A 12 month old feeding schedule include a variety of colorful foods, nutrient-dense grains, and various protein sources. To avoid problems, make the food available and encourage your child to try it. Don’t force it – this can only make things worse. Also, stick to a regular feeding schedule at the same time every day. A 12-month-old’s eating habits will change over time.
Once your baby has started eating solid foods, you can start implementing a gentle feeding schedule. You may also want to add a two-ounce “snack” twice a day. Your baby will likely eat six or eight ounces at each meal, plus two to three ounces at snack time. Your baby will probably sleep for two to three hours between meals, so be sure to allow extra time between meals and naps.
At 12 months, your child will begin eating solid foods as their primary source of nutrition. A solid food meal should come before milk feeds. Ideally, your child will eat three solid meals a day. However, they may still require a few bottles to get enough energy and nutrients, so discuss this with your pediatrician before making any big changes. Weaning your child from formula or breast milk should be your goal by 15 months.
You may start switching from formula to water or breast milk during this time. While breastmilk is still recommended, many mothers cannot breastfeed for 12 months. It is perfectly normal to stop breastfeeding after this age, but you don’t have to feel guilty about it. A transition to milk can be difficult for a toddler who hasn’t yet been weaned. If your toddler refuses milk, then you may need to switch to another type of milk.
By the time your baby is twelve months, you can introduce other foods to his diet. As long as he’s not allergic to them, he can eat a wide variety of foods, including bread and meat puree. Just be careful not to introduce too many hard foods at once, as they can lodge in your child’s throat. You can also introduce solid foods a few months before the 12-month mark. If your baby refuses to take solids, it’s best to introduce them gradually.
A baby’s stomach will adjust to the new formula. During this time, cow’s milk may contain more fat or milk than usual. To avoid this problem, limit the amount of cow’s milk to 16 ounces per day. Serve them a meal. Milk is rich in calcium, vitamin D, and protein. You can try giving your child cow’s milk from an open cup if your baby refuses to drink it.
Babies often take several bottles per day, but this can indicate that the child is still not ready for solid foods. Those babies who continue nursing may not want a snack mid-afternoon. If you notice a significant drop in milk intake, it may be time to introduce solids. However, if you notice that your baby isn’t showing signs of hunger, you may want to try spacing the feedings to prevent weight gain.
By month 12, babies will likely gain half an inch or more each month and three to five ounces each week. Many babies go through a growth spurt at this age. An average 12-month-old weighs 21.9 pounds for girls and 21.3 pounds for boys. They’re also nearly 10 inches taller at twelve months than they were at birth. Furthermore, they’ve also developed super-accurate hearing and are beginning to focus on their listening skills.
Depending on your child’s age, you can also start introducing snacks to your baby’s daily schedule. Snacks are generally less nutritious than regular meals and should be introduced gradually. Some parents begin cutting out morning naps altogether and replacing them with longer afternoon ones. Some days, though, your baby will still need multiple naps – try to limit the amount of nap time. And avoid feeding your baby before bed!
