Food provides the energy and nutrients that young children need to be healthy. Toddlers are learning to feed themselves and to eat new foods. They should eat a variety of foods from all of the food groups.

Each day, toddlers need enough nutrients, including

• 7 milligrams of iron
• 700 milligrams of calcium
• 600 IU of vitamin D

Micronutrients, often referred to as vitamins and minerals, are vital to healthy development, disease prevention, and wellbeing. With the exception of vitamin D, micronutrients are not produced in the body and must be derived from the diet.

Though people only need small amounts of micronutrients, consuming the recommended amount is important. Micronutrient deficiencies can have devastating consequences. At least half of children worldwide younger than 5 years of age suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The World Health Organization recommends multiple types of interventions to address nutrition deficiencies.

The role of six essential micronutrients is outlined below.

Iron

• Iron is critical for motor and cognitive development. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the consequences of iron deficiency.
• Iron deficiency is a leading cause of anemia which is defined as low hemoglobin concentration. Anemia affects 40% of children younger than 5 years of age and 30% of pregnant women globally.
• Anemia during pregnancy increases the risk of death for the mother and low birth weight for the infant. Worldwide, maternal and neonatal deaths total between 2.5 million and 3.4 million each year.
• Babies fed only breast milk, only formula, or a mix of breast milk and formula have different needs when it comes to iron.

Vitamin A

• Vitamin A supports healthy eyesight and immune system functions. Children with vitamin A deficiency face an increased risk of blindness and death from infections such as measles and diarrhea.
• Globally, vitamin A deficiency affects an estimated 190 million preschool-age children.
• Providing vitamin A supplements to children ages 6-59 months is highly effective in reducing deaths from all causes where vitamin A deficiency is a public health concern.

Vitamin D

• Vitamin D builds strong bones by helping the body absorb calcium. This helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.
• Vitamin D deficiency causes bone diseases, including rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
• Vitamin D helps the immune system resist bacteria and virsues.
• Vitamin D is required for muscle and nerve functions.
• Available data suggest that vitamin D deficiency may be widespread globally.
• Bodies make vitamin D from sunlight, but this varies based on geography, skin color, air pollution, and other factors. Also, sunlight exposure needs to be limited to avoid risk of skin cancer.
• All children need vitamin D beginning shortly after birth.

Iodine

• Iodine is required during pregnancy and infancy for the infant’s healthy growth and cognitive development.
• Globally an estimated 1.8 billion people have insufficient iodine intake.
• Iodine content in most foods and beverages is low.
• Fortifying salt with iodine is a successful intervention – about 86% of households worldwide consume iodized salt. The amount of iodine added to salt can be adjusted so that people maintain adequate iodine intake even if they consume less salt.
• The American Thyroid Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that pregnant or breastfeeding women take a supplement every day containing 150 micrograms of iodine. The American Thyroid Association recommends women who are planning a pregnancy consume a daily iodine supplement starting at least 3 months in advance of pregnancy.

Folate

• Everyone needs folate (vitamin B9) to make new cells every day.
• Folate is essential in the earliest days of fetal growth for healthy development of the brain and spine. Folic acid is another form of vitamin B9. Women of reproductive age need 400 micrograms of folic acid every day.
• Ensuring sufficient levels of folate in women prior to conception can reduce neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly.
• Providing folic acid supplements to women 15-49 years and fortifying foods such as wheat flour with folic acid reduces the incidence of neural tube defects and neonatal deaths.

Zinc

• Zinc promotes immune functions and helps people resist infectious diseases including diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria. Zinc is also needed for healthy pregnancies.
• Globally, 17.3% of the population is at risk for zinc deficiency due to dietary inadequacy; up to 30% of people are at risk in some regions of the world.
• Providing zinc supplements reduces the incidence of premature birth, decreases childhood diarrhea and respiratory infections, lowers the number of deaths from all causes, and increases growth and weight gain among infants and young children.
• Providing zinc supplementation to children younger than 5 years appears to be a highly cost-effective intervention in low- and middle-income countries.
• When children are about 6 months old, it is important to start giving them foods with zinc.

