The chart below offers helpful suggestions for feeding an infant from birth through 24 months of age. It also indicates the stage of physical development and explains why certain foods may be preferable at specific stages of development.
| Age | Food Sequence | Food Presentation | Developmental Skills, Implications for Feeding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth to 6 months | Breastmilk and/or iron-fortified formula satisfies all nutritional requirements. Solid foods not nutritionally needed, but infant may want | Breast and/or bottle | Designed to suck, not chew Rooting reflex; searches for food source Tongue-thrust reflex pushes out solid foods Sensitive gag reflex |
| 6 months | Starter foods: avocados, bananas, pears, applesauce | Strained, pureed, fingertipful, spoonful | Tongue-thrust and gag reflexes lessen; accepts solids. Sits erect in high chair. Begins teething. |
| 7 to 9 months | mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, peaches, prunes, barley cereal, rice cereal, carrots, squash, teething biscuits, pear and apple juice | May drink from cup Finger foods begin Pureed and mashed foods | Holds bottle Thumb-and-forefinger pickup begins Fascination with tiny food morsels Begins mouthing chokable food and objects (parents beware!) Bangs, drops, flings Reaches for food and utensils Munches food |
| 9 to 12 months | fish (salmon, tuna), lamb, veal, tofu, poultry, noodles, bagel, beans, rice cakes, peas, eggs, yams, cheese, oatmeal, yogurt, spinach | Lumpier consistency Finger foods mastered Bite-sized, cooked vegetables Melt-in-mouth foods Holds trainer cup | Self-feeding skills improve Holds bottle and cup longer Points and pokes, smears, enjoys mess High-chair gymnastics increase Tries to use utensils, spills most |
| 12 to 18 months | whole milk, papaya, cottage cheese, apricots, ice cream, grapefruit, grape halves, beef, strawberries, tomatoes, pasta, graham crackers, broccoli, wheat cereal, honey, cauliflower, pancakes, melon, muffins, mango, kiwi | Participates in family meals Eats chopped and mashed family foods Begins self-feeding with utensils | Has prolonged attention span “Do it myself” desire intensifies Tilts cup and head while drinking, spills less Holds spoon better, still spills much Begins walking – doesn’t want to sit still and eat Picks at others’ plates |
| 18 to 24 months | Eats toddler portions of sandwiches, stews, nutritious puddings, sauces, smoothies, shakes, pate, dips, toppings, spreads, soups Toddler food “language:” avocado boats, cooked carrot wheels, cheese blocks, broccoli trees, o-shaped cereal, toast sticks, cookie-cutter cheese melts, sailboat salads, peanut butter | Grazes – deserves title “picky eater” Nibble tray Weans from bottle Uses spoon and fork | Molars appear – begins rotary chewing Spoon-feeds self without spilling much Learns food talk, signals for “more,” “all done” Wants to eat on the run—needs creative feeding to hold attention at table Has erratic feeding habits |