (finely mashed up) to meat (same). I decided to reference my hospital’s recommendations, as I adore NY Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, and have been nothing but impressed with them on every level (hugely including the thoughtful Chanel gift bags I received after the delivery of both of my kids). I must say that I, personally, have given my baby things before this list recommends.  Here it is, our reminder list….

0~3 Months: Breastmilk and/or Formula. 18-24oz is enough for most babies at this stage. DO NOT give the baby honey until age 1.

4~6 Months: Infant Cereal, fed with a spoon. Iron-fortified cereal may help prevent anemia.

5~7 Months: Vegetables and fruits (strained or blended). Start with winter squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, strained peas or green beans, uncooked mashed bananas, strained and cooked apples, pears, plums, and peaches.  DO NOT give citrus; these may cause allergies. 2-3 Tbsp of solids at each 3-4 feedings a day.

6~8 Months: Strained beans, Yogurt, Cottage Cheese, Tofu, Strained Meat or Chicken, Egg Yolk, Water or formula in a cup. Homemade is best. Avoid combination dinners, buy single-ingredient meats. Baby should start drinking from a cup with help.

7~9 Months: Infant cereals, along with mashed vegetables and fruits. Mild cheeses too. Avoid pre-sweetened cereals. 6-7 Tbsp. of various solids at each of the 3-4 feedings a day.

8~9 Months: Finger foods (toast squares. cooked vegetable strips or slices. peeled/soft fruit wedges, mall tender pieces of meat, formula or water from a cup).

10~12 Months: Family foods (vegetables and fruits, cereal and bread, chicken, meat, beans, and cheese).

DO NOT give baby until age 3: 

Nuts or Seeds

Raw carrots or small, hard pieces of fruit

Popcorn

Grapes

Hot Dog pieces

Hard candy

1 Year: Whole milk. Whole egg.  Fish. Wean from a bottle to a cup. Serve no more than 24 ounces of milk in one day.

There we have it. If you have a baby under one, I hope this helps you as much as it’s helping me!

Rebecca Conroy is an artist, stylist, and Editor of A Child Grows in Brooklyn. She is  from New York City, and has an MFA from Columbia University in screenwriting. Rebecca often finds herself on film and photography sets making things run or look better, and is the mom of two outrageously wonderful kids.