Many parents find that feeding their children is one of the most stressful aspects of parenting.

With worries of if your child is eating enough, when to introduce solid foods, feeding time can be no fun. And coming up with family friendly recipes that will meet the nutritional requirements and tickle the taste buds of all can also be a challenge.

So when feeding your young child, keep these daily general nutritional requirements, feeding recommendations and information in mind.

Daily Nutritional Requirements for the Young Child:

Birth to 4 months:

• 5-10 feedings of breast milk or 16-32 oz. of infant formula

4 to 6 months:

• 4-7 feedings of breast milk or 26-40 oz. of infant formula
• Infant cereal (rice, oatmeal, or barley) and infant juice can be introduced.

6 to 8 months:

• 3-4 feedings of breast milk or 24-32 oz. of infant formula
• Strained mashed food, including cooked vegetables (avoid corn and peas), such as carrots and green beans, and fresh or cooked fruit
• Infant juices in a cup

8 to 10 months:

• 3-4 feedings of breast milk or 16-24 oz. of infant formula
• Cereal and bread-type foods (2-3 servings daily): infant cereal, Cream of Wheat, oatmeal, toast, bagels, crackers
• 100 percent juice (4 oz. daily): orange, tomato, pineapple, or infant juices
• Cooked or mashed vegetables (1-2 servings daily)
• Ripe fruit (fresh or cooked) (1-2 servings daily)
• Meat, chicken, fish, egg yolk, plain yogurt, beans, cottage cheese (1-2 tbsp. daily)
  

10 to 12 months:

• 3-4 feedings of breast milk or 16-24 oz. of infant formula
• Cereal, breads, all varieties of unsweetened cereal, rice, noodles, crackers, spaghetti (2-4 servings daily)
• Vitamin C-rich juice (4 oz. daily): orange, grapefruit, pineapple
• Cooked or raw vegetables (1-2 servings daily)
• Fresh or cooked fruit (1-2 servings daily): ripe peaches, pears, and oranges are good choices
• Protein-rich food (1-2 tbsp. twice a day): lamb, beef, pork, fish, poultry, eggs, cheese, yogurt, beans, tofu, peanut butter

12 to 24 months:

• Cow's milk and cow's milk products can replace some or all of the formula or breast milk feedings after 1 year of age
• 2-3 feedings of breast milk or 16-24 oz. of formula or 2-4 servings of milk or other calcium-rich food: yogurt, cottage cheese, tofu, green leafy vegetables.
• Cereal, bread, rice, pasta, noodles (4 or more servings about 1/3 of an adult-size portion)
• Vitamin C-rich juice (4 oz. daily)
• Vegetables, raw or cooked (2 or more servings)
• Fruit (2 or more servings) -- offer at least one citrus fruit daily
• Meat, fish, or poultry, eggs, nut butters; beans; tofu (2 servings daily, each portion at least 1/2 ounce)

Two Years Old:

• 3 ounces grain daily
• 1 cup vegetables
• 1 cup fruit
• 2 cups dairy
• 2 ounces fish, meat, beans or nuts
• Limited fats, sweets and oils

Three Years Old:

• 4-5 ounces grain daily
• 1 ½ cup vegetables
• 1 ½ cup fruit
• 2 cups dairy
• 3-4 ounces fish, meat, beans or nuts
• Limited fats, sweets and oils

Four Years Old:

• 4-5 ounces grain daily
• 1 ½ cup vegetables
• 1 ½ cup fruit
• 2 cups dairy
• 3-4 ounces fish, meat, beans or nuts
• Limited fats, sweets and oils

Five Years Old:

• 4-5 ounces grain daily
• 1 ½ cup vegetables
• 1 ½ cup fruit
• 2 cups dairy
• 3-4 ounces fish, meat, beans or nuts
• Limited fats, sweets and oils