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Feeding Guide: 6-12 Months

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Please note: This information primarily focuses on nutrition for the healthy, full-term infant. Consult with a WIC Health Professional for more detailed and advanced information particularly for preterm, low-birth weight, special needs, or infants with medical conditions.

Breastfed Baby

It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to exclusively breastfeed (no formula) through the first 6 months of life and to continue breastfeeding through 12 months of age while complementary foods are added, as mutually desired by mom and baby.

Breastmilk is still the main source of nutrition. Continue to breastfeed on demand. On average, baby will feed 3-4 times per day. 

Baby will start to breastfeed less as they eat more baby food and table foods. “Table foods” refers to foods the rest of the family eats at meal times. Table foods are the next step after baby has mastered baby foods and is developmentally ready for more chewing, texture, and flavor.

Baby food and table foods are for learning new flavors and textures as well as learning to chew and eat from a spoon, with fingers, and to start self-feeding with utensils. Let them be messy and feed themselves. It is how they learn!

  • WIC does not provide solid foods until 6 months, an age most babies are developmentally ready to try solids.
  • WIC provides baby food until 12 months of age.

Get more great breastfeeding information here!

Formula-fed Baby

Baby will start to consume less formula as they eat more baby food and table foods. It is important to continue providing formula through 12 months of age if not breastfeeding. 

Formula is still the main source of nutrition. Continue to offer formula on demand. On average, baby will drink 24-32 ounces total per day (about 3-4 8oz bottles per day)

Baby food and table foods are more for learning new flavors and textures as well as learning to eat from a spoon, with fingers, and to start self-feeding with utensils.

  • Table foods are referring to foods the rest of the family eats at meal times. Table foods are the next step after baby has mastered baby foods and is developmentally ready for more chewing, texture, and flavor.
  • Baby food is offered on your WIC package until 12 months of age.

Cow’s Milk & Other Liquids

Never give cow’s milk before 12 months. Why?

  • Cow’s milk has too much protein, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, and potassium
  • Cow’s milk lacks key nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin E, linoleic acid, iron, and copper
  • Too much protein and minerals are hard on your baby’s kidneys, can cause dehydration, and it is hard for baby to digest.
  • Cow’s milk can cause bleeding from the intestinal tract.
  • Bleeding caused by cow’s milk increases your baby’s chance of becoming anemic (or low in iron).

At 12 months, whole cow’s milk can be offered until 24 months. See Feeding Guide for 1-2 year old for more information.

Water

  • Water can be introduced from a cup, not a bottle at about 6 months. 
  • Offer a small amount of drinking water once solid foods are introduced to help babies get familiar with the taste. Just a few sips at meal times is all it takes.
  • Drinking water at this age is more to practice using a cup than for nutritional needs. Let baby practice when he shows signs of readiness.

Other liquids

  • Never give honey, syrup, kool-aid, pop, juice, or any sweetened drink to an infant.
  • Juice is not recommended for babies less than 12 months of age.

No Honey Before 12 Months

Honey, including products that have honey cooked or baked in it, should not be fed to infants younger than 12 months due to risk of infant botulism.

  • Foods cooked or baked with honey not heated to a certain temperature may still contain viable spores. When an infant eats foods with these invisible spores, the spores can produce a toxin that may cause infant botulism.
  • Botulism can result in death.
  • A child over 12 months can destroy the small amount of spores in honey, but an infant cannot.

Feeding Abilities

At 6-7 months, baby will:

  • Use the whole hand or palm to pick up foods

At 8-9 months, baby will:

  • Use their fingers to pick up foods.
  • Reach for spoon to start spoon feeding themselves, may need help
  • Can drink from a cup that is held or may begin to hold a cup

Introducing Food

Introduce foods around 6 months of age when showing signs of readiness.

Signs of Readiness

  • Holds neck steady
  • Sits without support
  • Opens mouth when food is offered
  • Draws in lower lip when spoon is removed from mouth
  • Keeps food in mouth and swallows it
  • Reaches for food showing interest

Starting solids too soon can…

  • Cause choking
  • Be hard for baby to digest
  • Prevent baby from getting enough breast milk or formula for best growth

Food can be offered in different ways.

