Today I would like to introduce Jasmin. She’s a first-time mum to a toddler and aunt to 12 nieces and nephews. Jasmin is also a certified teacher, and blogger at Jasmin Haffees. She will be sharing her 10 month old feeding schedule with us.
You made it through the “milk-only” stage and graduated to solids, yay!!
You probably also made different choices for your baby’s diet since then as well: organic versus inorganic, fruit chunks versus fruit puree, vegetable bits versus veggie soup, and the list goes on.
But feeding your 10-month-old is actually a lot easier than you may think.
And why is that? It’s because they can eat almost anything you can eat!
The only food that babies this age should not be eating or drinking are honey, cow’s milk, and any food items that might be a choking hazard.
As parents, we always want the best for our babies and the food that is going into their bodies should be full of nutrition and vitamins. Since babies after 6 months of age start losing their iron supply as a result of starting solids, it’s important to make sure that they are eating iron-rich foods such as baby cereal, avocado, eggs, fish (especially salmon), nut butters, chicken, and beans.
But before you get cooking, there are some things you need to know about feeding your precious little human.
Table of Contents
Watch Out For Allergens
Whenever you introduce any new food to your baby, you should make sure that you do so in small amounts and make sure that it is the only new food you introduce for the next 3-5 days. That way, if your baby does show signs of food allergies, you can identify the food and speak to your baby’s paediatrician about next steps.
Paediatrician’s now recommend you introduce all foods to babies (except honey and cow’s milk) by their first birthday in order to prevent food allergies, but there is no evidence proving this theory as of May 2020.
The most common food allergies for babies are:
- Cow’s milk
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Soy
- Wheat
Signs of food allergies in babies can include diarrhoea, vomiting, and rash, so be sure to keep an eye out for any of these signs when new foods are introduced.
The Most Important Food Baby Should Have
Even though your little one is growing so quickly and trying new foods, they should still be getting a bulk of their nutrition from either breast milk or formula.
Breast-fed babies should still continue to feed at least 3-4 times throughout the day. Formula fed 10-month-olds should drink anywhere from 26-36 ounces in a 24-hour period.
As parents, it’s easy to get excited about your baby eating solids and only give them three meals and some snacks throughout the day, but they get all of their vitamins and minerals that help them grow their bodies and brains from their milk!
Babies at this age are exploring through their food. The little that does go into their bodies is great for food exposure, and supplying a little protein and iron. But the big one in the food game for your little one is definitely milk.
Sample Feeding Schedule
Baby stomachs are super tiny, so even ¼ cup of food will keep them full for a while. At this age, it’s best to spread out their meals over several hours, so your little busy bodies are staying nourished and energised. On average, your baby should be eating 2-3 tablespoons of fruits, veggies, and proteins for every meal; and like adults, some babies may eat more while others eat less. As long as your baby seems to be full and is staying hydrated, you don’t need to force them to finish their whole meal.
Here’s a sample feeding schedule for a 10-month-old
7 am: 6-8 ounces milk
8 am: pancakes or peanut butter toast with side of fruit
10 am: 2 ounces baby yogurt
1 pm: 6-8 ounces of milk
2 pm: veggie soup or pasta with 2 ounces of protein
4 pm: 4 ounces fruit or cheese crackers
6 pm: 3-4 ounces of family dinner with vegetables
8 pm: 6-8 ounces of milk
10 pm: 6-8 ounces of milk
These options will differ for your family and your sleep schedules, but the important takeaway is that your 10-month-old should be getting a mix of protein, fruits, and veggies every day, around the clock, to go along with breast milk or formula. You can also include these immune-boosters in your baby’s food to support their immune health.
It’s also important that your baby is staying hydrated. So along with their meals, feel free to give them milk or water.
More than 1-2 ounces of fruit juice should not be given in one day as too much sugar is not good for babies – and if you are giving fruit juice, make sure to mix it with water to cut down on the sugar. I usually add 1 ounce of water to 1 ounce juice during days I choose to give my baby juice. I also make sure he drinks it earlier on in the day so that his body has time to process the sugar by bedtime (I don’t want a hyper or cranky baby at night!).
Self-Weaning and Choking Hazards
At 10-months, babies should be able to feed themselves small to medium sized chunks of food, so go ahead and give them those avocado slices, peanut butter toast, or shredded chicken pasta!
But you need to always make sure the food you are giving to your baby is not a choking hazard. Some foods that are choking hazards for babies under 1-years-old are:
- large chunks of food (all food should be cut to bite-size-pieces)
- whole grapes, cherries, cherry tomatoes
- popcorn
- large pieces of raw fruit or vegetable (always steam or cook before giving to your baby)
- candies
- chick peas with skin
- whole pieces of canned fruit
You should always be with your baby when they are eating to make sure they are biting, chewing, and swallowing their food properly. Babies should never be left alone while they are eating!
Encourage your baby to explore the different tastes, textures, and varieties of food that you have to offer and you’ll be fostering a love of healthy eating for years to come!
Imagine your little ones eating habits when they start school.
Author Bio:
Jasmin is a first-time mum, blogger, certified teacher, and believer of believing in yourself! She shares experiences of being a mum and aunt (to 12 nieces and nephews) at Jasmin Haffees. She loves to cook and bake so you’ll find some of her favourite tried, true, and tested recipes there as well. When she’s not blogging, she is usually chasing her toddler around the house or making a mess in the kitchen!