What Does Iron Do?

Iron is a mineral that has many functions. Iron helps red blood cells carry oxygen through the body and supports a child’s ability to learn. Having enough iron in the body can help prevent iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia.

What Happens If My Child Does Not Get Enough Iron?

If your child does not get enough iron, your child may develop anemia.

Anemia is when there are not enough red blood cells in the body or your child’s ability to carry oxygen throughout the body is lowered. There are many causes of anemia. In young children, one common cause is not enough iron. Children who do not receive enough iron either from iron-rich foods or supplements are at greater risk for developing anemia.

When Does My Child Need Iron? And How Much?

All children need iron. It is important at all stages of your child’s development. Babies fed only breast milk, only formula, or a mix of breast milk and formula have different needs when it comes to iron.

Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about your child’s iron needs at his or her next check-up.

Breast Milk

• Talk with your child’s nurse or doctor about if your child needs iron supplements before 6 months old.
• Once your child starts to eat foods, it is important to give foods with iron to meet nutritional needs.

Formula

• Your child’s iron needs can be met by standard infant formulas for the first 12 months of life.
• Choose a formula that is fortified with iron. Most commercial infant formulas sold in the U.S. contain iron.
• Standard iron-fortified infant formulas contain enough iron (12mg/dL) to support your growing child’s needs.
• Once your child starts to eat foods, introduce your child to foods that contain iron.

Mix of Breast Milk and Formula

• Once your child starts to eat foods, it is important to give foods with iron to meet nutritional needs.

Did You Know?

Preterm babies often need more iron than full-term babies.

In addition, preterm babies may need extra iron beyond what they get from breast milk or infant formula. Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about your child’s iron needs at his or her next check-up.

Once My Child Starts to Eat Solid Foods, How Can I Make Sure My Child Gets Enough Iron?

When your child is about 6 months old, you can start giving solid foods to your child. Make sure to choose foods that contain iron. Iron found in foods comes in two forms: heme and non-heme iron.

Heme iron is commonly found in animal products and is more easily absorbed by the body. Sources of heme iron include:

• Red meat (for example, beef, pork, lamb, goat, or venison)
• Seafood (for example, fatty fish)
• Poultry (for example, chicken or turkey)
• Eggs

Non-heme iron can be found in plants and iron-fortified products. This type of iron is less easily absorbed by the body and will require careful planning to get enough iron for your baby. Sources of non-heme iron include:

• Iron-fortified infant cereals
• Tofu
• Beans and lentils
• Dark green leafy vegetables

Pairing non-heme iron sources with foods high in vitamin C can help your baby absorb the iron he or she needs to support development. Vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables include:

• Citrus fruits like oranges
• Berries
• Papaya
• Tomatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Dark green leafy vegetables

Making sure your child is getting enough iron is important. Some children may need more iron than others. Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about iron at your child’s next check-up.

Did You Know?

Your child needs to be screened for anemia.

At around 12 months, your child’s doctor or nurse will likely test to see if your baby has anemia. Anemia can occur among children who do not get enough iron. Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about anemia and iron at your baby’s next check-up.

What Does Vitamin D Do?

Vitamin D helps your child build strong bones and prevent rickets. Rickets is a condition of softening of the bones that can occur in growing children.

When Does My Child Need Vitamin D? And How Much?

All children need vitamin D beginning shortly after birth.

• Children younger than 12 months old need 400 IU of vitamin D each day.
• Children 12 to 24 months old need 600 IU of vitamin D each day.

How Can I Make Sure My Child is Getting Enough Vitamin D?

For babies who are fed only breast milk or who receive both breast milk and infant formula:

• Breast milk usually does not provide all the vitamin D a baby needs, so breastfed babies will need a supplement of 400 IU of vitamin D per day beginning shortly after birth.

