During his first year, your baby will move on from mere “tastes” of solids with his bottles, to three solid meals a day, with drinks of water, fruit juice (diluted if you wish), or milk.

Once he is happy with a couple of different solids, it is important to introduce a variety of tastes and textures. He will be able to deal with foods that have been pureed, mashed, or chopped, and to chew or suck on larger chunks of food. Still, it is important to remember that every baby has different requirements and appetites. If in doubt, just feed your baby as much as he will happily take. The amount of milk or formula he requires will lessen as he increases the number of solid meals. Since he’ll be getting most of his calories from solids rather than from milk, your baby will become thirsty. When he does, give him plain water or diluted fruit juice to drink (up to four ounces per day) rather than milk. Never give your baby a commercial drink containing sugar, artificial sweeteners, or colorings.

Your baby depends on you for the provision of adequate nutrition, and for a newborn, breast milk or formula will provide all she needs. Breast milk is the ideal food for a baby, but if you choose to bottlefeed, rest assured that your baby will still thrive. Feeding takes a great deal of a parent’s time, so it’s important to choose a method that is suitable for both parent and baby. Well before delivery you should decide whether you are going to breastfeed or bottlefeed and prepare for whichever you choose.

It’s quite normal for all babies, breastfed or bottlefed, not to take much colostrum at first, for they take a while to get the hang of feeding. Your baby will cry when she is hungry, and you should take your lead from her in setting the pattern of feedings.

Babies grow most rapidly during the first six months of life – most babies double their birth weight in around four to five months. Your baby’s nutritional needs reflect this tremendous growth. A healthy baby’s food must contain adequate amounts of calories, protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, and until she’s at least four months old, your baby will receive all these nutrients from breast milk or formula.