Tips On…Infant Feeding – 4 to 7 Months

From 4 to 7 months of age, your baby will indicate a desire for food by opening his or her mouth when he or she sees something approaching, by sitting up and by drooling. These indicate a change in eating style. Your baby is ready to progress to solid foods.

Sample Menu Of Food Intake From 4 To 7 Months:

• Four to six tablespoons dry cereal, mixed with breast milk or formula, offered two times a day
• Four to six tablespoons of soft, fork-mashed vegetables (one-half to one jar)
• Two to four tablespoons of soft, fork-mashed fruits (one-half jar)
• Formula and breast milk quantities will vary between infants, depending on the growth pattern
• Infants may drink an average of 24 to 32 ounces of formula per day
• Breast-fed infants may nurse three to six times each day.

Your child is receiving an adequate food and fluid intake if he or she has three to four wet diapers each day and is gaining weight.

Do Not Introduce These Foods Until Discussed With Your Child's Physician
The following foods may cause allergic reactions in some cases:
Chocolate
Citrus juice
Egg white
Fish and seafood
Honey
Peanut butter and peanut products
Strawberries
Whole milk.

Foods That Are Choking Hazards And Should Be Avoided At This Time:
Apple pieces
Grapes
Hot dogs
Nuts
Raisins
Raw carrots
Round, hard or sticky candies
Seeds.