For babies who are receiving only infant formula:

• Vitamin D supplementation is not needed.
• Infant formulas are fortified with vitamin D.

For children who have started eating solid foods:

Make sure your child’s diet has foods with vitamin D. Some examples of foods with vitamin D include:

• Some fish (for example, salmon or light canned tuna).
• Eggs.
• Vitamin D-fortified products like plain whole cow’s milk (for children 12 months and older), yogurt, cereals, and some 100% juices.

Vitamin D supplements are another way to help children get enough vitamin D every day. Talk with your doctor or nurse about vitamin D at your child’s next check-up if you have questions.

Did You Know?

Your child’s age matters when it comes to cow’s milk. For children older than 12 months, plain whole cow’s milk is a great source of vitamin D.

Most cow’s milk sold in stores is fortified with vitamin D. For babies younger than 12 months, cow’s milk is not recommended because it may put your baby at risk for intestinal bleeding. It also has too many proteins and minerals for your baby’s kidneys to handle easily and does not have the right amount of nutrients your baby needs.

What Does Zinc Do?

Children need zinc to grow and develop. Zinc is a mineral that is important for immune function, wound healing, and the senses of smell and taste.

When Does My Child Need Zinc? And How Much?

Zinc is important at all stages of your child’s development. When your child is about 6 months old, you can start giving solid foods with zinc to your child.
Children 7 to 24 months need 3 mg of zinc each day.

Once My Child Starts to Eat Solid Foods, How Can I Make Sure My Child Gets Enough Zinc?

It is important to choose foods that contain zinc. Examples of foods with zinc include:

• Zinc-fortified grains (for example, zinc-fortified infant cereals)
• Meats (for example, beef or pork)
• Dairy (for example, yogurt or cheese)
• Fish (for example, flounder)
• Shellfish (for example, oysters or crab)
• Legumes (for example, beans)

Foods with zinc are especially important for babies who are fed only breast milk. Levels of zinc in breast milk are high after birth and go down over the first 6 months. After 6 months, it is important to introduce foods with zinc to meet nutritional needs.

Every baby is different. How much and how often your baby feeds will depend on your baby’s needs. Here are a few things to know about infant formula feeding during the first days, weeks, and months of your baby’s life.

If you have questions about your baby’s growth or how much infant formula he or she is taking, talk with your child’s doctor or nurse.

First Days

• Your newborn baby’s belly is tiny. He or she does not need a lot of infant formula with each feeding to be full.
• You can start by offering your baby 1 to 2 ounces of infant formula every 2 to 3 hours in the first days of life if your baby is only getting infant formula and no breast milk. Give your baby more if he or she is showing signs of hunger.
• Most infant formula-fed newborns will feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Talk with your child’s doctor or nurse about how much infant formula is right for your baby.
• As your baby grows, his or her belly grows too. Your baby will be able to drink more infant formula at each feeding, and the time between feedings will get longer.

First Weeks and Months

• Over the first few weeks and months, the time between feedings will get longer—about every 3 to 4 hours for most infant formula-fed babies. This means you may need to wake your baby to feed. You can try patting, stroking, undressing, or changing the diaper to help wake your baby to feed.
• Some feeding sessions may be long, and other feedings short. That is okay. Babies will generally take what they need at each feeding and stop eating when they are full.

6 to 12 Months Old

• Continue feeding your baby when he or she shows signs of hunger. Most 6 to 12 month olds will need infant formula or solid foods about 5 to 6 times in 24 hours.
• As your baby gradually starts eating more solid foods, the amount of infant formula he or she needs each day will likely start to decrease.

12 to 24 Months Old

• When your toddler is 12 months old, you can switch from infant formula to fortified cow’s milk. You can do this gradually. You may want to start by replacing one infant formula feeding with fortified cow’s milk to help your child transition.

