What can 12 month old eat: What To Feed Your Baby | 12 months plus | Weaning

Age-by-age guide to feeding your toddler

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Your growing toddler can enjoy a wide range of foods. Expect your little one to have about 2 cups of milk or yogurt, 3 ounces of whole grains, 1 cup each of fruit and vegetables, and 2 ounces of protein a day. Help your toddler eat well by offering healthy foods including dairy products, iron-fortified cereals, whole grains, fruit, vegetables, and protein. Limit added sugars and watch out for choking hazards. It’s fine to give your toddler a vegan or vegetarian diet as long as you make sure to include enough essential nutrients.

Photo credit: Thinkstock

Use this guide to find out what and how much to feed your toddler. Don’t worry if your child eats more or less than the amounts suggested – they’re meant as general guidelines.

Your toddler may actually seem to eat less than before, and that’s perfectly normal at this stage. If you wonder whether your child is getting enough calories, follow this guideline: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children get about 40 calories a day for every inch of height.

(See our article about what to feed children younger 12 months.)

What to feed a 1-year-old

Developmental milestones

• Can use a spoon (though proficiency will take a while!)

What to feed

• Whole milk
• Other dairy products (soft pasteurized cheese, full-fat yogurt and cottage cheese)
• Iron-fortified cereals (oats, barley, wheat, mixed cereals)
• Other grains (whole wheat bread, pasta, rice)
• Fruits (melon, papaya, apricot, grapefruit)
• Vegetables (broccoli and cauliflower “trees,” cooked until soft)
• Protein (eggs, beans, thinly spread peanut butter, small pieces of meat, poultry, boneless fish, or tofu)
• Honey

How much per day

• 2 cups milk, or 2 cups yogurt, or 1 1/2 to 2 ounces cheese
• 3 ounces grains, at least half whole grains (1 ounce = 1 cup cold cereal, 1/2 cup pasta or rice, one slice of bread)
• 1 cup fruit (fresh, frozen, or canned. Cut fresh fruits into very small pieces.)
• 1 cup vegetables (a variety cut in small pieces and cooked well)
• 2 ounces protein (1 ounce = one slice of sandwich meat, about 1/3 of a chicken breast, 1/4 can of tuna, 1/4 cup cooked dry beans, or one egg)

Feeding tips

• Experts used to say you shouldn’t give a young child eggs, fish, or peanut products because the child might develop a food allergy. But the latest research from the American Academy of Pediatrics found no evidence to support this claim. Talk to your child’s doctor if you have a family history of food allergies.
• Limit added sugars. Toddlers’ added-sugar intake should be no more than 10 percent of their total daily calories. Keep in mind that these sugars and syrups creep into common foods toddlers love, from breakfast bars to mac n’ cheese to flavored drinks. Check the Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods, and try to steer clear of foods that list 1 gram or more of “Added Sugars. “
• Choking is still a danger. Learn more about which foods pose the greatest hazard.

What to feed a 2-year-old

Developmental milestones

• Self-feeding
• Eagerness to make own food choices

What to feed

• Low-fat milk (It’s okay to switch to low-fat or nonfat milk once your child is older than 2, but check with your child’s doctor if you have questions.)
• Other dairy products (diced or grated cheese, low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, pudding)
• Iron-fortified cereals (oats, barley, wheat, mixed cereals)
• Other grains (whole wheat bread and crackers, bagel pieces, pretzels, ready-to-eat cereal, pasta, rice)
• Fruits (sliced fresh or canned)
• Dried fruit, soaked until soft to prevent choking (apples, apricots, peaches, pears, dates, pitted prunes)
• Vegetables (a variety cut in small pieces and cooked well)
• Protein (eggs, beans, thinly spread peanut butter, small pieces of meat, poultry, boneless fish, or tofu)
• Combo foods like macaroni and cheese, casseroles

How much per day

• 2 cups milk, or 2 cups yogurt, or 1 1/2 to 2 ounces cheese
• 3 ounces grains, at least half whole grains (1 ounce = one slice of bread, 1 cup ready-to-eat cereal, or 1/2 cup of cooked rice, cooked whole wheat pasta, or cooked oatmeal)
• 1 cup fruit (fresh, frozen, canned, or dried. Cut fresh fruits into very small pieces.)
• 1 cup vegetables (a variety cut in small pieces and cooked well)
• 2 ounces protein (1 ounce = 1/4 cup cooked dry beans or peas, one egg, 1 ounce of meat, poultry, or fish)

Feeding tips

• Experts used to say you shouldn’t give a young child eggs, fish, or peanut products because the child might develop a food allergy. But the latest research from the American Academy of Pediatrics found no evidence to support this claim. Talk to your child’s doctor if you have a family history of food allergies.
• Limit added sugars. Toddlers’ added-sugar intake should be no more than 10 percent of their total daily calories. Keep in mind that these sugars and syrups creep into common foods toddlers love, from breakfast bars to mac n’ cheese to flavored drinks. Check the Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods, and try to steer clear of foods that list 1 gram or more of “Added Sugars.”
• At this age, children can have strong opinions about food. Let your child have a say in what to eat, while you provide the balance, boundaries, and encouragement to make healthy choices.
• Choking is still a danger. Learn more about which foods pose the greatest hazard.

