Infant Feeding Guidelines

Feeding your baby well in the first year is less about hitting exact numbers and more about a few consistent habits: recognizing your baby’s cues, choosing appropriate foods and drinks at each stage, and knowing when to introduce something new. This guide brings together the American Academy of Pediatrics’ broad feeding guidance for the first year.

The AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about the first 6 months, with continued breastfeeding alongside solid foods until at least age 1 (and beyond, if both parent and baby want to continue). Complementary foods typically start around 6 months. Breastmilk or formula — not cow’s milk or juice — should be your baby’s primary drink for the first year. As textures advance, use age-appropriate preparation and supervision to reduce choking risk; see our Choking Hazards for Infants guide for food-shape and baby-led-weaning safety details.

Breastfeeding and Formula in the First 6 Months

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for approximately 6 months after birth, with continued breastfeeding — alongside solid foods — until 2 years of age or longer if both you and your baby want to continue. For families who formula-feed, in part or entirely, the AAP’s core guidance still applies: only breastmilk or formula in the bottle unless your pediatrician directs otherwise, avoiding bottle propping, and not adding cereal to a bottle.

Recognizing Hunger and Fullness Cues

Babies have an innate ability to self-regulate how much they eat, and responsive feeding — following your baby’s hunger and fullness cues rather than a fixed volume or strict clock — supports that natural ability. Early hunger cues include rooting, hand-to-mouth movements, and lip smacking; fullness often shows as turning away, slowing down, or closing the mouth. This guide covers general patterns rather than an exact schedule or volume, since those vary by baby and are best discussed with your pediatrician.

Using a bottle solely to soothe a fussy baby, rather than in response to hunger cues, is a pattern the AAP flags as contributing to overfeeding. Feeding is one tool for comfort, but it shouldn’t be the only one you reach for.

Introducing Solid Foods, Around 6 Months

The AAP recommends introducing complementary foods around 6 months of age, alongside continued breastmilk or formula. Offer a wide variety of foods and textures as your baby is developmentally ready — research suggests babies often need multiple exposures, sometimes 10 to 15 attempts over several months, before accepting a new food, so one refusal isn’t the final answer.

Around 6 months is also a reasonable time to start offering sips from a cup, in addition to breastmilk or formula.

Self-Feeding and Snacks as Your Baby Grows

Many babies start reaching for food and attempting to self-feed with fingers or a spoon around 8 to 9 months. After about 9 months, offering 2 to 3 healthy, nutritious snacks a day alongside meals is a reasonable general pattern, adjusted to your own baby’s appetite and growth.

What to Drink in the First Year

Breastmilk or formula should remain your baby’s primary drink through the first year. If you offer juice at all, the AAP suggests waiting until 6 to 9 months and limiting it to about 4 to 6 ounces a day — juice isn’t a necessary part of an infant’s diet. Talk with your pediatrician about the right timing for introducing plain cow’s milk, which is generally not recommended as a primary drink before your baby’s first birthday.

Where This Guide Ends and Your Pediatrician's Advice Begins

This guide covers general, population-level feeding patterns. It isn’t a substitute for individualized medical advice — your pediatrician can account for your baby’s growth curve, any allergies or medical conditions, and family feeding history in a way a general guide can’t. If you have concerns about feeding, weight gain, or introducing specific foods (including common allergens), bring them to your pediatrician directly.

Related Guides

For the specifics of storing and thawing breastmilk, see our Breast Milk Storage Guide. For keeping bottles and feeding equipment clean, see How to Sterilize Baby Bottles.

Sources

This guide is based on current guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC on introducing solid foods, plus the CDC choking-hazards guidance. It is provided for general education and does not replace your pediatrician’s individualized advice.

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