Babies need additional vitamin D.

Although infant formula has vitamin D, if your baby drinks less than 32 ounces of infant formula a day, he or she will need to get extra vitamin D (beginning at birth) from supplements.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend children be introduced to foods other than breast milk or infant formula when they are about 6 months old.  Introducing foods before 4 months old is not recommended. Every child is different. How do you know if your child is ready for foods other than breast milk or infant formula? You can look for these signs that your child is developmentally ready.

Your child:

• Sits up alone or with support.
• Is able to control head and neck.
• Opens the mouth when food is offered.
• Swallows food rather than pushes it back out onto the chin.
• Brings objects to the mouth.
• Tries to grasp small objects, such as toys or food.
• Transfers food from the front to the back of the tongue to swallow.

What Foods Should I Introduce to My Child First?

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that for most children, you do not need to give foods in a certain order. Your child can begin eating solid foods at about 6 months old. By the time he or she is 7 or 8 months old, your child can eat a variety of foods from different food groups. These foods include infant cereals, meat or other proteins, fruits, vegetables, grains, yogurts and cheeses, and more.

If your child is eating infant cereals, it is important to offer a variety of fortified infant cereals such as oat, barley, and multi-grain instead of only rice cereal.  Only providing infant rice cereal can increase the risk for children to be exposed to arsenic.

How Should I Introduce My Child to Foods?

Let your child try one single-ingredient food at a time at first. This helps you see if your child has any problems with that food, such as food allergies. Wait 3 to 5 days between each new food. Before you know it, your child will be on his or her way to eating and enjoying lots of new foods.

Introduce potentially allergenic foods when other foods are introduced.

Potentially allergenic foods include cow’s milk products, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sesame. Drinking cow’s milk or fortified soy beverages is not recommended until your child is older than 12 months, but other cow’s milk products, such as yogurt, can be introduced before 12 months. If your child has severe eczema and/or egg allergy, talk with your child’s doctor or nurse about when and how to safely introduce foods with peanuts.

Did You Know?

Your child needs certain vitamins and minerals to grow healthy and strong.

Now that your child is starting to eat food, be sure to choose foods that give your child all the vitamins and minerals they need.

How Should I Prepare Food for My Child to Eat?

At first, it’s easier for your child to eat foods that are mashed, pureed, or strained and very smooth in texture. It can take time for your child to adjust to new food textures. Your child might cough, gag, or spit up. As your baby’s oral skills develop, thicker and lumpier foods can be introduced.

Some foods are potential choking hazards, so it is important to feed your child foods that are the right texture for his or her development. To help prevent choking, prepare foods that can be easily dissolved with saliva and do not require chewing. Feed small portions and encourage your baby to eat slowly. Always watch your child while he or she is eating.

Here are some tips for preparing foods:

• Mix cereals and mashed cooked grains with breast milk, formula, or water to make it smooth and easy for your baby to swallow.
• Mash or puree vegetables, fruits and other foods until they are smooth.
• Hard fruits and vegetables, like apples and carrots, usually need to be cooked so they can be easily mashed or pureed.
• Cook food until it is soft enough to easily mash with a fork.
• Remove all fat, skin, and bones from poultry, meat, and fish, before cooking.
• Remove seeds and hard pits from fruit, and then cut the fruit into small pieces.
• Cut soft food into small pieces or thin slices.
• Cut cylindrical foods like hot dogs, sausage and string cheese into short thin strips instead of round pieces that could get stuck in the airway.
• Cut small spherical foods like grapes, cherries, berries and tomatoes into small pieces.
• Cook and finely grind or mash whole-grain kernels of wheat, barley, rice, and other grains.

Healthy eating patterns your child starts now will help promote healthy habits in the future. It is important to provide foods that match your child’s eating skills. At first, foods may need to be soft and mashed or bite-sized.

