6 - 12 Months - Feeding Guide

Sep 27, 2026

Upload by jay

Feeding guide for babies from 6 to 12 months, focusing on readiness for solid foods, gradual introduction, and safe progression of textures. It explains how to support chewing, swallowing, and self-feeding with different finger-food options while supervising closely to prevent choking. The guide recommends iron- and zinc-rich first foods, highlights foods to avoid (including cow/goat milk before 1 year, added sugars, and choking hazards), and describes responsive meal practices, portion cues, and suggested daily meal and snack structures. It also covers learning routines, offering variety, and allergy introduction timing.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

6–12 Months

Getting Started With Solid Foods

Foods to Avoid

How Much and How Often to Eat

Meals and Snack Ideas

Watching and Learning From You

Why a Baby May Not Want to Eat Sometimes

Allergies

1 6–12 MONTHS The more veggies you give me now, the more I will eat when I am older. What foods doI want? Smooth, Mashed, Lumpy, Chopped, and Finger Foods I’m now about 6 months old. I can sit on my own and hold my head steady. I am ready to try some solid foods. • I am learning how to chew and swallow. • Start me off slowly with small amounts of pureed (smooth) or mashed foods. • Let me explore the foods’ tastesand textures. • Keep an eye on me so I do not choke. I will quickly learn how to use my hands and fingers to eat. Encourage me to feed myself and let me hold a spoon. As I get older, I will like foods with more texture. I’ll be ready for: • Mashed foods with some lumps and soft finger foods around 7 to 8 months. • Minced, chopped and some firmer finger foods around 8 to 12 months. Keep feeding me breastmilk or formula. It is my main source of nutrition. 1 My first foods should be high in iron and zinc. I’m NOT ready for these foods . • Cow or goat milk until I am 1 year • Plant based milks (soy, rice, pea, coconut, almond) • Fruit juice, sugar sweetened beverages, teas • Foods with added sugars and salt • Foods that may cause choking such as nuts, grapes, popcorn, hot dogs and hard candies • Honey Give me a variety of foods . • My first foods should be high in iron and zinc, especially if I am fully breastfed. Try fortified baby cereal or pureed meats, poultry, fish, cooked eggs and beans. • The more veggies you give me now, the more I will eat when I am older. • By 7 to 8 months, offer me a variety of foods from all the food groups. • I like my foods plain. I do not need salt, sugar, or soy sauce. Small amounts of oils (healthy fats) are okay. • Sometimes, it may take me more than 10 times to get familiar with a food and like it. Try giving me new foods with foods I already like. • I want to start using a cup. Offer me water in a cup a few times a day starting when I am 6 months. By 12 months I want to be using cups, not bottles. • Around 9 to 12 months, I might like small pieces of peeled soft fruits and vegetables, cooked ground meat, dry cereal, toasted bread squares, soft tortilla, sliced cheese, and pasta. 2 3 How Much and How Often DoI Want to Eat? It is important to watch for my signals and respond. I will let you know when Iam hungry and when I am full. Offer me healthy foods. Please do not make me eat more than I want. • When I am hungry, I open my mouth when the spoon gets near, reach for the spoon or food, and get excited when I see the food. • When I am full, I may shake my head, turn my head away from the food, keep my mouth closed when the spoon is close, and push the food away. • In the beginning, I just want to try foods. Offer me foods one or two times each day. Start with one to two teaspoons and slowly increase the amount as I show you I am hungry. • It is important for me to enjoy mealtimes; do not worry about how much I eat. Keep my portions small. My tummy is about the size of my fist. • Around 7 to 8 months, I may eat 3 to 4 small meals a day and 1 to 2 snacks. Meals: 6 to 12 months Here are some ideas for how much to offer me each day. These amounts are just a suggestion as I grow from 6 months to 12 months. For each meal—breakfast, lunch, and dinner offer me: • Breastmilk or formula, and • Up to 4 tablespoons meat, eggs, beans or Up to 4 tablespoons, infant cereal or Up to 4 ounces cottage cheese, or Up to 2 ounces cheese, or Up to 4 ounces yogurt and • Up to 2 tablespoons vegetables, fruits or combination • Breastmilk or formula, and • Up to ½ slice whole grain bread/toast, or Up to 2 whole grain crackers, or Up to 4 tablespoons infant cereal and • Up to 2 tablespoons vegetables, fruits or combination For snacks (morning and afternoon) offer me: 4 What could you offer me? I am months old Breakfast: Snack: Lunch: Snack: Dinner: Hint: 4 ounce container of baby food

FAQs

When can a baby start trying solid foods, and what should the first textures be?

Around 6 months, the baby is ready to try some solid foods. Start slowly with small amounts of pureed (smooth) or mashed foods, then gradually offer more texture as skills improve.

Which foods should be avoided during the 6 to 12 month period?

Avoid cow or goat milk until 1 year, plant based milks as listed, fruit juice and sugar-sweetened drinks, teas, foods with added sugars and salt, choking hazards such as nuts, grapes, popcorn, hot dogs, and hard candies, and honey.

How should new foods be introduced to reduce allergy risk?

Introduce one new food at a time and wait three to five days between new foods. Watch carefully for signs of an allergic reaction, and consider introducing likely allergens only after other solids are going well.

Sep 27, 2026

Upload by jay