Feeding by age

Birth - four months. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for four months following birth. The choice to do so is of course up to the parent and the specific needs to the child. A pediatrician should be consulted when deciding which way is the best way. Whichever one is chosen, breastmilk, formula, or a combination of both should be the only thing fed to the child. Generally, average-sized infants will drink about two-three ounces every two-three hours. This number does vary depending on the size and weight of the baby. Over time a child and parent will generate a schedule of their own. The child will be able to communicate his needs with verbal cues and gestures.
Four - six months. By this point, the weight of the baby is nearly doubled. If the child is teething or is still hungry after feedings one should talk with a pediatrician about introducing rice cereal. This is the best food for young children since it is easy to digest. The cereal should be introduced in small amounts and be mixed with formula or breastmilk. Children should not consume regular milk until at least a year old. The child may take some time getting used to the new food. A parent should ease the food into the child’s diet slowly so he can get used to it. As the child adjusts, then more can be introduced until the desired amount is reached.
Six - eight months. Once the child has gotten used to cereal and is over six months old, fruits and vegetables can be introduced. One should start with small amounts and not at every feeding. Baby food can be bough in these mixtures. One should start by mixing one teaspoon of a fruit or vegetable with the child's cereal and slowly increase this to up to half a cup by the time he is about eight months old. If one buys baby fruits or vegetables in jars, spoon some into a separate bowl rather than feeding directly from the jar. After only a day, the an open jar should be discarded. By this time, the child should be eating this cereal mixture for two or three feedings. Breastmilk or formula should be given if he is still hungry during or between feedings.
8 - 12 months. As your child approaches her first birthday, you can start to mash some of the things you eat and give them to her, or buy textured and mixed baby food. You can introduce meat and also things like dry cereal or crackers, but make sure foods are small and soft (or light and flakey for cereal/crackers) to prevent choking. If she isn't already, your soon to be toddler should eat with the family at mealtimes. Let her try to feed herself finger foods. You can also introduce pasteurized cheese and yogurt. Still stay away from regular milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and exotic and citrus fruits.
Twelve months and older. After a child's first birthday, the parent can start to introduce all the foods adults normally eat into his diet. It may take a child a while to get used to the taste, so a parent must be persistent. Fruits and eggs are acceptable for early children’s diets, but one should ask a pediatrician about nuts. A parent can now give the child regular milk. Unless the pediatrician says otherwise, a parent should give a child whole milk until he is two years old and then switch to low fat milk. With the addition of new food could come food allergies. It is important to see a pediatrician is one suspects that a child has an allergy.