Encourage Your Child to Eat

Offer your child a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meats, and yogurt or cheeses. Make a rainbow of different colored foods on your child’s plate. Here are a few examples:

• Fruits: bananas, strawberries, pears, oranges, melons, or avocados.
• Vegetables: cooked spinach, carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, or beets.
• Whole grains: whole grain breads, crackers, or pastas.
• Meats: soft, small pieces of beef, lamb, chicken, fish, or turkey.
• Dairy: pasteurized yogurts or cheeses.

Once your child is 12 months old, he or she may be eating more of the foods that you eat. Eating a healthy diet sets a good example for your toddler. Continue to offer a variety of healthy options and allow your child to choose foods to eat.

Encourage Your Child to Drink

When your child is between 6 and 12 months old, you can offer your child:

• Water (4 to 6 ounces per day).
• Breast milk (if you are still breastfeeding) or infant formula.

Once your child is 12 months old, you can begin offering fortified cow’s milk.

Healthy eating is all about balance. There is no need to add salt or sugar to your child’s food. There are also some foods and drinks that are not safe for your child to eat and others that are not as healthy choices as other foods.

Did You Know?

There are certain foods and drinks you should avoid giving your child.

To learn more, watch these videos from 1,000 Days.

Foods to Avoid

Here are examples of foods and drinks that you should avoid giving to your young child because they may be harmful:

• Honey: may cause a serious type of food poisoning called botulism for your young child under 12 months old. Before your child is 12 months old, do not give him or her any foods containing honey, including yogurt with honey and cereals and crackers with honey, such as honey graham crackers.
• Unpasteurized drinks or foods (such asjuices, milks, yogurt, or cheeses): may put your child at risk for E. coli, a harmful bacteria that can cause severe diarrhea. Do not give your child unpasteurized drinks or foods like juice, milk, yogurt, or cheeses. Unpasteurized milk can also be called raw milk.
• Fortified cow’smilk: may put your young child under 12 months old at risk for intestinal bleeding. It also has too many proteins and minerals for your infant’s kidneys to handle and does not have the right amount of nutrients your infant needs.

These are just examples of foods and drinks and do not include all possible foods and drinks to avoid. Talk with your child’s doctor or nurse if you have more questions about which foods to avoid.

Foods to Limit

Here are some examples of foods to limit (or give in small amounts) to your child:

• Foods with added sugars: Foods such as candy, cakes, cookies, and ice cream are often high in added sugars. The American Heart Association recommends that children younger than 24 months old are not given any added sugars.
• Foods high in salt, also known as sodium: Foods such as some canned foods, processed meats (such as lunch meats, sausages, hot dogs, ham), and frozen dinners can be high in sodium. Some snack foods are high in sodium.

Drinks to Limit

Here are some examples of drinks to limit (or give in small amounts) to your child:

• Juice

  • Before 12 months old: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children should not drink 100% juice before they are 12 months old. Do not provide drinks like juice drinks with added sweeteners. Fruits are healthier options for your child than fruit juices.

  • After 12 months old: For children older than 12 months who drink juice, pediatricians recommend 4 ounces or less of 100% juice a day. Drink 100% fruit juice only. Do not provide drinks like juice drinks with added sweeteners. Fruits are healthier options for your child than fruit juices.
• Cow’s Milk
  • After your child is 12 months old, too much cow’s milk can mean he or she may not be hungry for other foods that contain important nutrients. Some experts say that consuming too much fortified cow’s milk can make it harder for your child’s body to absorb the iron they need from foods.
• Soda, pop, fruit drinks, flavored milks, or other sugar sweetened beverages
  • These drinks contain a lot of added sugars. The American Heart Association recommends that children younger than 24 months old are not given any added sugars.

Giving your child foods with a variety of different tastes and textures can help him or her:

• Develop fine motor skills (like pinching and picking food up with her fingers).
• Develop chewing skills.
• Learn to accept and like a variety of foods.

