At a glance
Breast milk or infant formula continues to be the main source of nutrition for your child from 6 to 12 months. However, solid foods will gradually begin to make up a bigger part of their diet.
Things to keep in mind
Children’s bellies are small and cannot hold a lot of food. As you begin to give food to your child, here are things to keep in mind:
Start small
Give 1 or 2 tablespoons of food. Watch for signs that they are still hungry or full.
Balance
Introduce solid foods over time. They will gradually become a bigger part of your child's diet.
Feeding
Give your child something to eat or drink every 2 to 3 hours, or 5 or 6 times a day. This will give your child about 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks every day.
As your child gets older
As your child ages, they may eat different amounts of food each day. This is normal. Beginning around 12 months, your child grows more slowly than when they were younger. Your child might even go a couple days without eating much. Over a week, your child should get all the necessary foods and nutrients needed that week.
Visit the American Academy of Pediatrics for examples of serving sizes for your 1 to 3 year old (toddler).
If you are worried about how much or how frequently your child is eating, talk to your child's doctor or nurse.