Baby Food First 6 Months

Carrots are a good choice because they are rich in vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant that helps vision. Between 6 to 8 months, you can also offer strained or mashed fruits, but pediatrician Dr. Sears recommends introducing citrus fruits last. Bananas make a good first fruit because this soft food is bland and easily digested by most babies.

A 6 month old baby needs approximately 24 to 32 ounces of formula or 8 to 10 feedings per day. Milk should be the main course with small amounts of fruits, vegetables and cereals added for flavor and texture.

Babies who are chewing or gumming well can eat oranges after 6 months of age, says pediatrician Ari Brown, co-author of Baby 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Baby’s First Year. Other citrus fruits, such as grapefruit and tangerines, are also fine.

At 4 months, babies usually take 4 to 6 ounces per feeding. At 6 months, babies may be taking up to 8 ounces every 4 to 5 hours. Most babies will increase the amount of formula they drink by an average of 1 ounce each month before leveling off at about 7 to 8 ounces per feeding. Solid foods should be started at about 6 months old. Too full?

If you haven’t started your baby on solid foods already, your pediatrician will likely recommend that you do so at six months. Begin with an iron-fortified cereal mixed with breast milk or formula. As your baby adjusts to solids, introduce pureed fruits and vegetables one at a time.