What babies need to eat after being weaned from breast milk depends on how old they are at the time. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other nutrition experts recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first four to six months of life. Breast milk provides all the important nutrients that a growing baby needs. If a baby is weaned before six months, the breast milk should be replaced with iron-fortified formula. After 6 months of age, babies need solid foods in addition to breast milk or formula.

Babies who are being weaned after 1 year of age can start to drink whole cow's milk in place of breast milk. Whole milk should be used until at least 2 years of age because the fat content is needed to support brain development. After age 2, you can switch to low-fat milk. Special "toddler" formulas are now available, but these usually are not necessary if your toddler is eating a variety of healthy foods.

Although the version you tend to see is meant for older children and adults, you can use the food pyramid as a guide for putting together healthy meals and snacks for infants and young children. In general, babies between the ages of 1 and 2 years need approximately 1,200 to 1,400 calories per day. Choose a variety of foods from all the food groups to provide the necessary nutrients that babies need. An average daily diet for a toddler will include:

• Grains (breads, cereal, rice, pasta, and crackers) — Babies should have four to six servings of grains per day. Try to use whole-grain products whenever possible.
• Vegetables — Babies should have two to three servings of vegetables per day.
• Fruits — Babies should have two to three servings of fruit per day.
• Dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese) — Babies should have two to three servings of dairy per day.
• Meats/protein — Babies should have two servings of protein per day. These can include eggs, poultry, beans, beef or fish. (Due to concerns about mercury in fish, children under the age of 6 should eat no more than 6 ounces per week of lower-mercury fish and no more than 3 ounces per week of albacore tuna or tuna steaks.)

Your baby should have three meals a day with a nutritious snack between each meal. Offer whole milk at each meal, but avoid giving your baby more than 24 ounces per day, as this can result in a decreased appetite for solid foods. Make sure you are serving nutritious snacks. Junk foods, such as chips, cookies, and ice cream, are not good choices for babies. For extra fluids, stick with water or 100 percent fruit juice. Be careful not to give too much juice, which can lead to diarrhea and tooth decay. Your baby should not get more than 4 ounces of fruit juice per day.

Remember that these are only guidelines. Many babies and toddlers eat well one day and not so well the next. Trying to force-feed your baby will not work. But trying to follow these guidelines will help to promote healthy eating habits, now and in the future.