What if we’re vegetarians?

If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, you can still provide your infant or toddler with everything she needs. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and American Academy of Pediatrics agree that well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets are fine for infants and toddlers. Just pay attention to make sure your child gets plenty of the following nutrients:

• Vitamin B12: Vegetarians can get this nutrient from milk products and eggs. Vegans can use fortified soy beverages, cereals, and meat substitutes.
• Vitamin D: Breastfed babies should get an additional 400 IU per day from fortified cow’s milk or soy milk.
• Calcium: Vegan babies may need calcium-fortified foods, beverages, or supplements. Check with your doctor or a dietitian.
• Zinc: This important nutrient helps the immune system and can be found in beans, fortified cereal, milk, and wheat germ.
• Iron: You can find this mineral in iron-fortified cereal or supplements. Serve with foods high in vitamin C – like oranges, tomatoes, and strawberries – to improve iron absorption.
• Protein: Vegetarians can get added protein from yogurt and eggs. Vegans can get plant proteins from beans, cereals, and fortified soy milk.
• Fiber: Good sources of fiber include whole grain breads, fortified cereals and pastas, and high-fat plant foods like sunflower butter and avocados.

Sources

BabyCenter’s editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you’re seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

AAP. 2016. Serving Sizes for Toddlers. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/Pages/Serving-Sizes-for-Toddlers.aspx [Accessed April 2021]

AAP. 2017. Feeding and Nutrition Tips: Your 2-Year-Old. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/Pages/Feeding-and-Nutrition-Your-Two-Year-Old.aspx [Accessed April 2021]

USDA. MyPlate. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.myplate.gov/life-stages/toddlers [Accessed April 2021]

USDA and DHHS. 2020. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://DietaryGuidelines.gov [Accessed April 2021]

Karisa Ding

Karisa Ding is a freelance health writer and editor with expertise in preconception, pregnancy, and parenting content. A mother of two, Ding finds great joy in supporting new and expectant parents by providing information they need for the life-changing journey ahead. Ding lives in San Francisco with her family.

Your Baby at 12 Months | Patient Education

Feeding

At 12 months of age, your baby is probably eating meals with you and eating your table food. If your baby is still eating baby food, now is a good time to change to table food. It will be easier for you and cheaper as well.

Babies this age need six small meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus a snack in the morning, afternoon and before bedtime. One-year-olds are becoming independent and want to feed themselves. Even though it makes a mess, it is important to give babies the opportunity to develop the skill of feeding themselves. You can put a plastic drop cloth or newspapers under the high chair to make clean-up easier.

From 1 to 2 years of age, babies do not grow very much. Your baby’s appetite will decrease and he or she may become a picky eater. Don’t worry — toddlers will not starve themselves. Your responsibility is to provide your toddler with a variety of healthy foods; it is your toddler’s responsibility to eat them. Mealtimes should be pleasant, so try to avoid battles over food. Don’t force your child to eat or to finish everything on the plate. If your child is not hungry at one meal, just put the food away and wait a few hours. He or she may be hungry at the next meal or snack time.

Bottles

This is a good time to begin weaning your baby from the bottle. If you haven’t already done so, let your baby try using a cup. A great place to practice is in the bathtub, where spills won’t make a mess. When your baby wants milk or juice, put it in a cup. If you only put water in the bottle, your child will become less interested in it. If you are breast-feeding, it is still important for your baby to learn how to use a cup. Offer milk, juice or water after a meal in a cup.

Never allow your child to keep a bottle in bed. The sugar in milk or juice will stick to your child’s teeth, and won’t be washed away by saliva during sleep. If you give your baby a bottle before bed, rinse out his or her mouth with a few sips of water, and don’t let your baby take the bottle to bed.

Milk

One-year-olds no longer need formula, and can now switch to whole milk. Some toddlers never drink milk; if that’s the case with your child, please don’t force it. Toddlers need the nutrients in milk — calcium and protein — but these nutrients are also available from other sources. Toddlers do not need milk.

Juice

Your toddler does not need juice. Juice is a source of “empty calories” and does not provide good nourishment. If you choose to give your toddler juice, please do not give more than 2 ounces a day.

