Baby Growth & Nutrition: Grow Baby, Grow!

During your baby’s first year, you may have a lot on your mind. Imagine how your baby’s little brain must feel as it continues to grow! About 75%  of its growth happens just during the first 12 months of life. 

Vision that was blurry at birth will be clearer by 6 months. Your baby’s immune system, less than fully developed at birth, will continue to grow stronger as well. What supports these and other advancements? Proper nutrition, of course.  

A nutritious diet is essential for helping your baby to develop and stay healthy. During the first 6 months, your baby will need to get their nutrition from breast milk and/or baby formula. At about 6 months, your baby's pediatrician may recommend introducing baby foods in addition to breast milk and/or baby formula. The following chart discusses some important considerations when introducing solid foods to your baby to help ensure they are getting what they need.

Daily Formula Feeding Averages

* This chart is based on bottle formula feeding only. Daily frequency and volume of feeding represent averages based on estimated caloric intake of babies 0 to 12 months.  

If breastfeeding, your baby's intake and number of feedings might differ from the amounts shown in this table. If your baby usually breastfeeds for 15 minutes or more on each breast, but no longer than 60 minutes, they are likely getting enough breast milk. Let your baby, not the clock, determine how long feeding lasts. 

The best way to feed your baby is to allow them to take as much time as they seem to need. If they're fussy and haven't been fed in more than 2 hours, it's probably time for a feeding.  

For more information on formula feeding, see Formula Feeding 101.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Breast milk provides the best mix of nutrition to help your baby grow, and it can be easier for them to digest than infant formula. For your baby's first year, breast milk or formula can provide vital nutrients, including protein, fat, calcium, vitamins, and other minerals.

• Nutrients in breast milk or formula help to support your baby’s developing immune system and brain, muscle, bone, and organ growth. 

• Similac^® 360 Total Care^®† formulas have our exclusive blend of 5 of the most abundant HMO prebiotics found in breast milk. See our article on What’s in Formula.

^† Not for infants or children with galactosemia.

For more information on first-year nutrition for your little one, call the Similac^® Feeding Expert line at 800-986-8800. 

In the second half of their first year, your baby's pediatrician will likely recommend introducing new foods into your baby’s diet. Don’t introduce new foods all at once. It’s important to introduce new foods one at a time to identify any potential food allergy. The information below can help guide your choice of new foods you offer your baby.

For more info on this topic, check out our Food Allergies article here.

After 6 months of age, a varied diet helps your baby grow, develop, and stay healthy, but these needs change as they age. Breast milk or formula is the only feeding needed by most babies through the first 6 months of life. Continue to provide breast milk or formula and the following foods at approximately the time frames listed, and you'll be giving your baby appropriate nutrition to support a strong mind and body during the first year. For more information on providing the right first-year nutrition, discuss this with your baby's pediatrician or call the Feeding Expert line at 800-986-8800.

It’s important to note that cow’s milk itself should NOT be introduced to your baby’s diet until they reach 12 months of age. However, cow’s milk-based foods like cheese and yogurt may be introduced earlier, assuming your little one is ready for the advanced textures and has not been diagnosed with cow’s milk allergy (CMA).

For more information, see our article on Cow’s Milk Allergy.

No bones about it, cow’s milk-based foods can be important for helping your growing baby develop strong bones. These foods help support a baby’s bones by adding the bone-building nutrients calcium, phosphorus, and protein to their diet. Also important: Babies tend to love these foods! 

Good sources of single servings of cow’s milk-based foods include: 
         ½ cup whole-milk yogurt 
         ¾ oz pasteurized, full-fat cheese   

If your baby has a diagnosed cow’s milk protein allergy, your baby’s doctor or dietitian will recommend appropriate feedings to supply these nutrients.

To help fuel activities such as rolling, crawling, and walking, grains and cereals give your little one the complex carbohydrates, vitamins (B complex), minerals (zinc and magnesium), and fiber they need.

Good sources of grains and cereals 

•  Iron-fortified baby cereals—start with single-grain cereals  
•  Finger foods like teething biscuits, pasta, puffs, and bread 

After your baby accepts smooth, pureed foods, you can increase the texture of pureed foods. Starting at about 8 months, you can give your little one food that they can pick up with their fingers to give them practice with coordinating movement of the small muscles in the fingers and hands.

The vital vitamins of veggies
The power of vegetables in your baby’s diet is mostly in the vitamins they deliver, such as: 

• Vitamin A to support eyesight
• B vitamins to strengthen the immune and nervous systems and help with muscle and cell growth
• Vitamin C to help absorb iron

Stage 1 vegetables to try first
Smooth, pureed veggies like:

• Peas
• Squash 
• Sweet potato 

Stage 2 and 3 vegetables come next. These are still pureed and provide baby with greater texture to progress toward soft finger foods.

At about 8 months, you might introduce cooked vegetable pieces the size of a child's thumbnail, with the consistency of canned cooked carrots. 

Why are fruits important?
Besides tasting good to your baby, fruit provides vitamins and fiber important to their digestive well-being and overall health.  

Stage 1 fruits to try first;
Smooth, pureed fruits like:  

• Mango
• Banana 
• Pumpkin

Stage 2 and 3 fruits come next. These are still pureed and provide baby with greater texture to progress toward soft finger foods.

Introducing protein 
The protein found in meats (along with iron, B vitamins, and zinc) is a building block for muscle growth during your baby’s first year and beyond.

At about 8 months, introduce small amounts of protein the size of a child's thumbnail or smaller and the consistency of a baked apple.

Good sources of protein

• Cooked and pureed meats or poultry
• Cheese cubes
• Tofu
• Scrambled eggs  

For a more in-depth look at starting your baby on solid foods, check out Starting Solid Foods.