1 Year (12 Month) Old Feeding Schedule, Chart, Recipes, and Tips

As your baby reaches the one-year milestone, he makes a big leap from being a baby to a toddler! Along with that arises the need to make changes in his feeding schedule to accommodate the increased nutritional needs of his developing body and mind! If you are wondering what all should be included in your one-year-old kiddo’s diet, well, we have you all covered. In this post, we shall discuss what kinds of foods you can give your munchkin, how many times you should feed your tiny tot, a 1-year-old feeding schedule, serving sizes, and more! Read on to get some insight about the feeding schedule for 1-year-old babies!

What Food Can You Give to a 12-Month-Old Baby?

Toddlers at 12 months of age need a variety of foods in their diet. You can include all kinds of food groups to provide ample nutrition to your kid. The following are some food items that you can include in your kiddo’s diet (1):

1. All Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables

Here are some fruits and vegetables that you may include in your baby’s diet plan:

• Pears
• Peaches
• Apples
• Bananas
• Mango
• Plum
• Watermelon
• Potato
• Sweet potato
• Peas
• Carrots
• Celery
• Avocado
• Broccoli
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Zucchini
• Raspberry
• Spinach
• Butternut squash
• Cauliflower

2. Non-Vegetarian

The following are some non-vegetarian food options that can be included as a main meal or snacks for a 12-month-old baby’s diet:

• Turkey (give breast portion in the form of cutlet or shredded)
• Egg (can be given in hard-boiled or scrambled form)
• Salmon
• Chicken (give extra soft chicken)
• Extra soft pork
• Fish

3. Other Food Items

Apart from fruits, vegetables, and non-vegetarian food items, whole grain foods, like pasta, oats, quinoa, and barley, are healthy foods (1). The following are some other foods that can also be given to a one-year-old kid:

• Cottage cheese
• Hummus
• Ricotta cheese
• Yogurt
• Bagel
• Cheerios
• Brown rice
• Pasta
• Plain bread
• Cracker
• Crepes
• Pancakes
• Quinoa
• Muffins
• Cornbread
• Oatmeal
• Pita
• Tortilla
• Waffles
• Graham crackers
• French toast
• Cream of wheat

How Much Milk Is Enough for a 1-Year-Old Baby?

Milk is an essential part of a one-year-old’s feeding schedule. Most mommies may wonder about their 1-year-old’s milk schedule! Well, there is no doubt that your baby’s breast milk or formula milk demands may change as they transition into the first year; however, the key is to effectively fit in their milk demands with their solid meal plans. Ideally, your baby should be having three solid meals during the day by the time they are one year old, which means you can feed them anywhere from 22 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula milk in a 24-hour cycle. However, some babies may take more or less than this amount based on their solid food intake or the baby’s appetite. Mothers who wish to make the transition from breast or formula milk to cow’s milk now may be a good time to begin introducing cow’s milk to your munchkin!

Meal Plans for a 1-Year-Old Babies

As a parent, you may decide what to feed your toddler, but always remember not to force-feed your baby. Toddlers have the ability to recognise when they are hungry and when they are full (2). If your baby resists eating a certain type or amount of food, respect their decision and try again later. Force-feeding may negatively impact a baby’s appetite, but sometimes it may develop a dislike towards a particular food item. To help you plan meals better, you can refer to a 1-year-old feeding chart for guidance. Also, your 1-year-old’s eating schedule may change on a day-to-day basis, as some days he may eat more and on other days less. Here is a sample food schedule for a one-year-old that you can try!

Meal Plan 1

Meal Plan 2

Meal Plan 3

Meal Plan 4

The above feeding chart is a sample menu for a one-year-old baby; you can add or remove food items as per your baby’s taste and preference.

Easy Baby Food Recipes for a Twelve-Month-Old Child

If you are hunting for some easy and nutritious baby food recipes for a 12-month-old, look no further; here are some of our recommendations:

1. Mac And Cheese With Greens

Most kinds relish the creamy flavor of mac and cheese, and this yummy all-time favorite Mac and cheese recipe comes with a healthy twist of greens and can be used as the perfect meal idea for 1-year-old babies! Wondering how to whip this simple recipe? Well, here’s how to make that happen:

Ingredients: 

• 1 lb of macaroni
• 1 cup green peas
• 2 cups broccoli florets, chopped
• 1 cup spinach, blanched
• 4 cups cheddar cheese, grated
• 3 cups milk (preferably whole milk)
• 3 -4 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• Kosher salt, to taste

Method:

• Boil macaroni in water until it’s cooked (keep it firmer and not very soft). Strain and keep it aside. Keep 1 cup of macaroni water handy.
• Blend spinach and milk into a smooth paste in a mixing jar. Keep aside.
• Heat butter in a heavy-bottomed pan. Add flour and sauté until it gives a nutty aroma.
• Add broccoli florets and peas—Cook for a minute or two.
• Add the milk, spinach mixture, and cheese, and cook on a medium flame until the sauce thickens. Adjust consistency by adding macaroni water, if required.
• Throw in macaroni and salt. Coat the macaroni well with the sauce.