Safety

Car Safety

Keep your baby’s car seat facing backward until he or she is at least 12 months old and weighs at least 20 pounds. Studies show that children are safer if they continue to travel facing backward even if they meet the guidelines to face forward. Consider keeping your child’s car seat rear-facing until your child weighs 35 pounds. You will need to check the guidelines for your car seat to see if this is possible. If needed, consider buying a different car seat that will allow your child to continue facing backward.

Never leave your child alone in the car. The inside of the car will get very hot very quickly.

Water Safety

Even though your toddler can now sit up independently, never leave him or her alone in the bathtub. It is possible for a toddler to drown in a few inches of water.

If you have a swimming pool or hot tub:

• Have a child-proof lid in place at all times.
• Make sure there is a fence around the pool or spa.
• Keep your patio doors closed and locked.
• If you visit a friend with a pool or hot tub, make sure the cover is on and the gate is locked — or never let your child out of your sight.
• Remember that toddlers are never water-safe, even if they have had swimming lessons.

Violence

Unfortunately, violence is affecting more and more families today. Parents, especially mothers, may find themselves in a relationship that is abusive or dangerous. If you are concerned about your relationship, your safety or the safety of your child, please talk with your child’s pediatrician, who will help you find resources in a confidential manner. To speak with someone by phone and find help near you, call 800-799-SAFE (7233) or (415) 864-4722.

Dental Care

If your drinking water does not contain fluoride, please ask your child’s doctor for a prescription. This will save you dental bills for cavities later on. Also, this is a good time to begin using a washcloth or soft toothbrush to wipe your baby’s teeth and gums. However, do not use toothpaste with fluoride.

Health Screening

At your child’s 12-month checkup, he or she may have a skin test for tuberculosis (TB). This test will not prevent TB but will test to see if your child has been exposed to the germ that causes the disease. If you, anyone in your family or a close friend have been exposed to TB, please tell your child’s doctor.

Also, children who are at risk for anemia and increased levels of lead can be tested between 12 to 18 months of age. Please talk to your child’s doctor if you have any concerns.

Books About 1- to 2-Year-Olds

Your One Year Old, by Ames and Ilg
Toddlers and Parents, by Barry Brazelton
The Second Twelve Months of Life, by Caplan
The Happiest Toddler on the Block, by Harvey Karp

The Growing Child is a monthly newsletter filled with development and behavior information appropriate to your child’s age. For information, visit growingchild.com

Used by permission of Jane E. Anderson, M.D.

12-Month-Old Baby: 1-Year-Old Milestones

12-Month-Old Baby

Happy birthday, baby! You’ve now got a one-year-old on your hands! Baby’s been on an amazing journey in their first year, haven’t they? And so have you, watching baby advance from rolling to cruising and maybe even walking unsupported. (If baby’s not there yet, don’t worry. Many toddlers start walking after their first birthday.) Your little one is probably pretty social now, waving “hi” and “bye” and likely using most one-year-olds’ favorite word, “no,” while shaking their head. Make way for toddlerhood!

You and your 12-month-old baby deserve a big pat on the back. The last year has certainly been an exciting (and challenging!) one for you both. While you’ve become extremely confident in your role as a parent and caregiver, there’s a good chance you still have some questions about baby’s development. Want to know what to teach your 12-month-old baby, how to discipline them and which activities are best for a budding toddler? We’ve got you covered. From 12-month baby milestones to sleep routines and eating schedules, we’ve got the scoop as you ring in baby’s first birthday!

In this article:
12-month-old development
12-month-old health
12-month-old food
12-month-old sleep
12-month-old schedule
Activities for a 12-month-old
12-month-old baby checklist and tips

12-Month-Old Development

Baby is probably still growing about a half inch each month and gaining three to five ounces per week. But look out: Many babies go through a growth spurt right around 12 months.

1-year-old weight and height

How much does a 12-month baby weigh and how tall are they? The average weight for a one-year-old baby is 21.9 pounds for girls and 21.3 pounds for boys. Average height (formerly known as length) is 29.1 inches for girls and 29.8 inches for boys. Baby’s probably tripled their birth weight and is about 10 inches longer than they were at birth.

12-month-old’s five senses

• Baby’s hearing is now super-accurate, and they listen with closer attention than they used to.
• They love to look and listen at the same time, making reading books really fun and interesting.
• Baby loves feeling different textures and cool sensations such as the feeling of water pouring from cup to cup in the bathtub.
• Baby continues to feel everything with their hands and mouth.

