| Age | Food | Quantity |
| Birth |
Breast milk or vitamin and iron fortified formulas |
Breast feed on demand; may be every 2-3 hours at first. Could settle to between 3-4 hours at 6 weeks. Bottle fed babies: follow guidelines on label |
| 3-4 Months | Breast milk or formula milk |
On demand but approx. 6 feeds in 24 hours. Give 5-6 bottle feeds in 24 hours. (150 ml for each kg of baby's mass, e.g. 150 ml*4kg = 600ml in 24 hours) Optional: sips of cooled boiled water, black rooibos tea |
| 4-6 Months | Breast
milk or formula before solids.
Introduce single grain cereal such as rice or maize. Once single grain cereal is well tolerated, offer other iron fortified cereal. Introduce pureed or strained vegetables and fruits. If well tolerated, follow with meat and vegetable mixture, soups ect |
Breast feed every 3-4 hours. Bottle feed every four hours, not more than 1 litre of formula in a 24 hour period. Start omitting night feeds |
| 6-9 Months |
Breast milk or formula after solids PLUS Iron fortified infant cereals preferably. PLUS
Mashed vegetables and chicken, meat or fish. Include good sources of iron, such as liver or cooked egg yolk (NO EGG WHITE) a few times a week. Include rice and pasta with meat and vegetables for variety.
Fresh or lightly cooked fruit or fruit yoghurt. Cottage cheese sweetmilk and other mild cheeses can be added to meals.
Cooled boiled water, or diluted fruit juice can be offered between meals
Optional: If teething, give rusks or thick crusts of oven dried brown bread |
3 or 4 milk feeds in a 24 hour period. Total = 500 -600 mls
Four to eight tablespoons or more once or twice a day
Four to eight tablespoons of more once or twice a day. Or one large jar per meal
As part of meal or snack
Occasionally as desired
limit juice as it can spoil the appetite. Offer from a cup and not a bottle to prevent tooth decay |
| 9-12 Months |
Breast milk or formula three times a day after solids PLUS Iron fortified infant cereal, or traditional porridge enriched with milk.
Mashed vegetables, with beef, lamb, chicken and pasta or rice - either home made or bottled
Well cooked egg yolk sieved over food from spoon. try a little egg white towards the end of the first year
Fresh or pureed fruit. Fruit yoghurt. Fruit or milk puddings.
Optional: Cooled boiled water, or diluted fruit juice can be offered between feeds
|
Approx 500ml in 24 hour period
Four to eight tablespoons or more, once or twice a day, depending on the child's activity level and appetite
Approximately one large jar or 8-10 tablespoons once or twice a day depending on the child's activity level and appetite
If no adverse reaction occurs, increase the amount until whole egg is given
Offer after meals or between meals as snacks.
Approx 60-120ml daily
|