What is the recommended amount of calories for babies and how much should be from breast milk and how much from food?
From birth to 4 months, a baby needs about 52 calories for every pound, so a 10-pound baby, for example, would require 520 calories. Until the age of 4 months all of these calories should come from breast milk or formula. For the rest of the first year, a baby needs 45 calories per pound. A fifteen-pound baby, for example, over the age of 4 months, needs about 680 calories. There is no rule about how much should come from breast milk or how much from solids. The younger the baby, the larger the percentage will come from formula or breast milk. What is important is to make sure that as a baby transitions away from formula or breast milk to solid foods, that the proper balance of nutrients is maintained. Introducing cereal with iron first, is a good way to make sure iron intake stays up. Adding fruits and vegetables while formula intake is still high results in a diet with a good balance of vitamins, minerals, protein and fat, but as formula intake drops off, it’s important to add some p