12-month baby milestones

Do you find yourself wondering, “What should my one-year-old be doing?” Take a peek below:

• Sitting. Baby probably sits for long periods of time and can twist and turn to reach different toys.
• Standing. About half of babies can stand for a few moments without support during month 12.
• Walking. About one out of four babies this age are starting to walk. But don’t fret if yours isn’t. The normal age range of first steps is 9 months to 17 months, so it’s still pretty early for your toddler (eek!) to be walking.
• Talking. Baby is probably saying “dada,” “mama” and at least one other word. (And yes, if you understand what they mean, it counts as a word!)
• Understanding. What does a 12-month-old baby understand? Baby is like a sponge right now—absorbing and trying to make sense of everything around them. They’re beginning to tie words to their meanings. Baby also understands one-step commands if you use gestures, such as when you ask them to pick up a ball or look at the dog. This is also a good time to continue teaching them the meaning of the word “no. ”

12-Month-Old Health

Here are some frequent health questions parents of one-year-olds have. Click through for answers and lots of helpful information.

12-Month-Old Food

In addition to formula or breast milk (and even a little whole milk), your one-year-old is eating three meals and about two snacks per day.

How much food for a 12-month-old baby?

One-year-olds are notorious for not eating a lot, so don’t worry too much if baby’s appetite starts to lessen over the next couple months. You can expect your child to eat about a quarter of a cup of each food group at every meal. Don’t worry too much about having them join the clean plate club. One-year-olds are very good at judging when they’re hungry and when they’re full, so if they stop, they’ve had plenty to eat.

What can baby eat and drink?

Your 12-month-old baby can eat most things you do! So long as it’s nutritious, not a choking hazard and soft enough to gum if they don’t have many teeth yet. If you’re looking for finger foods for a one-year-old baby, head here for some tasty and healthy recipes.

“Can my 12-month-old baby drink regular milk now?,” you ask? Yes! Baby’s digestive system should be ready for cow’s milk, so you’re welcome to introduce it slowly. So how much whole milk for a 12-month-old baby? Start with just a little bit—maybe add a few ounces to their formula or breast milk at each feeding, or offer a small cup at snack time. It might take a little while for baby to get used to the taste. Some babies, however, love the taste of whole milk from the get go. Just remember, you don’t want baby to get all their calories from milk; most pediatricians recommend limiting milk intake to 16 to 20 ounces a day at this point.

One-year-old feeding schedule

Here is a typical feeding schedule for a one-year-old:

Image: Megan Rubey

12-Month-Old Sleep

How much sleep should a 12-month baby get? One-year-olds still likely sleep about 13 to 14 hours per day. Roughly 10 to 11 of those hours are probably at night. A typical nap schedule for a one-year-old baby consists of two naps that total three hours of daytime sleep. (Sometime before their second birthday, they’ll probably switch to just one nap per day, in the afternoon.)

1-year-old sleep schedule

Here’s a typical one-year-old sleep schedule:

Image: Megan Rubey

Common 1-year-old sleep questions

Sleep is still a big priority. Your one-year-old is hopefully sleeping through the night, but now there are other bedtime hurdles you face.

How to put a one-year-old to sleep? Put baby to sleep while they’re still awake! Having a baby who falls asleep on their own means they’re more likely to get easily back into a snooze state if they wake up during the night. The most important thing is that you have a soothing bedtime routine that your toddler knows signals sleep-time (a bath, a book, a song, a hug and then turn out the lights).

When to introduce a toddler bed? Know that you shouldn’t be in a rush to get baby into a toddler bed. The crib is still safe for baby as long as they’re not climbing out of it, and many parents keep their toddler in a crib until they begin potty training, around age 2 or 3.

How to sleep-train a one-year-old baby? We commonly hear, “My one-year-old won’t sleep through the night!” Whether your child is experiencing a sleep regression or has never slept the whole night through, we get your desperation. If your one-year-old is not sleeping, you might turn to sleep-training in order to teach them to sleep better. Here are some basics on the practice. But know that sleep-training a one-year-old baby is going to be a little different than it is for a younger baby—here are some toddler sleep-training tips.

What to do if your one-year-old is sleeping a lot? Define a lot. Your growing toddler still needs much more sleep than you do—about 14 hours per 24 hour period. If it’s a lot more than that and you’re concerned baby might be sick, talk to the pediatrician for advice.

12-Month-Old Schedule

Looking for things to do with a one-year-old baby? Go out and play! Toddlers love textures, so have baby go barefoot and crawl or walk around the yard to really feel the grass beneath their hands, knees and feet.

One-year-old schedule example

A 12-month-old baby’s daily schedule might look something like this:

Image: Megan Rubey

Activities for a 12-Month-Old

Baby is learning more about the world around them every day, so you might be wondering: “What activities can I do with my 12-month-old—and what should I teach my one-year-old baby?” Here, a couple of ideas:

• Teach baby new words. Use picture books to help baby learn the names of animals and the sounds they make. Point to different body parts, like their hands, face and arms to encourage baby to learn the appropriate words for each. And don’t forget to emphasize the names of friends and family members.
• Encourage independence. A 12-month-old baby will begin wanting to do things independently. Whether they want to take off their own socks or use a spoon to eat yogurt, be flexible and let baby have some freedom. Supervise without intervening and cheer baby on to boost their self-confidence.

