Meals for infants?
Question:
im asking this because i want the best for him and i want him to have all the fruits,veggies,meats he is suppose to have. dairy will be a preoblem because he is lactose intolerent at this time.
gerber and beechnut make jar foods with veggies and meats together so i know he can handle meats at this time.
Answers:
Infant Meal Pattern
United States Department of Agriculture requirements (for all Child Nutrition Programs*) for serving reimbursable meals to infants.
Meal Birth to 3 months Ages 4 to 7 months Ages 8 to 11 months
Breakfast 4 to 6 fl oz. breast milk1,2,3
or formula1,4 4 to 8 fl oz. breast milk1,2,3 or formula1,4
0 to 3 Tbsp. infant cereal4,5
6 to 8 fl oz. breast milk1,2,3 or formula1,4
2 to 4 Tbsp. infant cereal4
1 to 4 Tbsp. fruit and/or vegetable
Lunch or Supper 4 to 6 fl oz. breast milk1,2,3
or formula1,4
4 to 8 fl oz. breast milk1,2,3 or formula1,4
0 to 3 Tbsp. infant cereal4,5
0 to 3 Tbsp. fruit and/or vegetable5
6 to 8 fl oz. breast milk1,2,3 or formula1,4
2 to 4 Tbsp. infant cereal4 and/or 1 to 4 Tbsp. lean meat, fish, poultry, egg yolk, cooked dry beans or peas
or 0.5 to 2 oz. cheese
or 1 to 4 oz. (volume) cottage cheese
or 1 to 4 oz. (weight) cheese food or cheese spread
1 to 4 Tbsp. fruit and/or vegetable
AM or PM snack 4 to 6 fl oz. breast milk1,2,3
or formula1,4
4 to 6 fl oz. breast milk1,2,3 or formula1,4
2 to 4 fl oz. breast milk1,2,3, formula1,4, or fruit juice6
0 to 1/2 slice of bread5,7
or 0 to 2 crackers5,7
1Breast milk or formula, or portions of both, may be served; however, it is recommended that breast milk be served in place of formula from birth through 11 months.
2For some breastfed infants who regularly consume less than the minimum amount of breast milk per feeding, a serving of less than the minimum amount of breast milk may be offered, with additional breast milk offered if the infant is still hungry.
3Only the infant's mother can provide breast milk.
4Infant formula and dry infant cereal must be iron fortified.
5A serving of this component is required only when the infant is developmentally ready to accept it.
6Fruit juice must be full strength (100% juice) and offered from a cup, not a bottle, to prevent tooth decay.
7Must be made from whole grain or enriched meal or flour.
GO MEAT
No, you don't know he can handle meats at this time. Most of his nutrients are going to come from what he's drinking still. Introduce foods 1 at a time. Start with a baby cereal (rice or oats). After you know how well that is tolerated, you can start with single foods (like peas, green beans, pears, applesauce). Let your baby adjust to each food before adding a new food. You want to make sure he has no allergies. Don't feed the mixed foods until he is tolerating the single foods. Remember, you are introducing him to foods, his nutrients are coming from his formula or breast milk.
LOOK, ask your pediatrition! HE IS NOT AN ADULT! HIS NUTRIENTS COME FROM HIS LIQUID DIET. YOUR JOB IS TO INTRODUCE NEW FOODS ONE AT AT TIME. NOT IMMEDIATELY FOR THEIR NUTRITIONAL VALUE. YOU INTRODUCE SIMPLE FOODS (the #1 foods in the jars) and baby cereals UNTIL YOU KNOW WHAT HE TOLERATES! As he gets older and is weaned from his liquid diet, you can worry about square meals. Right now, you are introducing him to solid foods and worrying about food allergies.
The scholar above me has cut and pasted guidelines for feeding an infant who has already been successfully introduced to solid foods. The exact amounts are included. AFTER the foods have been introduced.
ASK YOUR PEDIATRITION!
More Questions & Answers...