Sample of a Day's Meals for a 12 Month Old

I think it really depends on the baby. With my first daughter, she was grabbing for food at 4 months and feeding herself with a spoon by 5. By her first birthday, she was toothless and yet eating just about everything (table food, baby foods, etc)

With my youngest, who is now 13 months, she only started eating at all when she was 11 months. She would spit baby pureed food out, won't hold a spoon, and is only interested in non-mushy foods that she puts into her own mouth. Basically, I nurse her throughout the day as she needs/wants, and give her a sippy with water or rice milk if she seems thirsty and with meals. She eats 2 meals a day and has tiny bits of apple, bread, green beans, noodles or rice.

With my first daughter, I gave her soy milk, but now have heard things about the psuedo-estrogens that scare me. I'm totally against cow's milk for so many reasons, so I can't really advise you on that part.

-M.

at 12 mos a child should be drinking 16 to 20 oz of whole milk.

Your child is a preemie though, that changes things honestly. Go by her adjusted age for this and all other aspects till she is at least 3 yrs old.

When she gets to adjusted age of 12 mos, then she should be all on table food. So, like your dr. said, gradually transfer over to the table foods by offering her those first then finishing with jar food.

I offer kids over 10 mos old all the food that I give the big kids here at my daycare. For hard foods like apples or carrots I steam them so they are softer. All food is cut into small pieces too. You can see some ideas at http://www.freewebs.com/tarastoyland under the meals part.

I feed the kids like this at that age
7ish wake - milk and solids
8:30 snack - grain, milk, fruit
(nap after snack)
11:30 lunch - milk, grain, protein, 2 different fruits or veggies
(nap after lunch)
3:30 snack, any two food groups
6 dinner
7:30 bedtime bottle of milk or nursing

By 12 months your daughter should be eating what you are eating. Mash it up a little so she can eat it easier. We used a food processor until our son had teeth, then we just used a fork to mash it. Make sure she has "finger foods" such as cheerios and small bits of soft cheese, fruit and veggies. One of my son's favorite meals at that age was rice with a little bit of soy sauce and vegetables from stir fry. You could pack a slice of soft bread and yogurt for the sitter's. Your doctor can adivse you on how much milk to give your daughter: my doctor said 18-24 oz. of milk a day. No more, or they won't eat food, no less because they need the protein/calories/fat from the milk. We also don't drink cow's milk, but we do soy milk right now and are transitioning to rice milk. Hope this helps!

I have an 11.5 month-old and about 2 months ago I pretty much stopped buying baby food for her. While I don't know about how much milk she should have (we'll cross that bridge next month), I can share some ideas of on-the-go foods to pack. (My daugther also goes to a sitter 5 days/week and I pack a lunch for her most days).

My little girl is a great chewer and loves eating with her fingers, so I pack the little cups of peaches or mixed fruit pieces (canned fruit aisle). I ask the sitter to rinse them, to get all the syrup off. Then she'll just pick up the pieces of peach or pear and munch away. I've also bought the little cups of peas and carrots (canned veggie aisle). Also have those rinsed because they're packed with a lot of sodium.

Other favorites are baby yogurt, canned spagettios or micro raviolis (those make 2-3 meals/can), natural (no-sugar and no-splenda) applesauce, crackers, and cheese sandwhiches with the crust removed.

For dinner, I just cut up whatever we're eating. So bits of chicken or pasta. In fact, because she's eating with us, not only am I cooking healthier but I'm also including more veggies! Basically, just venture out of the baby food aisle and you'll find lots of options for little fingers.

Good luck!

Good meals that are easily transportable are Gerber ones. They have ravioli's filled with cheese and veggies that are very soft, I would just cut them into little pieces. They also have prepackaged meals that work well too. As for milk, I just let my little one drink when she's thirsty, letting her have 1 sippy cup of juice a day, and then maybe some water also. Hope this helps!