12-Month-Old Baby Checklist and Tips

• Take baby to their 12-month checkup. If they haven’t gotten blood work to check for anemia and lead levels yet, it will happen at this appointment.
• One-year-old vaccine schedule: At one-year-old, vaccines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics are the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and chickenpox (varicella) immunizations. Baby’s doctor may also recommend the Hepatitis A vaccine and/or the fourth dose of the Hib and PCV13 vaccines, but those could also be given at the 15-month checkup.
• Schedule baby’s 15-month checkup.
• To help a one-year-old baby’s language development, read to them every day. If you speak a second language, use it around baby.
• Check to make sure baby is in the correct car seat for their height, weight and age. A convertible car seat is good for a 12-month-old baby. So it might be time to retire baby’s infant seat, in order to keep them safer.
• Start weaning baby off the bottle (slowly switch to a straw or open cup) and the pacifier if they take one.
• Even if you’re not having a party, make sure you celebrate baby’s first birthday. It’s been a wild ride and you both deserve some cake.
• If your 12-month-old baby isn’t walking yet, their first steps just may be on the horizon. Have the camera ready to capture this special moment, but remember to be patient. Some babies hold off a few more months before walking.
• A 12-month baby will likely toggle between wanting to be independent and refusing to let you out of sight. This struggle is completely normal.
• One-year-olds have a knack for getting into mischief. Give your little one the freedom and flexibility to explore, but make sure that all play areas are safe. Childproofing remains important.
• Baby is going to start pushing the limits (and your buttons), so it’s important you put your foot down when necessary. So how do you discipline a 12-month-old baby? Start introducing the concept of consequences. It can be difficult, but try to stay calm so you don’t accidentally escalate the situation. At the same time, encourage good behavior with positive reinforcement.

There’s a lot to celebrate as your little one hits their 12-month baby milestones. The past year may seem like a blur, but there’s so much more excitement on the horizon. Take some time to reflect on baby’s journey and prepare for the adventure of raising a toddler.

Medical content was reviewed by Dina DiMaggio, MD, a board-certified pediatrician at Pediatric Associates of NYC and NYU Langone Health in New York City, and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is also the coauthor of The Pediatrician’s Guide to Feeding Babies and Toddlers.

How to feed a baby at 8 months

— Anastasia Ivanovna, does the nutrition of a child at 8 months differ from the diet of a one-year-old child?

– Yes, different. By eight months, additional baby foods with greater density and nutritional value are needed as the more active baby develops new needs. The most important stage in the formation of a balanced diet begins, the purpose of which is to lay the right eating habits in order to transfer the child to the common table by the year and feed him with adult food, which is customary to eat in the family.

— What is the optimal combination of complementary foods with breast milk and infant formula?

— During the day, complementary foods and the usual milk food for the baby — mother’s milk or an adapted formula — are given in different feedings. In the morning and evening, the mother will continue to breastfeed or formula, and for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea she will offer the child complementary foods.

— In what cases is the start of complementary foods delayed?

— There are a number of reasons for delaying the introduction of new complementary foods:

• allergic reactions;
• unformed gastrointestinal tract and rejection of complementary foods;
• unformed nervous system;
• complications or operations after childbirth;
• chronic diseases;
• benign and malignant neoplasms;
• lack of nutritional interest with an unformed need for complementary foods.

— Why is it important to expand the baby’s diet at 8 months?

— Eight months is a period of increased activity, intensive growth, formation of the food apparatus, digestive, urinary, and immune systems. All this requires the expenditure of a large amount of energy and the introduction of additional complementary foods that contain nutrients, vitamins, minerals in greater quantities than dairy food and the first complementary foods.

— What to feed a baby at 8 months?

– By eight months, the child can already try a large number of puree-like foods – these are vegetables, fruits, cereals. But the older the baby becomes, the less the products are crushed so that he gets acquainted with the pieces, learns to chew and swallow them. Age-appropriate foods are numerous. But it is worth remembering that at least four days are allotted for adaptation to one new nutritional component in order to have time to track the body’s reaction. If the baby responds well to one product, move on to the next.

What can a baby eat at 8 months

— What foods are bad at eight months?

– The cooking method will play a role here. For the baby, the products are not fried, but boiled. It is not recommended to consume juices, soda, products with food additives, sweeteners, flavors and preservatives. We do not give the child sauces, canned food, fatty meats, as well as poorly digestible semi-finished products. Whole milk as an independent product at this age is too early to give.

8 month old baby’s menu option

Why doesn’t the baby want to eat complementary foods?

