Baby Can:

• Suck and swallow liquid
• Push tongue out

Food:

• Breast Milk
• Infant Formula
• Vitamin supplementation
• Exclusive breastfeeding excludes all other fluids or solids.
• Commercial infant formula according to age. Do not use homemade formulas. Avoid bottle propping. As recommended by physician

Baby Can:

• Sit without support
• Hold head up steady
• Push food to back of mouth with tongue and swallow
• Grab hold of things
• Begin to chew (6-8 months)

Food:

• Provide a variety of Healthy Foods
• Fluoride drops
• Continue providing breast milk and/or age appropriate commercial infant formula
• Introduce a variety of soft textured (pureed) healthy foods. Introduce one new single-ingredient food (with no sugar or salt) every three to five days, such as oatmeal, sweet potato, pumpkin, peas, banana, and avocado.
• Encourage drinking from a cup.
• Never put cereal in the bottle. It may cause choking, promote over-eating and dental cavities. Offer cereal from a spoon.
• To assist with the development of teeth, obtain fluoride drops from the Child Health Clinic in your parish FREE of charge.

Baby Can:

• Take a bite of food
• Pick up small pieces & feed self
• Chew and swallow finely chopped foods
• Begin to use a spoon (10-12 months)

Food:

• Offer finger foods to encourage self-feeding
• Continue providing breast milk and/or age appropriate commercial infant formula
• Begin to offer soft finely chopped finger foods within three meals and three snacks daily.
• Progress towards a variety of textures (mashed or chopped versions) from foods your family eats

Baby Can:

• Eat cut up small soft pieces of food that are easy to digest

Food:

• Provide a variety of Healthy foods from family meals
• Provide 3 meals and 2-3 snacks daily
• Don't restrict healthy fats in the diet
• Be sure food is cool enough to avoid mouth burns
• Avoid large chunks (e.g. meat, raw vegetables or fruit) or small hard foods (e.g. whole pea- nuts, whole grapes, candies) that can be a choking hazard in blocking the windpipe

Baby Can:

• Able to use a spoon, drink from a cup with just one hand, and feed him or herself a wide variety of finger foods.
• Encourage toddler to eat at family meal times but do not battle. Relax and enjoy the time together. Share stories.
• Offer nutritious foods and allow them to choose what and how much to eat. Remember food likes and dislikes is normal. Continue to offer new foods
• Encourage them to try new foods but do not force them. Appetite will vary from day to day so do not focus on amounts- Limit sweets, high fat snacks and sweetened drinks