You can let your child try a variety of textures including:

• Smooth (strained or pureed).
• Mashed or lumpy.
• Finely chopped or ground.

Your child may start out with smooth or mashed foods first and then begin to eat finely chopped or ground foods as he or she gets older. Encourage your child to pinch or pick up food as he or she develops these skills.

Your growing child needs vitamins and minerals like vitamin D and calcium to build strong bones. Pasteurized, whole cow’s milk and soy beverages that have been fortifiedalert icon with vitamin D are good sources of vitamin D and calcium. Most cow’s milk sold in the United States is fortified with vitamin D.

Choose milk or milk alternatives that are unflavored and unsweetened. Flavored cow’s milk and fortified soy beverages can have added sugars. Your child does not need added sugars.

When Should I Introduce My Child to Cow’s Milk?

At 12 months old (but not before), your child can be introduced to cow’s milk. Before your child is 12 months old, cow’s milk may put him or her at risk for intestinal bleeding. It also has too many proteins and minerals for your baby’s kidneys to handle and does not have the right amount of nutrients your baby needs.

How Much, and How Often?

Cow’s milk or fortified soy beverages can be a part of a child’s balanced and diverse diet but not the only thing. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend children aged 12 through 23 months get 1⅔ to 2 cup equivalents of dairy a day, including cow’s milk, yogurt, cheese, fortified soy beverages, and soy-based yogurt. If your child drinks too much cow’s milk, he or she may not be hungry for other foods with important nutrients. Some experts say that consuming too much cow’s milk can make it harder for your child’s body to absorb the iron he or she needs from foods.

Continue to follow your child’s cues to decide when he or she is hungry or full. Talk with your child’s doctor or nurse for more questions about adding cow’s milk or fortified soy beverages in his or her diet.

Whole Cow’s Milk or Lower Fat Cow’s Milk?

Children can drink unflavored, unsweetened whole cow’s milk. Whole cow’s milk is the same as lower fat cow’s milk except that it is higher in fat. It is important for young children to get fat in their diet for healthy growth and development. If your child has excessive weight gain or a family history of obesity, high cholesterol or triglycerides, or cardiovascular disease, talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about the type of cow’s milk to give.

Raw Milk

Raw milk and raw milk products from cows, goats, and sheep can carry harmful bacteria and other germs that can make your child very sick and can be life-threatening. Raw milk can also be called unpasteurized milk. Do not give your child raw or unpasteurized milk.

Milk Alternatives

Milk alternatives can include beverages made from plants, such as soy, oat, rice, coconut, cashew, and almond.

If you choose a milk alternative, here are things to remember:

• Milk alternatives should not be given before 12 months.
• Fortified soy beverages are the only milk alternative that help meet a child’s recommended dairy needs.
• Choose one that is unflavored and unsweetened. Your child does not need added sugars.
• Choose one that is fortified with vitamin D and calcium. Check labels, since nutrient content can vary between brands.
• Talk with your child’s doctor or nurse about the milk alternative you are using, because the vitamins and minerals in these types of milks are different than in cow’s milk.

Children younger than five years are at an increased risk for foodborne illness and related health complications because their immune systems are still developing. Young children with developing immune systems cannot fight off infections as well as adults. In addition, young children produce less stomach acid that kills harmful bacteria, making it easier for them to get sick.

Foodborne illness (also called food poisoning) can be particularly dangerous for young children because it often causes vomiting or diarrhea or both. Since children's bodies are small, they can quickly lose a lot of body fluid and become dehydrated.

Food safety for young children depends on the food safety behaviors of their parents and caregivers. Handwashing is especially important. Children and those caring for them should wash hands often, especially before, during and after preparing food and before eating.

In children under 5 years old, E. coli infections are more likely to lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication that can cause chronic kidney disease, kidney failure and death.

Symptoms of HUS are:

• Urinating less often
• Feeling very tired
• Losing pink color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelids

These new symptoms usually develop after about a week of E. coli illness, when the diarrhea is improving.

