Your toddler may turn to nursing for comfort and reassurance, but he is certainly still benefiting from the nutritional and immunologic benefits. In any case, emotional support is a perfectly legitimate aspect of breastfeeding.
Seeking out a reassuring nursing session when he’s upset and bouncing back as soon as he finishes builds your child’s confidence and feelings of security and well-being. Certainly there is no evidence that extended breastfeeding makes a child more dependent or harms him in any way.
On the contrary, many parents proudly tell how independent, healthy, and exceptionally bright their long-term breastfed children become. As long as you are comfortable breastfeeding your toddler, there is no reason to stop.
How to Feed Your Baby Step by Step
This is a general guide for feeding a baby. Your baby may eat a little more or a little less than this guide suggests.
0 to 4 months
Breast Milk
- Nurse on demand, 5 to 10 minutes per breast.
Formula
Age # times/day serving size ----------------------------------------------------------- 0 to 1 Month 6 to 8 times 2 to 4 oz ----------------------------------------------------------- 1 to 2 months 5 to 7 times 3 to 5 oz ----------------------------------------------------------- 2 to 3 months 4 to 6 times 4 to 7 oz ----------------------------------------------------------- 3 to 4 months 4 to 6 times 5 to 8 oz -------------------------------------------------------------
- Never prop a bottle. Always hold the baby to feed.
- Don’t microwave bottles.
- Don’t force a large feeding amount. 6 wet diapers is a good sign your baby is getting enough.
- Do not feed honey to a child until 1 year of age.
4 to 6 months
Breast Milk or Formula
4 to 6 times per day, 6 to 8 oz at each feeding
- Don’t prop the bottle.
- Use a pacifier if the baby wants to suck.
Grains
Rice cereal 1 to 2 times per day, 1 to 2 tbsp. servings
- Start cereal if baby is taking over 32 oz per day.
- Don’t put cereal in a bottle.
6 to 8 months
Breast Milk or Formula
3 to 5 times per day, 6 to 8 oz servings
- Give breast milk or formula before giving solids.
Grains
Rice Cereal 3 to 5 times per day, 2 to 4 tbsp. servings
- Don’t heat in microwave.
Fruits & Veggies
Strained fruits and vegetables, 2 to 4 times per day, 2 to 3 tbsp. servings
- Keep solids refrigerated.
- Start one fruit or vegetable at a time.
- Do not give foods in chunks.
8 to 12 months
Breast Milk or Formula
3 to 4 times per day, 6 to 8 oz servings
- Baby can hold a bottle but don’t give a bottle in bed.
- Try using a cup.
Grains
Baby cereal, crackers, bread, or dry cereal, 1 to 2 times per day, 2 to 4 tbsp. servings
- Start with soft finger foods.
- Be patient.
- Feed your baby in a high chair.
- Feed only foods that will dissolve in the mouth.
Fruits & Veggies
Strained or mashed fruits or vegetables, 3 to 4 times per day, 3 to 4 tbsp. servings
Fruit juice (not orange) 1 time per day, 4 oz in cup
- Juice does not replace milk.
- Give juice in a cup.
Meat
Strained chicken, beef, or dried beans, 1 to 2 times per day, 3 to 4 tbsp. servings
- Do not give hotdogs or pieces of meat that need chewing.
Age 1+ years
- You may give whole milk instead of formula. Your child may also have citrus juice, honey, and whole eggs after 1 year of age. Never give honey to babies. Honey may cause a serious disease called botulism in children less than 1 year old.
- Continue to have meals in a high chair or at the table.
- DO NOT allow your child to walk around and eat small amounts of food frequently (grazing).
- Do not add peanuts, treenuts or shellfish to your child’s diet until 2 or 3 years of age.
- Give your child snacks at the table. Snacks are important for baby’s increasing energy needs.
Other Dairy Foods
- Yogurt, 1/4 to 1/2 cup servings
- Offer cottage cheese, 1 to 2 tbsp. servings