Right now: 8-9 months▶
2-3 meals + 1-2 snacks/day; breast milk still ~half of calories. Non-negotiable: an iron-rich food every day - breast milk is low in iron and zinc and birth stores are spent. Texture: move past smooth NOW - lumpy/coarse by 9 months; delay is linked to feeding difficulties later (Health Canada). Soft finger foods alongside. Vitamin D 400 IU supplement daily while breastfed. Water: sips with meals, 4-8 oz/day.
Protein: how much▶
The early protein hypothesis is well supported: higher total/animal protein in infancy predicts modestly higher childhood BMI (Melbourne InFANT 2026: swapping 5% of energy from protein to carbs/fat at 9mo = 0.16 lower BMI z-score at 5y; risk zone ~16%+ of energy from protein). The driver is DAIRY protein and high-protein formula, not puree-sized meat portions; plant protein shows no association; breast milk is naturally low protein (~5-6%E). Hence 2 of 4 batches carry protein. The thing to actually watch in year two: total dairy volume.
Because baby is breastfed▶
(1) Vitamin D must be supplemented daily. (2) Iron and zinc must come from solids - meat, beans, lentils, egg; pair plant iron with a vitamin C food. (3) No formula ever needed. Flagged disagreement: Health Canada keeps the vitamin D supplement to 24 months while nursing; US guidance says fortified foods can cover it after 12.
Allergen plan▶
One new allergen at a time, morning, small amount, watch 2 hours. Once tolerated, keep it in rotation 2-3x/week - maintenance matters as much as introduction. Egg always cooked. Nut/seed butters always thinned, never a glob. Severe eczema or known allergy: talk to your pediatrician first.
Hard avoid▶
Honey before 12 months (botulism). Added salt and sugar before 24 months - season with spices instead. Cow's milk as a drink before 12 months. High-mercury fish: swordfish, shark, king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, tilefish, bigeye tuna. Choking: whole nuts until 5y; halve grapes and cherries; no popcorn or hard candy. Raw milk/cheese. Don't lean on rice cereal - rotate oats, barley, quinoa, buckwheat, millet. No caffeine.
Freezer system▶
Batch-cook the 4 purees, freeze in 1-oz silicone cube trays, transfer to labeled bags. 3-6 months frozen; 3-5 days in fridge once thawed; thaw overnight in fridge. Freeze badly (add fresh instead): banana, avocado, kiwi, yogurt - the Serve-fresh column flags these. White potato freezes gritty; mix with a root veg.
New foods▶
CDC says wait 3-5 days between brand-new foods; Canadian Paediatric Society says consecutive days are fine. Middle path: one NEW food at a time, everything else already-tried.
9-12 monthslater▶
3-4 meals + snacks. Coarser mash, more finger foods. Yogurt and cheese fine now; cow's milk as a DRINK waits until 12 months (Health Canada says 9-12 is OK - the one big disagreement; US bodies say 12). Portions ~2-4 oz per food.
At 12 monthslater▶
Honey OK now. Whole cow's milk OK as a drink - the 16 oz/day figure assumes weaned; a still-nursing toddler needs less and no source sets a minimum. Juice: skip, or max 4 oz 100% juice. Vitamin D target rises to 600 IU/day. 12-month checkup includes an anemia screen. Family food, chopped.
12-24 monthslater▶
3-4 meals + 1-2 snacks. Iron-rich food at EACH meal (Health Canada). Breastfeeding to 2 years+ is explicitly supported by WHO and AAP. Toddler formula/milks: never needed.
At 24 monthslater▶
Switch to low-fat milk. Salt ceiling relaxes a little (NHS: under 1g salt/day before age 1, up to 2g at 1-3y).
Sources▶
CDC infant & toddler nutrition; WHO 2023 complementary feeding guideline; AAP HealthyChildren; NHS weaning; Health Canada 6-24 months; CPS allergy prevention; NIAID peanut guidelines; protein/BMI: Melbourne InFANT (Int J Obesity 2026), systematic review PMC8483959. Flavor corpus: Little Spoon Babyblends (51 blends), Baby Foode, Yummy Toddler Food, PatPat, Quark Baby, Healthy Little Foodies, Serenity Kids, Solid Starts.