— Such behavior is possible due to the lack of food interest or the lack of formation of some functions or organs of the child — not everything depends on the mother here, it will be necessary to resolve the issue with doctors and try to introduce new products.

Food interest is considered to be situations when a child reaches for a spoon, looks into a plate, is interested in different tastes. If this is not the case by eight months, it is worth contacting an allergist, a nutritionist, a gastroenterologist through a pediatrician.

Read also

• Why a child refuses to eat complementary foods and what to do in such situations.

— How can I tell which complementary foods my baby is allergic to?

– The easiest way to track allergies is through observation and keeping a food diary. Flushing, screaming and crying, and constipation can occur alone or along with other symptoms of a food allergy. It is necessary to introduce new food very carefully, not to give everything at once, so that the body adapts to complementary foods, and in the case of an allergic reaction, it is easier to recognize its pathogen.

Nutrition at eight months should be varied and balanced. The nutrients of each new product are important, because the child needs to be supplied not only with energy, but also with dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. Vegetables, fruits, meat, cereals already complement fermented milk products – kefir, yogurt and cottage cheese. But whole milk should be postponed to an older age.

* Breast milk is the best food for babies. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a child’s life and continued breastfeeding after complementary foods are introduced until the age of 2 years. Before introducing new products into the baby’s diet, you should consult with a specialist. The material is for informational purposes and cannot replace the advice of a healthcare professional. For feeding children from birth.

Vegetables and fruits for the baby. When and what to give?

Babies grow fast and therefore need a lot of nutrients. By the age of 6 months, usually, the baby receives everything he needs with his mother’s milk or formula. But this is only up to 6 months of age, and then, according to WHO recommendations, the child’s diet should be supplemented with complementary foods.

The first foods offered to a child at 6 months of age may be cereal, vegetable or fruit puree.

Regarding the introduction of vegetables and fruits, there are different opinions about whether it is better to give vegetables or fruits first.

Vegetables or fruits?

Pediatricians often recommend starting your baby’s introduction with mashed vegetables, because fruit is sweeter and some children may then refuse vegetables. In fact, it is very individual. An important argument in favor of vegetables is the fact that fruits are not the main meal and, therefore, they can be offered as a snack, dessert, or added to cereals and sour-milk products.

But vegetable puree is introduced into the baby’s diet as the main dish, to which meat will be added later.

To get the most out of new foods, no matter what kind, introduce them to your baby in the right way.

How to choose fruits and vegetables for a baby?

For the first acquaintance, it is advisable to use the vegetables of our climatic zone: zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkin, potatoes, squash. Give preference to seasonal vegetables. You need to start with one type of vegetable, and only after the child has received each of them separately, you can mix them.

Pediatricians recommend apples, peaches, apricots, plums as the first fruits.

What is better to choose: mashed potatoes in jars or cook it yourself?

There is no unequivocal opinion on this issue either among doctors or mothers.

Many people find that homemade vegetable or fruit puree is healthier because it retains nutrients, vitamins and minerals better.

Another part of the experts argue that modern growing conditions do not guarantee the safety of fruits and vegetables for young children, as they may contain a large amount of nitrates or pesticides.

Unfortunately, if vegetables and fruits are not from your own garden and you do not know where and how they were grown and how they were processed, then it is better to give preference to children’s vegetable or fruit puree from jars.

Preference is given to industrial purees even when the beginning of acquaintance with vegetables and fruits falls outside the season of vegetables and fruits. If winter and zucchini are only imported, and apples have been stored in vegetable stores for quite a long time, then they are unlikely to be safe for a small child.

According to modern requirements for baby food products, vegetables and fruits for commercial baby foods are grown in special raw materials zones without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Modern production technologies make it possible to preserve vitamins and minerals as much as possible and provide the necessary consistency, in accordance with the characteristics of the digestive system and chewing apparatus of the baby.

Industrial purees also allow you to choose your baby’s favorite vegetable or fruit, regardless of the season.

If you have your own garden and grow organically, you can confidently prepare vegetable and fruit dishes at home.

How to prepare vegetables and fruits for a baby at home?

When preparing vegetables and fruits, observe the following rules:

• select only good, undamaged, fresh vegetables and fruits
• Wash them thoroughly before cooking
• cook just before feeding your baby.

For a child of the first year of life, vegetables are boiled or cooked in a double boiler without salt and pepper. Grind with a blender or carefully grind to a homogeneous creamy consistency. If the puree is too thick, you can add a little vegetable broth in which the vegetables were boiled.

Vegetable puree is given warm, the optimum temperature of the puree for feeding is 37 – 38ºС.

Fruit can be given fresh or baked in the oven. But like vegetables, fruits should be chopped and peeled.