Choose and Prepare Safe Food

Learn about safer food choices for people with a higher risk for foodborne illness, including young children. If you prepare food for children under the age of five, you should always follow these four steps:

Clean: Wash hands, utensils and surfaces often. Germs can spread and survive in many places.

Separate: Raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs can spread illness-causing bacteria to ready-to-eat foods, so keep them separate.

Cook:Food is safely cooked only when the internal temperature is high enough to kill germs that can make you sick.

Chill: Refrigerate perishable food promptly. Bacteria that cause food poisoning multiply quickest between 40°F and 140°F.

Safe Storage of Puréed and Solid Baby Food

Safe Microwaving of Puréed and Solid Baby Foods

Follow these precautions when microwaving baby food:

• Don't microwave baby foods in the jar. Instead, transfer the food to a dish before microwaving it. This way the food can be stirred and taste-tested for temperature.
• Microwave four ounces of solid food in a dish for about 15 seconds on high power. Always stir, let stand 30 seconds, and taste-test before feeding. Food that's "baby-ready" should taste or feel lukewarm.
• Don't heat baby-food meats, meat sticks, or eggs in the microwave. Use the stovetop instead. These foods have a high fat content, and since microwaves heat fats faster than other substances, these foods can cause splattering and overheating.

Safe Preparation and Storage of Infant Formula

How to Prepare Formula

• Carefully read and follow the instructions on the infant formula container.
• Wash your hands well before preparing bottles or feeding your baby.
• Clean and sanitize the workspace where you will prepare the infant formula.
• Use clean, sanitized bottles.
• If you use powdered infant formula, use water from a safe source to mix it. If you are not sure if your tap water is safe to use for preparing infant formula, contact your local health department.
• Use the amount of water listed on the instructions of the infant formula container. Always measure the water first and then add the powder.
• If your baby is younger than 3 months old, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system, you may want to take extra precautions in preparing your infant’s formula to protect against Cronobacter, a rare but serious infection that can be caused by germs in powdered infant formula.
• Use prepared infant formula within 2 hours of preparation and within 1 hour from when feeding begins.
• If you do not start to use it within 2 hours, immediately store the bottle in the fridge and use it within 24 hours.
• Throw away formula left in the bottle after feeding your baby.

Heating Breast Milk or Formula

Baby’s milk or infant formula does not need to be warmed before feeding, but some people like to warm their baby’s bottle. If you do decide to warm the bottle, here is advice on how to warm it safely:

In Hot Tap Water: Place bottle under hot, running tap water until the bottle reaches the desired temperature. This should take 1 to 2 minutes.

On the Stove: Heat water in a pan. Remove the pan from the heat and set the bottle in the hot water until the bottle is warm.

When heating baby's milk, always shake the liquid to even out the temperature and test on top of your hand—not the wrist (this is one of the areas least sensitive to heat)—before feeding. Milk that's "baby-ready" should feel lukewarm.

Never heat breast milk or infant formula in the microwave. Microwaves heat baby's milk and formula unevenly, which results in hot spots that can burn a baby's mouth and throat.

Your baby is learning how to chew and swallow foods. This means your child may choke. By 12 months old, your child is getting better at eating and may even be feeding themselves. Even though your child can now eat most foods, some are still choking hazards. The way food is prepared may increase the risk for choking. For example, some foods that are served uncooked, whole, or in certain shapes or sizes can be choking hazards. Cutting up food into smaller pieces and mashing foods can help prevent choking.

Here are ways to help prevent your child from choking.

Foods and preparation

• Cook and prepare food to the right shape, size, and texture for your child’s development.
• Avoid small, sticky, or hard foods that are hard to chew and swallow.

