Breast milk is the best choice for your baby. You can offer
iron-fortified infant formula to babies who are not breastfed. Babies do not
need solid foods until they are 6 months old.
Babies who breastfeed need 400 IU of vitamin D each day from a vitamin supplement.
Babies who have formula may also need a vitamin D supplement depending on how
much formula they drink. Babies who drink both breast milk and formula need
a vitamin D supplement.
Why start foods at 6 months of age?
At 6 months of age, your baby needs more nutrients, especially iron. Your baby
needs to try different foods and tastes. Most babies are ready for solid foods.
Signs of readiness include the following:
Your baby sits and holds her head up;
She watches and opens her mouth for the spoon;
She does not push food out with her tongue.
How much should I offer my baby?
Let your baby decide how much to eat. Use the amounts of food listed here as
a general guideline only.
When feeding your baby, look for signs or cues of hunger and fullness.
Babies will shut their mouths, turn their heads or push food away when they
have had enough to eat. Do not force your baby to eat more when she has had
enough.
Babies who are still hungry will continue to open their mouths for food
and may be upset when the food is taken away.
How do I start?
Choose a time when your baby is content, interested and alert. Sit down and
eat with your baby.
When starting, offer solid foods after breastfeeding or formula feeding. Begin
by offering solids 2 to 3 times per day and increase to 3 to 4 times per day.
As your baby eats more solid foods, she will gradually drink less breast milk
or formula. Please note the following:
Offer one new food at a time.
Wait a few days before adding another new food.
Do not put cereal or other solids in a bottle.
From 6 to 8 months of age
Continue to breastfeed or offer iron-fortified infant formula according
to your baby’s hunger and fullness cues.
Sips of water may be offered in a cup, but do not let your baby fill up
on water.
Your baby does not need juice. If offering juice, limit to 60-125 mL (1/4-1/2
cup) per day, served in a cup. Offer 100% juice only.
Start with high iron foods like single-grain iron-fortified infant cereal,
well-cooked finely minced meat, poultry or fish, mashed cooked egg, lentils,
beans or tofu. Mix with breast milk, formula or water. Offer iron rich foods
at least twice a day.
Gradually increase cereal to about 60-125 mL (4-8 Tbsp) each day.
Gradually increase meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, egg, lentils, beans and
tofu to about 100 mL (6 Tbsp) total per day.
Offer cooked, well-mashed vegetables like yams, sweet potatoes, potatoes,
squash, carrots, and mashed fruit like pears, peaches, and bananas. Start
with small amounts and gradually increase to about 60-125 mL (4-8 Tbsp) per
day.
Offer finger foods such as:
pieces of cooked vegetables or soft fruit without the peel such as potato,
yam, avocado, apricot, pear, banana, peach or plum
pieces of toast, roti or tortilla
cooked rice or pasta
“oat rings” cereal
Pureed foods are not needed. Your baby can enjoy mashed foods and finger foods
before teeth appear.
From 9 to 12 months of age
Offer breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula according to your baby’s
hunger and fullness signs or cues. As your baby eats more solid foods, she
will gradually drink less breast milk or formula.
Offer water in a cup.
Your baby does not need juice. If offering juice, limit to 60-125 mL (1/4-1/2
cup) per day, served in a cup. Offer 100% juice only.
Do not let your baby sip on juice or diluted juice between meals or snacks
as this can cause tooth decay.
Offer solids 3 to 4 times per day. Offer solids before breast or formula feeding.
Your baby can eat the same meals – soft and diced foods – as
the rest of the family. See information under safety tips.
Iron-fortified cereal, about 125 mL (1/2 cup) or more per day.
Well cooked meat, fish, shellfish, poultry, egg, lentils, beans, and tofu
– about 100-125 mL (6-8 Tbsp) total per day.
Soft vegetables and fruit – about 125-250 mL (1/2-1 cup) per day.
After 9 months of age, you can try offering cottage cheese, plain yogurt,
and small pieces of hard cheese like cheddar or gouda, and pasteurized soft
cheese.
Let baby try self-feeding with fingers or a spoon.
What about cow's milk?
Breastfeeding is recommended until your baby is 2 years old and older. It is
okay to offer small amounts of whole milk (in a cup) when your baby is 9-12
months old and taking a variety of iron rich solid foods.
Babies and toddlers need fat for brain development, so choose whole milk (3.25%)
until 2 years of age. Lower-fat milk (1% and 2%) can be offered after 2 years
of age. Other drinks such as soy or rice beverages may be offered after 2 years
of age, but check the label to make sure they are fortified with calcium and
vitamin D.
If you choose whole goat milk, make sure it is pasteurized. Most goat milk
does not contain vitamin D, in which case your baby would need a vitamin D supplement.
Tips for enjoyable mealtimes
Help your baby develop healthy food habits and a relaxed feeling about eating.
Offer food at the same times each day.
Sit down and eat with your child. Babies and children enjoy company while
eating.
You decide what foods to offer.
Let your baby decide how much and whether to eat.
Expect a mess. It is part of learning to eat!
If you have questions or concerns about feeding your baby, call 8-1-1 and
speak to a registered dietitian.
Safety Tips
Always stay with your baby while he or she is eating or drinking.
Do not give foods that can cause choking such as popcorn, peanuts, nuts,
sunflower/pumpkin seeds, raisins, hard candies, hard raw vegetables such as
carrots, marshmallows, jellybeans, globs of peanut butter, ice cubes or chips
Grate raw vegetables, and slice and chop grapes into small pieces. Hot dogs
and/or wieners are not a healthy choice, but if you offer them, cut them into
small pieces.
Honey can cause botulism poisoning in babies and it is not recommended for
babies under 1 year of age.
High nitrate vegetables, such as home-prepared carrots, spinach, turnips
and beets, should not be offered before 6 months.
Milk, juice and soft cheeses, such as brie, camembert and feta, should be
pasteurized.
When you offer your baby family meals, make sure they are not high in salt.
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