Caring for your baby6 to 12 Months

I Am Your Baby

I grow best with love and the right food.

  • I need human milk or formula with iron until I turn one. I can continue breastfeeding until 2 years or beyond.
  • I know when I am hungry or full. I let you know by the way I act. Please feed me when I act hungry. Let me eat until I am full.
  • I may have a growth spurt around 6 months and want to nurse more often or longer.
  • I am growing fast. If I take human milk or formula from a bottle, there might be times I drink more than 4 ounces at a feeding.
  • When I am about 6 months old, help me learn how to drink from a cup. Offer a cup with human milk, formula, or water at meals and snacks.
feeding_baby

With Your Help I’ll Learn to Eat Foods

When I’m about 6 months old, I can start to eat solid foods. Please go slowly. 

If our family has allergies or I was born early, talk to my healthcare provider or WIC before I start solid foods.

Be Sure I’m Ready

To eat solid foods, I must be able to:

  • Sit up and hold my head steady.
  • Grab objects and bring them to my mouth.
  • Show I want food by opening my mouth or taking it from a spoon.
  • Swallow food rather than push them back out.
Daddy baby play time

I Will Go Through 4 Stages of Foods:

1

Smooth: strained or puréed
baby-food-sweet-potatoes

2

Mashed: smooth with some tiny lumps
mashed-sweet-potatos

3

Chopped: more lumps
sweet-potatos-chopped

4

Pieces of table foods
sweet-potato-pieces

Textures of Foods

Baby food spoons


Baby food puree on
pre-loaded spoon

Avocado img


Avocado strips rolled
in ground seeds

bread


Whole grain toast sticks

Raspberrires


Diced raspberries

Chichen


Baked, chopped chicken

Make My First Food a Single Food

  • Give me only one new food at a time. This helps me adjust to new foods.
  • I might eat about a teaspoon to start with and then more as I get used to eating from a spoon or picking up foods.

Wait at least 5 days before trying another new food.

  • Continue to offer me a variety of foods and textures from different food groups.
  • Watch for signs of food allergies like trouble breathing, throwing up, diarrhea, skin rash, or swelling. If I have a reaction to a new food, call my healthcare provider or take me to the emergency room.

I Need to Eat My Way

  • I’ll open my mouth if I want more food.
  • I’ll keep my mouth closed or turn my head if I don’t want more food; don’t force me to eat.
  • I might spit food out or make a face. I’m learning new flavors and how to move food around in my mouth.
  • If I don’t like something, wait a week and let me try it again. I might need to try a new food 10 or more times before I like it!
  • I’ll get food on my hands, face, and in my hair. Try not to stress about the mess. Be proud of me as I learn to eat.
  • Let me feed myself with my hands or a spoon. I use my jaw to mash food and my tongue and fingers to move it in my mouth.
  • Eat with me at our family meals. I eat better when you are with me. Let’s turn the TV and cell phone off so we can talk.

Let Me Eat Food With My Fingers

eating

Palmer Grasp

At around 6 months of age, I can hold food in my palm and bring it to my mouth. Try giving me soft foods in long strips, about the size of your finger.

fruits

Pincer Grasp

At around 8 or 9 months, I will learn how to pick foods up with my index finger and thumb. Try offering small pieces of food no bigger than your thumbnail that can easily be smashed.

Here are some ideas of foods to try:
  • Cooked pieces of vegetables or soft fruits
  • Pieces of cooked meats, chicken, eggs, beans, or tofu
  • Chopped noodles or rice
  • Strips of toast, soft tortillas, or plain crackers

How much should I eat?

I need to eat about 5 or 6 times a day. Formula or human milk will still be my main source of nutrition. A meal might be human milk or formula, or a meal might be human milk or formula plus infant cereal. Start with 1 or 2 tablespoons of each food. Give me more if I want it. I may not eat everything on my plate. As I start eating more, you can give me 2 or 3 foods at a meal. Load my spoon with food then let me feed myself.

Here are some ideas:

6 - 8 Months

6 to 8 English

8 - 10 Months

8 to10 English

10 - 12 Months

10 to12 English

Let me eat until I show signs I’m full. I might close my lips, turn or shake my head, or raise my arm. Ask me if I’m full. Then, let me stop eating if I want to.

Baby Sipping

Time for a Cup

When I turn 6 months old, you can give me a small amount of water (up to 4-8 oz. per day) as I learn to drink from a cup.

You can also offer human milk or formula in the cup. I do not need any other beverages, such as juice, for my age.

Food Safety

  • We need to wash our hands together before making food or eating.
  • Put pureed foods on a spoon and allow me to pick it up.
  • Make sure my food is cooked thoroughly and has cooled down before giving it to me.
  • Don’t heat my food in a microwave. It could burn my mouth.

Introducing Peanut Butter

After I have tried other solid foods, introduce me to peanut butter. Doing this can be helpful if our family has food or egg related allergies, like eczema or other skin issues.

