← Baby Feeding Guide
📅Feeding by Age
Feeding Your Baby: 0 to 12 Months
A complete timeline - What to feed, how much, how often, and what a typical day looks like at each stage.
At a Glance: 0–12 Month Feeding Timeline
| Age | Milk | Solids | Feeds/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 months | Breast milk or formula only | None | 8–12 |
| 4–6 months | Breast milk or formula (primary) | None (watch for readiness) | 6–8 |
| 6 months | Breast milk / formula (primary) | 1 solid meal - Smooth purees | 5–6 milk + 1 solid |
| 7–8 months | Breast milk / formula | Expanding variety, allergens introduced | 4–5 milk + 2 meals |
| 9–10 months | Breast milk / formula | Soft finger foods, self-feeding begins | 3–4 milk + 3 meals |
| 11–12 months | Breast milk / formula declining | Most family foods (chopped) | 2–3 milk + 3 meals + snacks |
0–6 Months: Milk Only
What
Breast milk or formula exclusively. No water, juice, or solid food.
How much (formula)
Newborn: 60–90ml per feed, 8–12 feeds. By 4–6 months: 150–210ml per feed, 4–6 feeds. Total daily: 700–1000ml.
How much (breast milk)
Feed on demand - 8–12 times per 24 hours in weeks 1–4. By 3–4 months: 5–8 feeds per day. Trust the output indicators: 6+ wet nappies and steady weight gain.
Key tip
Do not start solids early to help sleep - It doesn't work, and early solids carry real risks (see Starting Solids guide).
6–7 Months: First Tastes
What
Start with iron-rich single-ingredient purees: pureed chicken, beef, lentils, or iron-fortified oat cereal. Add one new food every 2–3 days.
Texture
Smooth, thin puree - Consistency of smooth yoghurt. Thin with breast milk, formula, or cooled boiled water.
Amount
Start with 1–2 teaspoons. Increase gradually to 2–4 tablespoons by end of month. Milk remains the primary nutrition source.
Sample meal
Morning: breast milk / formula. Mid-morning: 2 tsp pureed chicken + 1 tsp pureed sweet potato. Afternoon: milk. Evening: milk.
7–9 Months: Building Variety
What
Introduce allergens alongside expanding vegetable, fruit, and protein variety. Progress to mashed and lumpy textures. Offer 2 solid meals.
Texture
Mashed/lumpy by 8 months. Fork-mashed, not blended. Begin soft finger foods alongside spoon-fed meals.
Amount
2 solid meals, 2–4 tablespoons each. Milk feeds reduce naturally.
Sample day
7am: milk. 9am: iron-fortified porridge + mashed fruit. 12pm: milk. 2pm: pureed chicken + mashed vegetables + water sip. 5pm: milk. 7pm: milk.
9–12 Months: Family Food
What
Baby joins family meals - Same food, prepared safely (no salt, no honey, no chilli, no whole nuts). 3 meals per day plus 1–2 snacks.
Texture
Soft pieces, finely chopped. Baby is using pincer grip and beginning to use a pre-loaded spoon.
Amount
3 solid meals + 1–2 snacks. Milk reduces to 360–480ml per day (formula) or 3–4 breastfeeds.
Sample day
7am: milk. 8am: scrambled egg + soft toast fingers. 12pm: congee with minced chicken + steamed broccoli. 3pm: mango pieces + water. 6pm: fish rice + veggie. 7pm: milk.
Hunger & Fullness Cues
Hunger cues
- ✓Turning toward the spoon
- ✓Opening mouth when spoon approaches
- ✓Leaning forward in highchair
- ✓Reaching for the food or spoon
- ✓Excited arm movements at mealtimes
Fullness cues - Stop feeding
- !Turning head away from spoon
- !Closing mouth firmly
- !Pushing spoon or food away
- !Losing interest or becoming distracted
- !Crying or fussing mid-meal
Never force a baby to finish a portion. Responsive feeding - Stopping when baby signals fullness - Is the foundation of healthy eating habits.
More from the Feeding Guide:
Medical disclaimer: Educational purposes only. Consult your paediatrician or dietitian for concerns about your baby's growth or nutrition.