Babies need healthy food to grow and develop. A newborn baby gets their nutrients from breast milk or formula and, as they get older, from introducing solid foods. Newborn babies eat smaller amounts more often. A baby who is breastfed may eat every 1-3 hours, while a baby on formula may eat every 2-4 hours. How much they eat each time may vary. As your baby grows, you will start to learn the signs of when they are hungry. Typically, once a baby has good head control, can sit safely in a highchair/feeding chair, and has doubled their birthweight, it may be time to start solid foods. These foods are given in addition to breast milk or formula. Examples include infant cereals, and mashed or pureed fruits and vegetables. Starting your baby off with good nutrition will help them to meet important growth and development milestones and form healthy eating habits as they grow up.
Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) is an essential program that provides specific nutritious foods, nutrition education, health care referrals to eligible pregnant women, postpartum women up to six months regardless of how pregnancy ends, breastfeeding women up to one year after delivery, (non-breastfeeding postpartum women – up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends), and infants and children up to their fifth birthday. WIC participants receive an eWIC card for the purchase of infant cereal, iron-fortified adult cereal, vitamin C-rich fruit or vegetable juice, eggs, milk, cheese, peanut butter, dried and canned beans/peas, canned fish, soy-based beverages, tofu, fruits and vegetables, baby foods, whole wheat bread, and other whole-grain products. Foods covered may depend upon the nutritional needs of the individual.
TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT’S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by program name: Nutrition Education, Congregate Meals/Nutrition Sites,
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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SOURCES: American Academy of Pediatrics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
PREPARED BY: 211
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: October2024