Spread a small, thin smear of peanut butter thinly on a cracker or mix it with applesauce and offer it on a spoon. Watch me for the next 2 hours to make sure I don’t have a reaction.

Dad feeding baby

Foods To Avoid

I need food that is right for my age and will help me grow best.

I don’t need added sugars, salt, fat, or additives. Wait to offer juice until I am at least 12 months old.

Don’t give me foods I can choke on, like:

  • Raw vegetables
  • Bacon
  • Whole grapes
  • Whole cherry tomatoes
  • Fish with bones
  • Potato, corn, or tortilla chips
  • Popcorn
  • Hard candy
  • Nuts
  • Hot dogs
  • Meat sticks

Also, please don’t give me foods that could make me sick, like:

  • Cow's milk or other non-dairy milks like soy or almond milk. These milks do not have enough of the nutrients I need to grow and develop before my first birthday.
  • Rare or raw meats
  • Honey or food made with it. Honey sometimes contains bacteria (Clostridium Botulinum) that can make babies sick. I shouldn’t have honey until I’m at least 12 months of age.

Play with me!

Put me on a blanket on the floor. Put a toy just out of my reach so I can move to get it. Roll a ball to me. Hold both my hands and let me walk with you.

Look what I can do!

I love to learn from you. Read to me. Sing a song. Let’s play games like peek-a-boo. Take me for a walk and show me new things. I’m active — keep an eye on me!

Mom baby caring

Keep me safe and healthy

  • I need check-ups and shots to stay healthy. I should visit my healthcare provider at 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year of age.
  • Clean my gums and teeth with a clean, wet, soft cloth after I eat. Ask the dentist if I need fluoride.
  • If other people feed me, be sure to ask what and how much I eat.
  • Never put me to bed with a bottle. I could choke, get an earache, or damage my teeth.
  • Let me explore and learn. See each room like I will, from the floor, and make it safe for me.
  • Buckle me into an infant car seat before we ride in a car. It’s the law! Install my seat in the car’s back seat, rear-facing.
  • Keep me away from cigarette, tobacco, vaping and all other smoke. Smoke hurts my lungs and can make me sick.
  • Avoid tobacco or nicotine products, alcohol, marijuana, and other illegal drug use to keep our family healthy and safe. For support with quitting tobacco or nicotine products visit www.quitnow.net. For support with quitting alcohol or other drugs visit www.findtreatment.gov. Your WIC Nutritionist can also provide additional resources.
For breastfeeding support, contact your local WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor or WIC Designated Breastfeeding Expert.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

wic.in.gov

Side Lying Hold

Side-Lying Hold

  1. For the right breast, lie on your right side with your baby facing you.
  2. Pull your baby close. Your baby’s mouth should be level with your nipple.
  3. In this position, you can cradle your baby’s back with your left arm and support yourself with your right arm and/or pillows.
  4. Keep loose clothing and bedding away from your baby.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You want to rest while baby feeds
  • You are breastfeeding in the middle of the night
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
Cross Cradle Hold

Cross-Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, use your left arm to hold your baby’s head at your right breast and baby’s body toward your left side. A pillow across your lap can help support your left arm.
  2. Gently place your left hand behind your baby’s ears and neck, with your thumb and index finger behind each ear and your palm between baby’s shoulder blades. Turn your baby’s body toward yours so your tummies are touching.
  3. Hold your breast as if you are squeezing a sandwich. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  4. As your baby’s mouth opens, push gently with your left palm on baby’s head to help them latch on. Make sure you keep your fingers out of the way.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is premature
  • Your baby has a weak suck
  • Your baby needs help to stay latched
  • Your baby needs extra head support
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
Football Hold

Clutch or “Football” Hold

  1. For the right breast, hold your baby level, facing up, at your right side.
  2. Put your baby’s head near your right nipple and support their back and legs under your right arm.
  3. Hold the base of your baby’s head with your right palm. A pillow underneath your right arm can help support your baby’s weight.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Bring baby to you instead.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You have large breasts
  • You have flat or inverted nipples
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You are breastfeeding twins
  • Your baby likes to feed in an upright position
  • Your baby has reflux
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
Breastfeeding Holds

Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, cradle your baby with your right arm. Your baby will be on their left side across your lap, facing you at nipple level.
  2. Your baby’s head will rest on your right forearm with your baby’s back along your inner arm and palm.
  3. Turn your baby’s tummy toward your tummy. Your left hand is free to support your breast, if needed. Pillows can help support your arm and elbow.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby needs help latching on
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
Breastfeeding Holds

Laid-Back Hold

  1. Lean back on a pillow with your baby’s tummy touching yours and their head at breast level. Some moms find that sitting up nearly straight works well. Others prefer to lean back and lie almost flat.
  2. You can place your baby’s cheek near your breast, or you may want to use one hand to hold your breast near your baby. It’s up to you and what you think feels best.
  3. Your baby will naturally find your nipple, latch, and begin to suckle.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is placed on your chest right after birth
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You have large breasts
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position