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Your baby is growing fast and is now ready to eat more "grown up" foods. Your baby can now have whole milk instead of iron-fortified formula and in addition to breast milk, if you are still breast feeding. Your baby should be learning to drink from a cup. Your baby can eat most of the same foods as the rest of the family but there are a few foods exceptions. Avoid highly spiced or deep-fat-fried foods. Your child can choke on nuts, fruits with seeds, round fruits like grapes, stringy vegetables, raw carrots, popcorn, hard candy, gum or hot dogs.
To prevent choking, do not give large pieces of food. Keep an eye on your baby when eating. Have him/her sitting in a highchair. Do not allow walking aroung, running, playing, or excitement during mealtime.
Your baby's diet should include foods from the Basic Four Food Groups.
Milk- 16-20 ounces each day of whole milk. Avoid 2% or skim milk until after the second birthday. Cheese, yogurt, ice cream and pudding may also be offered.
Meats- Two serving every day. Serving size is one ounce. Give small, bite sized portions of chicken, liver, beef or pork. Meat substitutes; such as cheese, beans, eggs, and peanut butter, can be used occassionaly.
Fruits & Vegetables- Two to three servings of each every day. Fruit serving is 1/2 small fresh fruit, or 1/4 cup canned fruit. Vegetable serving is 1/4 cup and should be cooked without salt or spices.
Bread & Cereals- Four servings per day. Serving size is 1/2 slice of bread or 1/4 to 1/3 cup of cereal, noodles, or rice. Other choices include baby cereals, Cream of Wheat, Malt-O-Meal, chunks of potatoes, tortillas, or dried or toasted bread in strips.
Encourage your baby to learn to finger-feed him/herself and to use a plastic spoon. it will be messy but baby has to learn. Placing newspapers on the floor below the highchair will make cleaning up easier.
Your baby's appetite may decreaseat this age and vary from day to day. This is normal because the rate of growth is slower now. Your baby may be picky and refuse certain foods. Keep servings small and try foods again at a later date. As long as your baby is eating a cariety of foods each day, he/she should be getting a healthy diet. If you are concerned about your child refusing certain foods, talk to your child's physician. They may suggest additional vitamin or iron supplements.
Resist the temptation to feed your baby sweets, desserts, chips, punches or soft drinks. It will spoil the appetite for more nourishing foods.
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