Suggested Feeding Guide: 0 – 12 months
Age Food Portion Size Feedings per Day Feeding Tips
0-6 months Breast Milk 8-12 feedings on demand. Gradual decline in feedings at 4-6 months. Feed on demand. Refrain from watching the clock.
  • Liquids are best because baby eats by sucking
  • Watch for weight gain in the first weeks/months
  • Baby should have 6-8 wet diapers per day, after first week of life
  • Teething is starting
  • Wait to start solids until close to 6 months old
Iron-Fortified Formula 2-3 oz
(increasing to consume around 32 oz at 6 months)		 6-8 feedings
6-7 months Breast Milk Gradual decline in feedings. Continue feeding on demand. Feed on demand. Refrain from watching the clock.  
Iron-Fortified Formula 6-8 oz
(consuming 24-32 oz)		 3-5 feedings
Grains
Infant cereal, bread, crackers		 1-2 Tbsp 1-2 times per day
Vegetables
AND
Fruit
Plain, strained, pureed, mashed		 1-2 Tbsp of vegetables

1-2 Tbsp of fruit

 1-2 times per day for vegetables

1-2 times per day for fruit
Protein
Eggs, meat, poultry, fish, cheese/yogurt legumes; Plain, mashed, pureed		 1-2 Tbsp 1-2 times per day
8-12 months Breast Milk Gradual decline in feedings. Continue feeding on demand. Feed on demand. Refrain from watching the clock.
  • Try new flavors and textures
  • Offer plain foods, no need to add sauces, fat, salt or sugar
  • Avoid desserts and highly processed foods
  • Avoid foods that can cause choking such as hot dogs, whole grapes, raw apples, nuts, popcorn, etc.
  • Continue offering open cup, by 10 months offer the cup more and the bottle less
  • Prepare to wean from the bottle at 12 months, whether you breastfeed or formula-feed.
  • Continue breastfeeding as long as desired by mom and baby!
  • If pumping or have frozen breast milk, offer by cup after 12 months
Iron-Fortified Formula 6-8 oz 3-4 feedings (6-8 oz each consuming 24 ounces)
Grains
(Infant cereal, bread, crackers)		 2-4 Tbsp 1-2 times per day
Vegetables
AND
Fruit
(ground, finely chopped, diced)		 2-3 Tbsp of vegetables

2-3 Tbsp of fruit

 2-3 times per day for vegetables

2-3 times per day for fruit
Protein
(meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, yogurt, legumes; ground, finely chopped, diced)		 1-2 Tbsp 1-2 times per day

*Source: WIC Works Infant Nutrition and Feeding Manual.

Feeding Tips for the 6-12 month old

  • At any time between 6-12 months, daily amounts will vary. Never force your baby to eat all his food or finish a bottle. Baby will know when he is full and done eating! Look for signs of fullness. 
  • Baby’s tummy is small. It is important to feed healthy foods first. 
  • Less healthy food choices like cookies, chips, and candy can be a choking hazard but also do not give baby what is needed for proper growth and development.
  • Offer fruit for dessert. Babies do not need desserts.
  • Buy plain foods. Babies do not need added salt and sugar.
  • Table foods should be soft and easy to chew. See the Choking section.
  • A relaxed, pleasant atmosphere is an important part of feeding children of all ages. Be patient and give them time to practice. It will be messy but have fun with it!
  • Let your baby sit at the table with the family!
  • Always stay with baby when he is eating.
  • Offer more breast milk, formula, or water in the cup as baby gets closer to age 1. This will help with weaning from the bottle soon after their first birthday. See section on Weaning: Breastfed Baby and Weaning: Formula-Fed Baby.
  • Wipe baby’s gums and teeth with a soft damp cloth after meals. This will keep baby’s gums healthy.
  • Wash your hands and baby’s hands with soap before feeding. Wash the high chair with warm soapy water after baby eats.
  • See section on Food Safety to learn about how to safely handle and prepare food for you and your family.
  • See section on Food Allergies to learn about the newest recommendations on how to best prevent food allergies from forming in children.

Sources: Healthy Eating Research, USDA Infant Nutrition & Feeding – A Guide for Use in WIC

This post was last updated on September 1st, 2022 at 2:39 PM

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