1. Healthy
Eating
Research
Recommendations by Age
Getting your child off to a healthy start sets them up for a healthy life. Click an age to learn what
and how to feed your baby, from birth to 24 months.
0-6 months 6-12 months 12-24 months Prenatal & Postpartum
WHAT TO FEED
• Breast milk or formula: This is still the most important source of
nourishment for your baby.
• Solid food:
• Start introducing mashed or pureed solid food sometime
between 4 and 6 months when your baby is
developmentally ready.
• Begin to add lumpy and soft finger foods between 6-8
months.
• You can begin to add chopped food and hard finger foods
between 8-12 months.
• Offer a variety of food from all of the food groups (vegetables, fruits, grains, meats/protein, dairy).
WHAT TO AVOID
• Milk: Drinking dairy milk before 12 months may result in intestinal bleeding and serious issues for your infant.
• Plant-based beverages: Soy, rice, almond, and other plant-based milks are not recommended for your infant. In the case of dairy allergies or
intolerances, your pediatrician will work with you to find an alternative infant formula option.
• Honey: In children younger than 12 months, honey may cause botulism, a serious illness.
• Fruit juices: Drinking juice can discourage your baby from eating other nutritious food that is not sweet. Offer mashed fruits instead – they are a
better source of nutrients!
• Sugary drinks: Avoid soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened teas.
• Added sugars and sodium (salt): When choosing food for your baby, check the food label and ingredient list. Choose food with no added sugars
and/or limited sodium.
LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT TO FEED AND WHAT TO AVOID ›
HOW TO FEED
• Follow your baby’s hunger and fullness cues, which may include: opening mouth when spoon gets near; reaching for the spoon or food; pointing
to food; getting excited when food is presented; and expressing a desire for specific foods with words or sounds. See more hunger and fullness
cues.
• Offer your baby a variety of fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods with different flavors and textures so they learn to like them. Learn more
about how babies develop taste preferences.
• Establish a consistent schedule for meals and snacks.
• Feed your baby in a pleasant environment where you can interact warmly and avoid distractions (including using your smartphone!).
• Avoid offering common choking hazards such as nuts, grapes, popcorn, and hot dogs. Always supervise your child during feeding time!
MORE FEEDING TIPS ›
What else do I need to know?
Click a topic for additional resources in developing healthy habits for your child.
Developing Healthy
Habits
Food Safety Preventing Choking
Preventing Mouth
Burns
Food Allergy
Considerations
Developing taste preferences
• You can help shape your child’s preferences for healthy and nutritious food! Healthy eating during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, and in the first
two years of life helps to establish a good foundation for making healthy choices as your child grows.
• The earlier you introduce vegetables, the more likely your child is to accept them. Introduce your baby to a large variety of vegetables and fruits
prepared in different healthy ways and textures before they turn 1 year old.
• Do not offer your baby sugary drinks (including fruit drinks, sodas, sweetened teas). Offering these drinks could reinforce your baby’s naturally
strong preference for sweet tastes and make it more difficult for them to learn to like healthy food and plain water.
• Your child’s taste preferences are still developing, and offering too many foods high in sodium (e.g., like packaged macaroni and cheese) at this
age can teach them to prefer these foods for the rest of their lives.
Introducing new foods
• Vegetables can be more difficult for babies to accept at first, because they are naturally bitter. When introducing a new vegetable, try mixing it
first with a familiar food such as breast milk, formula, or cereal.
• Repetition is key! It is normal for a child to reject new food items the first time they are offered. It may take some children up to 15 or 20 tries
before accepting a new food. Be patient and keep trying.
• Picky eating, including wanting just a few food items or refusing food they once liked, is a common toddler behavior. Be patient with your
toddler. Continue to provide a variety of healthy foods and encourage them to try new foods. But, don’t pressure them, and allow them to
determine how much to eat.
Access the Full Report
Dig into the Research for 0-2 Feeding Recommendations
READ THE REPORT ›
Check out more videos:
Looking for more tips about feeding your
infant and how to introduce solid foods?
MORE BITE-SIZED VIDEOS THIS WAY ›
More guidance for families & caregivers
Ages 0-5 Beverage Recommendations
Visit HealthyDrinksHealthyKids.org to learn
more about beverage recommendations for
0-5 year-olds and to access additional
resources. Learn More at Healthy Drinks
Healthy Kids
SEE THE RECOMMENDATIONS ›
Ages 2-8 Feeding Recommendations
Childhood is a critical period for the
development of eating behaviors that last into
adulthood. Learn how to create healthy eating
habits for 2-8 years old.
SEE THE RECOMMENDATIONS ›
Ages 5+ Beverage Recommendations
Click an age range to learn how to stay healthy
with the right drinks, in the right amounts, at
the right ages, from age 5 to Adult.
SEE THE RECOMMENDATIONS ›
SIGN UP FOR EMAIL ALERTS
Email
What we Fund ›
Current Opportunities ›
Search for research
EMAIL SIGN-UP ›
FOCUS AREAS ›
RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS ›
CONTACT US ›
Healthy Eating Research
Healthy Eating Research (HER) is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation (RWJF) committed to building a Culture of Health through identifying
effective strategies to improve children’s nutrition and prevent childhood obesity.
Menu
Ages 0-2 Feeding Recommendations