Fruit can be grated on a plastic grater or chopped in a blender. The grater or blender must be poured over with boiling water before preparing the puree!

When the child has 6-8 teeth, you can give a piece of fruit and he will eat it on his own.

Remember not to chase exotic fruits as they can cause an allergic reaction in your baby. Useful substances are better absorbed from fruits that are traditional for our climatic zone.

How many fruits and vegetables does a baby need?

A child can eat only a certain amount of vegetable and fruit puree per day, so that there is no indigestion. This amount depends on the age of the baby.

Approximate recommended daily intake of vegetable puree is

50-100g for a 6 month old baby, 150g for a 7 month old baby, 170-180g for a 8-9 month old baby, and from 10 to 12 months the amount of vegetable puree can be increased up to 200 g *.

Your pediatrician will help you determine the right amount of puree for your baby.

But, regardless of the age of the child, acquaintance with each new product should begin with no more than 1 teaspoon and gradually increase to the recommended age norm!

A child needs 2 times less fruit purees than vegetables.

Children at 6 months can consume 40-50g of fruit puree, at 7-8 months – 50-70g, at 9-12 months – 80-100g *.

What to combine vegetables and fruits with?

Vegetable and fruit purees are low-protein supplements, so they are given as an independent dish for no more than 2 weeks, then it is necessary to enrich them with high-protein foods.

Pediatricians recommend combining vegetable puree with meat supplements, thanks to which the baby will receive a rational, easily digestible lunch.

Fruit is good to combine with soft cheese, if it has already been introduced into the baby’s diet, or added to milk or dairy-free cereals.

TM “Malyatko” offers various flavors of vegetable and fruit purees. Our purees are made from vegetables and fruits grown in our own fields in compliance with all the requirements of organic farming.

They are ready to use, so you will have more time to spend with your baby.

Malyatko – the basis of health for life!

*Clinical protocol for the care of a healthy child under 3 years of age

What to feed a baby at 1 year old? Balanced baby nutrition: sample diet

Proper nutrition of a child in a year is an important condition for harmonious growth and development. In addition, a properly composed diet helps to strengthen the immune system. Receiving new products, the baby gradually gets acquainted with the diet. Pediatricians advise paying attention to the child’s diet, its proper balancing.

Nuances of nutrition

The diet of a child in 1 year is subject to the following principles:

• should be complete, meet all the needs of the body, provide vitamins, micro- and macroelements;
• diversity. As many combined foods as possible should be present in the diet daily;
• all food must be chopped.

To properly balance the diet, it is necessary to include specialized foods. They should be designed according to the needs of the child’s body in a year. If you have any doubts or questions regarding the nutrition of your baby, you can seek advice from our doctors. They will remotely select an individual diet, tell you about all the nuances of the nutrition of one-year-old babies.

Diet must not be violated

The most advantageous is the diet according to the schedule. An individual nutrition program contributes to the rapid accustoming of the child to the daily routine. Even intervals between meals will not let the baby get hungry. According to the WHO, a child’s diet at 1 year old should include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and an afternoon snack.

Meal plan for the day:

Important! When preparing food, it is necessary to refuse fried, fatty and fried foods. The first meat broths merge. Salt and sugar are added in a minimal amount.

Which products to prefer

WHO recommends including the following foods in the children’s menu:

• dairy products. Children under the age of one year do not give milk in its pure form. It is replaced with breast milk or mixtures. Kefir and yogurt are introduced gradually. Their fat content should not exceed 3.2 percent. Sour cream and cheeses are allowed to be given no more than twice a week;
• cereals. Porridge for a one-year-old child is given only for children. Adult coarse cereals are poorly digested in the baby’s body. Allowed: oatmeal, buckwheat, millet, corn, rice porridge;
• vegetables fruits. By the age of 1, the child is familiar with apples, pears, bananas, prunes, zucchini, broccoli, carrots, potatoes. After a year, kiwi, beets, peas, apricots, beans are introduced into the diet. Legumes are given twice a week. The rest of the vegetables and fruits are allowed for use every day;
• meat fish. Hake, pollock, cod are given twice a week, low-fat meat varieties – daily;
• oil. Butter and vegetable oils are added to ready meals. If the child already chews well enough, it is permissible to smear butter on bread. vegetable oils are chosen only unrefined;
• eggs. Up to a year it is allowed to introduce quail eggs, after a year they give chicken no more than three times a week.

Example from practice: One-year-old Pasha’s mother made the following menu for him for the day, which she plans to feed him until he is 1.5 years old: For breakfast, porridge/vegetable dishes, cottage cheese 200 g, drink 100 ml. Lunch consists of salad – 30 g, soup – 50 g, second meat course – 50 g, vegetables / cereals – 70 g, compote – 100 ml. For an afternoon snack, mom offers ryazhenka or kefir – 150 ml, cookies, crackers – 15 g, juice, fruits – 100 g. For dinner, cereals / cottage cheese / vegetables are served – 180 g, fermented milk products – 100 ml, fruits – 50 g.

