Weeks Twenty-five through Fifty-two
Feeding times continue the same between the ages of six to twelve
months. By now each meal will include a liquid feeding, breast or bottle,
and should be supplemented by baby food with an optional fourth or fifth
liquid feeding in the late morning, or mid afternoon, and a required liquid
feeding at bedtime. At this age your baby should be taking two naps
averaging from 1½ to 2½ hours in length. Continue with four to five
nursing periods during the day. This same general rule applies to
formula-fed babies (see Chapter 4, “Facts on Feeding”). Keep tracking
the healthy baby growth indicators during the entire time and you and
your baby will do just fine.
Summary of First-Year Feeding
For easy reference, the following summary of your baby’s first year of
feeding is provided.
Phase One: Weeks One through Eight
Start with eight or more feedings for the first two to three weeks. After
that you may average eight feedings over the course of the next six
weeks. The number of feedings will depend on your assessment with
feeding times occurring at just about every 2½- to 3-hours. By the end of
this phase, you should be averaging seven to eight feedings in a 24-hour
period and most likely will not have a middle-of-the-night feeding.
Phase Two: Weeks Nine through Fifteen
From the beginning of this phase until the end of it, most PDF moms
transition from seven or eight feedings down to five to seven feedings in
a 24-hour period. (Please note these are averages—not absolutes.)