Meals and snacktime

• Have your child sit up while eating (no lying down, crawling, or walking).
• Have your child sit in a high chair or other safe place.
• Avoid letting your child eat in the car or stroller.
• Keep mealtimes calm. Avoid distractions, disruptions, and rushing when eating.

Always

• Pay close attention to what your child puts in his or her mouth.
• Watch your child at all times while he or she is eating.

Be ready

• Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse to learn what to do if your child chokes.

Potential Choking Hazards for Young Children

Fruits/Vegetables

• Cooked or raw whole corn kernels
• Uncut cherry or grape tomatoes
• Pieces of hard raw vegetables or fruit, such as raw carrots or apples
• Whole pieces of canned fruit
• Uncut grapes, berries, cherries, or melon balls
• Uncooked dried vegetables or fruit, such as raisins

Proteins

• Whole or chopped nuts and seeds
• Chunks or spoonfuls of nut and seed butters, such as peanut butter
• Tough or large chunks of meat
• Hot dogs, meat sticks, or sausages
• Large chunks of cheese, especially string cheese
• Bones in meat or fish
• Whole beans

Grain Products

• Cookies or granola bars
• Potato or corn chips, pretzels, popcorn, or similar snack foods
• Crackers or breads with seeds, nut pieces, or whole grain kernels
• Whole grain kernels of cooked barley, wheat, or other grains
• Plain wheat germ

Sweetened Foods

• Round or hard candy, jelly beans, caramels, gum drops, or gummy candies
• Chewy fruit snacks
• Chewing gum
• Marshmallows

Your child might not like every food you give him or her on the first try. Give your child a chance to try foods again and again, even if he or she does not like them at first. Children may need to try some foods many times before they like them. Here are some tips that might make trying foods again and again easier.

• Try freezing small bites of different foods. You can use these later and it avoids throwing a lot of food away.
• Wait a week before you try the new food again.
• Try mixing the new food with a food your baby likes, such as breast milk.

As your child gets older, he or she may start refusing foods he or she used to like or he or she may start showing signs of picky eating. Favoring just a couple of foods or not wanting foods to touch each other on the plate are normal behaviors. These behaviors often go away by the time your child is about 5 years old.

Tips to Help

• Try again: Wait a couple of days before offering the food again. It can take more than 10 times before you toddler might like it.
• Mix it up: Mix new foods with foods you know your child likes.
• Be silly: Make funny faces with the foods on your child’s plate. It might help your child get excited to eat it.
• Me too: Try eating the food first to show your child you like it. Then, let your child try it.
• Choices: Give your child a choice of different foods to try. Let your child decide which one to try today.

Healthy eating is important at every age. Offer toddlers a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy or fortified soy alternatives. When deciding on foods and beverages, choose options that are full of nutrients and lower in sodium and avoid added sugars. Start with these tips:

Provide foods full of nutrients

Offer your toddler a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy or fortified soy alternatives. Avoid foods and beverages with added sugars and choose those with lower sodium.

Look for cues

When your child is hungry, he or she usually lets you know. But fullness cues are not as obvious. A child may be full if he or she pushes food away, closes mouth, turns head away from food, or makes sounds to let you know. Recognizing and responding to these cues helps children learn how to self-regulate their intake.

Prevent choking

Have your toddler sit at a table for meals and snacks and not wander around with food in their mouth. Foods such as hot dogs, candy, nuts and seeds, raw carrots, grapes, popcorn, and chunks of peanut butter can be choking risks.

Drinks matter, too!

Did you know the only beverages your toddler needs are water, milk, and, if available, breastmilk? Avoid drinks with added sugars like soda, flavored milks, juice drinks, and sports drinks.

Try new foods

Try serving a new food alongside a familiar food in the same meal. It may take up to 8-10 tries for a child to accept a new food.

Serve safe food

Help your child learn to wash their hands before eating. Only serve foods that have been cooked properly and avoid serving your toddler unpasteurized (raw) juice or milk.

The benefits of healthy eating add up over time, bite by bite.