Feeding Infants and Newborns

Food gives babies the energy and nutrients they need to be healthy.

Milk first

For a baby, breast milk is best: it contains all the vitamins and minerals a baby needs. Infant formulas are available for babies whose mothers cannot breastfeed or choose not to.

Starting solid foods

Most babies are ready for solid foods at about 6 months, but ask the baby's health care provider about the right time. Introducing one new food at a time makes it possible to tell which foods, if any, cause an allergic reaction, such as a rash, diarrhea or vomiting.

Peanuts

When a baby can start eating foods containing peanuts depends on the baby's risk of food allergy:

• Most babies can have peanut products at about 6 months.
• Babies with mild to moderate eczema are at higher risk of food allergies, but usually can also have peanut products at about 6 months. Talk to the baby's provider about any concerns.
• Babies with severe eczema or an egg allergy are at high risk of peanut allergy. Check with the provider, who may recommend allergy testing and can advise on when and how to introduce peanut products.

Foods to avoid

• Honey before age 1. It can contain bacteria that cause botulism in babies.
• Cow's milk before age 1. It lacks some of the nutrients babies need, and babies cannot digest it.
• Juice before age 1. It contains a lot of sugar.
• Unpasteurized foods and drinks, such as juice, milk, yogurt or cheese. They can carry E. coli, harmful bacteria that can cause severe diarrhea.
• Choking hazards before age 3, such as hard candy, popcorn, whole nuts and grapes that have not been cut into small pieces.

Sources

• MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine: "Infant and Newborn Nutrition."