Basics of Nutrition Counseling Younger than 2 Years of Age Breast milk is the best choice for feeding almost all infants. Encourage mothers to breast-feed for 6 to 12 months, if possible, but even a few weeks is desirable. Breast-feeding is contraindicated in a few situations, such as certain maternal infections or use of certain drugs or medications by the mother. Counsel parents to begin introducing single-ingredient foods when infants are developmentally ready, usually at 4 to 6 months of age. A child should be able to sit up with some help, maintain good head and neck control, and accept soft food from a spoon.
Infant cereal mixed with breast milk or formula is often a good first choice.
Infants who are exclusively breast-fed may need iron supplementation beginning at 6 months of age. Advise parents not to feed cow's milk to children younger than 1 year of age, because its nutrient composition is inadequate to meet the needs of younger children. Do not use reduced-fat milk until the child is at least 2 years of age. Advise parents not to limit fat in children's diets during the first 2 years of life. Counsel parents not to feed honey to infants during the first year of life because of the risk of infant botulism.