Make sure you let the dish come to room temperature before you let your munchkin relish it!

2. Carrot and Tomato Muffins With Cheese

Muffins not only look tempting but taste heavenly too! Here is an easy-to-make muffin recipe loaded with a nutritional twist.

Ingredients

• 6 oz self-raising flour
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 oz carrot, grated
• 3 spring onions, finely chopped
• 2 oz parmesan cheese, shredded
• 6-7 sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
• 6 tablespoons milk
• 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• A pinch of salt

Method:

• Sieve flour and baking powder together and keep aside.
• Take a large bowl and add all the ingredients except flour. Mix well.
• Add the flour mixture slowly as you keep whisking the mixture. The muffin mixture is ready to be baked.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 10 to 12-hole muffin mold and place muffin sheets in it.
• Scoop out the muffin mixture and drop it into the molds. Bake the muffins until they rise and become brown, for roughly 18 to 20 minutes.
• Let the muffins cool on the wire rack before you serve them to your baby. You can also freeze the unused muffins for up to 2 months in the freezer. Just defrost and warm these yummy muffins before serving them to your munchkin.

Feeding Tips for a One-Year-Old Toddler

When it comes to finger foods or main meals, here are some feeding tips that you should keep in mind:

1. The first and foremost thing to remember is never to force your baby to eat. Babies are often fussy at this age because they are experimenting with so many flavors and tastes. Sometimes they may stick to eating one kind of meal for several days, and at other times they may want to try something different. Whenever introducing solid food to your munchkin, let them decide how much, when, and what they want to eat (3).
2. Try to give water whenever your baby wishes to drink anything while having their meal. If you wish to complement the meals with fruit juices, make sure you choose fresh homemade juices rather than opting for packed juices. Also, do not give more than 4-6 oz of fresh fruit juice per day.
3. Make sure you offer meals simultaneously every day, as this may help train your baby about their meal schedules. Refrain from succumbing to their demands for food at any time of day, or else you may spend your entire day cooking in the kitchen. Starting with a meal plan from early childhood is a great way of introducing good eating habits to your child.
4. Make sure you offer them new foods often or offer the same food in different ways, like one day you serve carrot puree and another day carrot sticks. There are several different ways to prepare foods for babies, like mash, puree, grate, bake, roast, soup, raw, or smoothie (4).
5. If your baby is bottle-fed, try making a slow transition to the sippy cup as drinking from the bottle satiates the baby more, and they may not eat their solid meals properly. Also, if you are still breastfeeding your baby, you may continue to do so until your baby is two years of age.
6. Make sure you supervise your kiddo whenever they are eating solid food to avoid any choking hazards. Also, ensure that the food is cut into bite-sized pieces to avoid choking.
7. Before introducing any food to your toddler, make sure you do an allergy test. Feed them a minute batch of a particular new food and wait for any unusual reaction for one or two days.

FAQs

1. How often should a one-year-old feed?

Toddlers spend most of their energy exploring new things and new places, for which they need a consistent supply of energy in the form of food. So, toddlers typically eat about every two to three hours; it also depends on their hunger level, as every child is unique.

2. How many meals are appropriate for a one-year-old in a day?

A 12-month-old feeding schedule should or may incorporate three main meals and two snacks. This could vary based on the formula or breastfeeding supply in the mix (5).

3. How to know if my toddler is eating well?

Worrying whether a toddler is eating enough is a common concern among parents. Remember, as long as your little one is growing well, sleeping well, pooping well, and reacting well to stimuli, he is growing at a good pace. If you feel your toddler is lethargic than usual, avoids food, or isn’t eating a balanced diet, you should consult a paediatrician. Do not give any vitamins or supplements to your kid without a doctor’s consultation (6).

4. What foods should be avoided for toddlers?

Low-nutrient junk foods, like chips, candy, soda, sugary drinks, etc., shouldn’t be a part of toddlers’ diets. Feed your baby water instead of sugary drinks and serve food with lower sodium content (7).

Initially, feeding solid foods to your baby may appear to be a daunting task, but do not worry and give it time as your baby will slowly accommodate themselves as per the meal schedules and plans. Offer different varieties of fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, and other food items to your munchkin to ensure that they get proper nutrition. Do not hurry things because your baby will slowly and gradually adapt to their meal plan, and everything will fall in place. Happy feeding!

References/Resources:

1. NHS – What to feed over 12 months

2. BetterHealth Channel – Eating tips for young toddlers

3. UNICEF – Feeding your baby: 1–2 years

4. HealthLinkBC – Helping your 1 to 3 Year old child eat well

5. Nemours KidsHealth – Toddlers at the Table: Avoiding Power Struggles

6. Nemours KidsHealth – Nutrition Guide for Toddlers

7. American Academy of Pediatrics – Making Sure Your Child is Eating Enough

Also Read:

1-Year-Old Baby Milestones
13 Months Old Baby Development
1st Birthday Gift Ideas for Baby Boy & Girl

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