Infant 4-6 months
Respond to your baby's needs
By 4-6 months, your baby has probably gotten used to breast and bottle feeding. Keep listening to your baby's cues to know when to start solid foods. For most babies, this is not until 6 months.
Feeding tips for 4-6 month olds
Only feed your baby when they are hungry
Support your baby so he can eat when hungry and stop when full.
Your baby might be finished eating before the bottle is empty.
Only breastmilk or formula in a bottle.
Never give juice, cow's milk, or soda in a bottle.
Give water in an open cup when you start solid foods.
Start solids when baby is ready.
Starting solids too early can cause eating problems.
Watch this video to learn if your baby is ready for solid foods.
Infant feed tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics
More tips on starting solids.
Give foods high in iron.
Your baby's first foods should have iron in them. Watch to learn more.
Prevent food allergies.
It's important to give allergenic foods like eggs and nuts around 6 months. Watch this video to learn more.
Prevent Choking
rule #1: always sit down with your child during meals
rule #2: avoid dangerous foods
Watch this video to learn what foods to avoid.
MORE RESOURCES AVAILABLE
Ellyn Satter Handouts
A binder of nutrition handouts (cover shown at right) is in every Family Advocate's office. Applicable handouts for this age group:
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Understand your infant
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How to feed your baby
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Breastfeeding your baby
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Bottle-feeding formula and equipment
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Feed based on what your baby can do
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Understand your baby’s sleeping and waking
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What is your baby telling you?
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Your baby’s temperament
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Is your baby too small? Does he not eat enough?
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Is your baby too big? Does she eat too much?
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Teaching your breastfed baby to take a bottle
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Feeding your prematurely born baby
InJoy videos
These are professional videos that teach parents about age specific nutrition. Each video is available on demand from a Family Advocate work device (in English and Spanish). The videos are 10-12 minutes each. These are the available videos:
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birth - 6 months (breastfeeding, bottle feeding, assessing readiness for solids)
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7-12 months (introducing solid foods, first foods, safe self-feeding)
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1 year olds (food variety, forming healthy habits, having mealtime fun)
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2 year olds (healthy food choices, avoiding conflicts, active families)