Nutrition Guide: Birth+
Print out the Nutrition Guide for easy nutritional reference specific to your child’s stage of development.
Nutrition Essentials: Birth+
From birth to 12 months, breastmilk or iron-fortified formula should remain your baby’s main source of nutrition. During this stage, your baby will breastfeed on demand or need about 24 ounces of infant formula daily. All babies are different so be sure to follow her hunger and fullness cues.
Breastmilk is recommended as the best start for babies. It’s the ideal source of nutrition during your baby’s first year of life. The Nestlé Feeding Infants and Toddler Study (FITS) 2008 found that mothers are breastfeeding their children longer than they did just a few years ago. In 2008, 33 percent of nine- to-11 month olds were still receiving breastmilk compared to just 21 percent in 2002. Breastmilk has a balance of nutrients including proteins, carbohydrates and fat—to help her develop and grow. It also helps protect your baby by providing antibodies and fostering a natural protective environment in her digestive system. However, when breastmilk isn’t an option, iron-fortified infant formula provides complete nutrition for your baby and is the only substitute for breastmilk.
Common nutrition needs and gaps
As long as your baby consumes adequate amounts of breastmilk or infant formula, generally there are no nutrition concerns at this stage of development. Breastmilk and infant formula have protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins, and minerals needed for healthy growth and development.
An important way to tell whether your baby is getting enough to eat is by following her hunger and fullness cues. Responding to these cues can help your baby understand her own feelings of hunger and fullness.
| I’m hungry! |
I’m full! |
| Cries or fusses |
Releases nipple or stops sucking |
| Flails her arms and legs |
Moves head away from nipple |
| Smiles and looks at you or even coos at you while you’re feeding her |
Slows down speed of sucking—may even fall asleep |
Start Healthy, Stay Healthy™ Nutrition System
Right now your baby’s at the Birth+ stage of the Start Healthy, Stay Healthy™ Nutrition System. Only Gerber offers a unique stage-based system with products, and feeding and nutrition guidance to support healthy growth and development and encourage healthy eating for your child from birth to 4 years.
Learn more about products for this developmental stage
Gerber recommends breastfeeding as the best start for babies. The Start Healthy, Stay Healthy Benefit Band and Milestone Symbols are trademarks of Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland. All trademarks are owned by Nestlé. ©2010 Nestlé.