The first year of your precious baby’s life is probably the most exciting, hard, and memorable for any parent. Especially if it’s your first child and, with no experience, you have to learn as you go. Every step of the way is a challenge and you need some guidance to successfully cope with all the issues. So, here’s a month-by-month guide to your baby’s first-year milestones, with useful tips and important facts that will help you go through these first 12 months.
Every stage of your child’s first year has significant feeding patterns and peculiarities. For more detailed information on this topic, see the Hipp formula feeding chart that will assist you in creating the perfect feeding schedule, determining the right amount of food, and will answer any questions you have.
0-4th month
Usually, mothers try to breastfeed a baby at such an early stage, but if this is not an option, there are specifically made infant formulas that provide the needed nutrition. They resemble breast milk very much and are rich in protein, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, and other important elements. Feed your baby every 2-3 hours (0-1 month-old infants) or every 3-4 hours (1-4 months-old babies), giving a small amount of milk at a time.
5th-7th month
It’s time to start implementing solid foods into your baby’s ration. Most parents do it at the age of at least 6 months, but different babies are ready for solid foods earlier or later, so consult with a pediatrician about the right moment. Add new complementary foods to your little one’s diet every 2-3 days to let him/her get used to the new taste and determine whether your baby is allergic to any product. At this age, proteins and iron from meat and fish are very important for a baby’s development, so add them to the ration, as well as fruit porridges rich in vitamin C. Continue to give your child breast milk or baby formula to provide the proper level of nutrition.
6th-8th month
By this time, your baby is most probably ready for milk-cereal porridge. Experts advise to give the porridge to a child as an evening meal. Such whole grains as oats and millet are particularly suitable as grains. Mixed with undiluted whole milk, they’ll be a good source of protein and carbs. Baby cereal porridge can be prepared with cow’s milk, baby formula, or water.
7th-9th month
At this age, fruit and cereal porridge can be a good afternoon snack, added to milk-cereal porridge in the evening. You should still give breast milk or baby formula to your kid for additional nutrition, but the amount reduces, as more and more solid foods appear in your baby’s diet. Also, you should give some water (200-400 ml a day) to your little one, as he/she drinks less liquids and eats more complementary foods.
10th-12th month
This is the time when mash is gradually replaced with solid food in your baby’s ration. A wide variety of products can now be fed to a child. Moreover, at 1 year of age, a kid can comfortably eat at the family table, together with everyone else. But make sure the seasoning is light and your meals aren’t spicy, too salty, or too sweet.
