Feeding Your Baby From Birth to 12 Months | How to Succeed at it

From breastfeeding to solids, here’s a guide to feeding your baby from birth to its 1st year thanks to Heinz for baby.
While we understand and appreciate that not all mums can breastfeed for all sorts of reasons, we have included breastfeeding information for those who are undecided on whether to breastfeed or bottle feed and for those who want to know more about breastfeeding. While BellyBelly is pro-breastfeeding where possible, we support mothers decisions in whatever choice they make.

Feeding your baby from birth to 12months

The first year of your baby’s life involves many feeding milestones. As a new parent, it can be overwhelming to keep up with your baby’s changing needs.
There are lots of tips and tricks to make feeding your baby a breeze in that first year. From breastfeeding or bottle feeding, when to introduce solid foods, and handling any issues that crop up. By the end of this you will become a pro at feeding your baby everything they need to grow and thrive in a way that works for your family.

Breastmilk – perfect food for feeding your baby from birth

Breastmilk is produced in response to the stimulation of the baby suckling at the breast. The baby should be offered the breast as soon as possible after birth. At first, colostrum is produced. This is rich in protein and minerals and is perfect for the baby. Colostrum is also high in antibodies which protect the baby against infection. Quality is what is important at this stage, not quantity.

Somewhere between 2 to 5 days after birth, mature breast milk is produced. The baby should be fed when he is hungry or ‘on demand’. This may be intervals of anywhere between 1 and 5 hours.

Breast is best for baby because:

• Breast milk has the right balance of nutrients – protein, fat, iron, calcium, vitamins and minerals to suit baby’s needs.
• Breast milk provides all the fluid that a baby needs. A baby does not need anything else. If he is thirsty all he needs is an extra breast feed for a little ‘top up’.
• Breast milk has antibodies to protect the baby against infection.

Breast milk production is continuous and changes in composition during a feed. At the beginning of a feed, the milk looks ‘watery’ in appearance and then ‘creamier’ at the end of a feed. Milk is higher in fat at the end of the feed. Some babies are difficult to settle after a feed, and seem to manage better when only fed one breast so that the high fat milk completes the feed.

6 Reasons why breastmilk is best for mum

1) Breastfeeding helps to develop a strong bond between mother and baby.

2) Breastfeeding releases hormones which help to contract the muscles of the uterus. By the time the baby is 6 weeks old, the uterus will have reduced in size and will be back in its pre pregnant position. There may be slight tummy discomfort at first during breastfeeding – a bit like period pain. This disappears as everything moves back into place.

3) During pregnancy extra fat is stored as an energy supply to use during breastfeeding. By the time the baby is 4 months old you will be producing about 1000mls of breast milk a day. This requires a lot of energy. So with sensible eating and breastfeeding you will soon get back to your pre-pregnant weight. You need to be realistic about your weight and allow nature to take its course and not expect to lose all the excess weight overnight. Strict dieting is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers.

4) Breastfeeding is very convenient – ready to serve at the right temperature

5) Breastmilk is free!

6) A mother should be encouraged to breastfeed for as long as it suits her and her baby. Many mothers and babies enjoy breastfeeding until well past baby’s first birthday.

Breastfeeding and Growth Spurts

Sometimes a baby may feed more often as he has a growth spurt. This usually occurs around 6 weeks and again at 3 months. Some mothers interpret this as having insufficient milk but all that is needed is more frequent feeding which stimulates more milk production. Don’t be tempted to introduce solids or to supplement your breast milk with infant formula. What you need to do is to breastfeed more often. This will increase your milk supply and satisfy your baby’s appetite.

4 to 6 months

Breastmilk / Formula – The most important food. The World Health Organisation now recommends soley breastmilk for babies up to 6 months of age.

Your baby may be in some sort of a routine and will be starting to look for some food to complement breastmilk or formula. By 4 to 5 months your baby will have doubled his birth weight and from time to time your baby will have had growth spurts – one around 6 weeks and another around 3- 4 months. You will notice that he will demand extra feeds at these times. By 6 months his weight gain will be slowing down to about 150 g / week.

Breastmilk (or formula if not breastfeeding) are the most important foods and form the basis of your baby’s diet for at least the first 12 months. Cow’s milk is not suitable as it is not nutritionally balanced for babies and should not be substituted for breastmilk or formula.

For more advice about how to choose, look at : Breastfeed vs Formula Feeding | What You Should Know

Time for Solids

Most babies will be ready for solids around 6 months and definitely NOT before 4 months. Talk to your child health nurse to see if your baby is ready to start solids and look for some of these signs:

• He is able to hold his head up.
• The ‘extrusion reflex’ has disappeared. This is when your baby automatically pokes out his tongue when something is put in his mouth.
• Chewing movements with his mouth and chewing on everything such as his hands and toys.
• Not settling after a feed and seems to want more.
• Waking during the night when previously he had slept through.
• Watching you eat and even opening his mouth when you do

For more advice about how to choose, look at : From Confusion To Clarity – When To Introduce Solids

6 to 9 months

Now that your baby is half way to his first birthday you will notice that he is very much his own person. You may still be breastfeeding or have your baby on a suitable infant formula. He will be well-established on solids and enjoying a range of foods especially those with soft lumps. He will begin to enjoy feeding himself with finger foods.

