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9-12 Months Feeding Guide

Discover our guide for feeding 9-month- to 1-year-old babies. Babies at one year old need proper nutrition with a variety of foods. Depending on your baby, the amount and type of food your baby eats will vary.

Toddler Hunger Cues

How Much Should a Toddler Eat?

DHA
Docosahexaenoic Acid

DHA is an Omega-3 fat found in your baby's brain and important for their normal brain and eye development. By your baby's 2nd birthday, most of their brain growth will have already occurred.



Tip
If using an infant formula, use a formula that has DHA. Once on solids, fatty fish is another excellent source of DHA for your baby.



Average DHA amount in breast milk:
0.32% of total fatty acids

Iron

Iron is essential for your baby's physical and mental growth, and as they grow, they need more to meet their nutritional needs. Once your baby is on solids, make sure you provide iron rich foods.



Tip
Iron from animal products, especially meat, is absorbed more easily than from other sources. Vitamin C also helps absorption of iron from plant sources.



Iron recommendation:
0-6 months: 0.27 mg/day

Calcium

Our baby needs calcium for healthy development, especially of their bones and teeth.



Tip
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends not introducing cow's milk until 12 months of age.



Calcium recommendation:
0-6 months: 200mg/day

Introducing Solid Foods

Breast Milk Provides the Optional Nutrition for Your Baby

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How to Tell If Your Baby Is Getting Enough to Eat:

• Between 8 months and 1 year of age, your baby needs 750 to 900 calories a day. About half of that (about 450 calories or 24 ounces) should come from breast milk.
• When feeding your little one, try to give solid foods first and breastfeed after. This encourages your child to eat at least some solid foods.

Tips

• Lactating women should have at least 200 mg of DHA/day. Eat foods rich in DHA, especially fatty fish such as salmon, to support your baby’s normal brain and eye development.§
• All breastfed infants should receive a daily Vitamin D supplement of 400 IU (10 μg) until their diet provides it.


* Average amount of DHA and ARA in worldwide breast milk is 0.32% and 0.47% (mean ± standard deviation of total fatty acids) based on an analysis of 65 studies of 2,474 women).
† Koletzko B et al. J Perinat. Med. 2008;36:5-14.
§ For example, herring, mackerel, pollock, salmon and shrimp. Visit the FDA website for advice regarding eating fish.