Further, the weight of the products will gradually increase with the age of Pasha. Mom made up the optimal variant of the diet together with specialists.

Prohibited products for children from the year

The list of products not recommended for baby food includes:

• any kind of sausages, sausages;
• fried food;
• smoked meats;
• exotic vegetables, fruits;
• caramel, chewing gum;
• products containing flavor enhancers, dyes; flavors.

Children are limited in food with a lot of cholesterol, nuts. The latter can cause an allergic reaction. It is not advisable to give mushrooms, as they overload the child’s digestive tract. For all questions, you can contact our doctors at any time of the day. They will remotely adjust the diet and help balance it.

Norm of food per day for a one-year-old child

The total daily calorie content should not be less than or more than 1300 Kcal. However, these figures are relative, as each child is individual. Someone develops quickly, and someone vice versa. And such children may need a supplement in the diet.

For breakfast, babies should consume at least 300 ml, for lunch – 420 ml, for an afternoon snack – 180 ml, for dinner – 300 ml.

Dr. Komarovsky advises to purchase only seasonal products. In his opinion, they will be able to provide the maximum benefit for the growing body of the child.

Daily menu for a one year old baby

Experienced doctors recommend feeding the baby up to 6 times a day. There should be 4 main meals.

Breakfast

In the morning, it is preferable to give milk porridge. Milk is diluted with water before use. Proportions for cereals: 200 ml of milk per 2 tablespoons of cereals. Twice a week it is permissible to serve an omelet from 1 egg. Prepare an omelette for a couple. You can add dill. It stimulates digestion. Wash down with compote, weak tea.

Snack

Yogurts and fruit purees are allowed here. They stimulate the production of gastric juice, digestion. A healthy snack is a baked apple with cookies. Fruit purees from jars, children’s drinking yogurts are suitable.

Lunch

Lunch is the main meal. It can be only the first or second course, or maybe all together. Soups are cooked thick, rich, satisfying. Broths are prepared on boneless pulp. The first is drained, and vegetables are added to the second broth. Let’s add some oil. The second offers cereals on the water, vegetables, salads, meat or fish. Spices, roasts are excluded.

High tea

For a small snack, cottage cheese casseroles, milk porridges, cheesecakes, cookies with compote, milk are suitable. Cow’s milk is administered with caution. Start with small amounts, diluted with water. Observe the reaction, as cow’s milk is considered an allergen.

Dinner

Dinner is scheduled five hours after the afternoon snack. Vegetable puree, porridge, stew with meat or fish are served. It is allowed to add a little oil to the stew.

When breastfeeding, the second dinner is allowed in the form of mother’s milk. Children who are used to eating at night are gradually weaned from night feedings.

What to consider when formulating a diet

The nutrition of a one-year-old child should be in compliance with the regimen. You can also create a kind of ritual that will look like a joint table setting, decoration with bright napkins, original food serving.

If for some reason the child refuses to eat this or that product, he is not completely excluded from the diet. It is recommended to add it in small quantities, mixing with the main dish.

If the baby refuses to eat, it is recommended to shift the time. Perhaps the child did not have time to get hungry. Or you can go for a walk and work up an appetite.

All meals are served in turn. Don’t put everything on the table at once. In this case, the baby will be confused, will try to try everything at once.

It is necessary to introduce new products with caution, in turn, starting with small portions. At the same time, the reaction of a small organism to innovations is closely monitored. In case of allergic reactions, the product is completely excluded.

Sweets in the form of confectionery, sweets, chocolate are not offered to kids. Small amounts of honey, syrups, jams, dried fruits, cookies are allowed.

FAQ

What must be present in the menu of a child at 1 year old?

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The diet must be present: meat, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, bread, butter. Fish and eggs are given up to three times a week.

What are the most common mistakes parents make when preparing meals?

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The most common mistake is a monotonous diet, consisting of the same products. It is important to try to feed your baby a variety of foods. This will allow him not only to get acquainted with new products, but also to replenish the stocks of necessary substances.

Is it permissible to include solid food in the diet if the teeth erupted a little?

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Solid foods help form healthy eating habits. In addition, it is useful for teething. Hard pieces help form the correct bite.

Should I put my baby to sleep after eating?

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After eating, the baby is drawn to sleep. However, putting him to bed right away is not right. If the child walked a lot, spent a lot of energy, in this case, yes, it is allowed to sleep after eating. In all other cases, after eating it is better to play.

What to do if a child refuses to eat with everyone at the age of one?

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You can’t force feed a child. It is important to form a strong habit with him that all meals with the family at a certain time.