Breastfeeding

For the first 12 months, even when on solids, breastmilk (or infant formula) is the most important food. By 6 months your baby should be onto solids as well as four breastfeeds a day. You can offer your baby some fluids in a cup from 6 to 7 months so that when you are ready to wean your baby, he will wean from breast to cup.

Bottle Feeding

If formula feeding at six months you might consider moving to a follow-on formula. Follow-on formulas are higher in iron, protein and other nutrients. It is specially formulated to meet increased nutrient needs of infants over 6 months. However, if you are happy with your starter formula and your baby is progressing well you may choose to remain on this formula. Check with your child health or Plunket nurse for advice.

Food

Once your baby is established on solids and is eating from a spoon, it is time to introduce more new flavours and gradually introduce more textures. At this stage solids should be starting to contribute more to your baby’s total energy needs so it’s time to start offering the solids 2 to 3 times a day.

Allow time to learn new foods. Offer new foods again a few days later in small amounts if your baby does not enjoy them the first time. Babies who are introduced to a wide variety of flavours early are less likely to be fussy eaters later on so it’s important to teach your child to enjoy a variety of foods.

From around 6 to 9 months of age they tend to be very willing to learn new tastes and textures. A gradual increase in the texture of foods is also important to help them learn to chew and swallow. They rely on you to offer this variety by gradually increasing texture and taste as they become familiar with new tastes and learn to cope with new textures.

Along with a greater variety of fruit and vegetables, now you can begin to introduce your baby to meats. Begin by adding small, then larger amounts of soft meat to pureed or mashed vegetable mixtures. Including meat, especially red meat, in your baby’s diet is a good way to help your baby get their daily iron needs.

How Much Food

Your baby should be drinking 700mls of breast milk or formula and you should be aiming for 2-3 solid feeds per day. Remember that your baby’s appetite will vary but a solid meal is typically about 3-6 tablespoons of food.

9 to 12 Months: Healthy Eating

Now it’s time to let your baby help himself! Just ignore the mess. Your baby can now sit in a high chair for feeding and can join the family at meal times. He will want to hold a spoon and love trying to feed himself! He will be crawling or walking, waving, clapping and trying to talk and is very attached to his mum at this stage.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is still very important so continue to breast feed your baby to at least his first birthday if possible, or for longer if you can. Your baby will be able to drink small amounts of water from a cup as well. Your baby is likely to be having around 600mls a day of breastmilk or infant formula, usually taken in 3 feeds. Solids can be offered before milk now.

Bottle Feeding

If your baby is bottle fed infant formula, you need to continue to do so until your baby is at least 12 months old. Remember that infant formulas are specially developed to provide essential nutrients for babies growth and development.

Solids

Your baby will enjoy a variety of foods. You should also expect some mess as your baby tries to feed himself — this is an important part of your baby’s development. Solids can now be offered before breastmilk or formula. By now your baby will be having solids three times a day. At this age you may also want to introduce a small mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack. While breastmilk or formula is still providing most of the nutrients, offer foods such as:

• Iron Fortified Muesli and Apple
• Meat, chicken and fish
• Egg yolk Bread, rusks, bread sticks and pasta
• Fork mashed or finger pieces of soft fruits such as oranges, kiwi fruit, pineapple and berry fruits.
• Fork mashed or finger pieces of vegetables such as cooked silverbeet, spinach, peas and legumes, creamed corn and raw or cooked tomatoes.
• Dairy products such as custards, yoghurts and cheeses.
• Milk and Milk Products

Cow’s milk is one of the more allergenic foods for infants. However heat treatment by food processing and cooking decreases the allergenic significantly.

Different forms of milk and milk products can be introduced at the following times.

Birth — Cow milk based infant formula
4-6 months — Commercially prepared baby yoghurts and custards – specially prepared for infants.
8-9 months — Home-made custard, white sauce, grated cheese, cottage cheese, ice-cream and yoghurt.
12 months — Cow’s milk as a drink

Important Note:

True cow’s milk allergy is very rare. But for families with a strong history of milk allergy all milk and milk products may need to be avoided for at least 12 months. For this small number of people specialist advice should be sought.

Fruit Fingers

Peel one apple and one orange. Lightly steam or microwave apple until soft. Allow to cool. Divide orange into segments, remove pips and pithy bits. Serve 1- 2 pieces at one time, refrigerate remainder in an airtight container.

Cheese Fingers

Cut a thick slice of ‘tasty’ cheese into strips. Serve 1 –2 at one time, refrigerate remainder in an airtight container.

Vegetable Fingers

Cut carrot, celery, potato, broccoli, cauliflower and pumpkin into thick ‘chips’ or chunks. Steam or microwave until soft leave to cool. Serve as a snack or at mealtime. Other vegetables that are soft such as small pieces of tomato or cucumber (remove skin), can also be used.

3 Layer Dessert – A healthy and nutritious treat.

1 × 110g jar HEINZ Gel – any variety, a red colour looks good! 1 × 120g can HEINZ Pure Fruits Pear 1 × 110g jar HEINZ Yoghurt Dessert – any variety

Method

In 2 small bowls, place 1/2 the fruit in each, then the yoghurt. Spoon the gel over the yoghurt layer then refrigerate. Makes two serves. Serve chilled as a nourishing fruit and yoghurt dessert.

Hint

Vary flavours by using different fruit, gel and yoghurt varieties. For older babies, add roughly mashed banana to the yoghurt layer for more texture.

Reprinted with permission from Heinz