First Year Feeding Guide

Age 10 to 12 Months: I Can Do It Myself

As your baby grows out of a milk-based diet, his attitude changes too. More and more, he'll insist on feeding himself. To make it easier, serve thick-textured foods -- mashed potatoes, casseroles -- that stick to a spoon. The range of finger foods can expand to include finely chopped meat, chicken, or fish.

At 1 year, your child can drink breast milk, whole milk, or enriched soy milk from a cup. (Low-fat milk should not be given before age 2.) By this time, his daily diet will be nearly as varied as your own: six servings of grains, two to three servings of fruits, two to three servings of vegetables, two servings of protein foods, and three cups of milk.

Serving Sizes:

1 grain serving = 1/2 slice bread, 1/4 cup cereal, 2 crackers

1 fruit/vegetable serving = 1/4 cup

1 protein serving = 1/4 cup or 1 oz.

Now that your child has mastered the basic food groups, you can begin teaching him the finer points of healthy nutrition. Setting a good example yourself works better than pushing him to swallow every bite of strained vegetables. Eat right, eat together, and work on making mealtime a relaxed, enjoyable occasion for the entire family.