Typical feeds at this age run 6 to 8 oz per feed, 2 to 3 milk feeds plus 3 meals and snacks times a day. Use the free tracker to log as you go, or read on for a sample schedule and what shifts at this age.
A 12 month old typically has 2 to 3 milk feeds a day, 3 meals of solids, and 1 to 2 snacks. Total milk intake usually lands around 16 to 24 ounces a day. This is the classic age for the transition from formula or breastmilk to whole cow milk, though breastfeeding can continue as long as it works for both of you.
Mealtimes become more social and the day starts to look like a toddler day. Your 1 year old can usually self feed with a spoon, drink from an open cup with help, and eat nearly everything the family eats, with size and texture modifications.
A rough template for a day of feeds. Every baby differs, and feeding on demand is still the gold standard in the early months. Use this as a starting point.
Feeding shifts because your baby is shifting. Here is what to watch for right now.
Most pediatricians okay whole cow milk at 12 months. Offer it at meals in an open or straw cup, not a bottle.
Most guidance suggests weaning off the bottle between 12 and 18 months to protect teeth and support feeding development.
Around 1, appetites often drop. Growth slows compared to the first year. A toddler who suddenly eats less is usually not sick. They are growing differently.
Twelve months is a transition month for feeding. Most 1 year olds switch from formula (or continue breastfeeding) to whole cow's milk, drop to about 16 to 20 oz of milk per day, and take most of their calories from 3 meals plus 2 snacks. The AAP guidance on cow's milk recommends whole milk from 12 to 24 months for the fat content needed for brain development.
Bottle weaning starts this month. AAP recommends transitioning off bottles between 12 and 18 months to protect emerging teeth (early childhood cavities are strongly linked to prolonged bottle use, especially at sleep) and to support oral motor development. Move to straw cups or open cups with meals.
The post-first-year appetite drop is real and confusing. Growth slows dramatically after the first year (a 12 month old gains about 5 to 7 lb in year 2, vs 14 to 16 lb in year 1). Your toddler simply needs less food relative to their size. Small portions, 3 meals, and 2 snacks a day is the healthy norm, not a problem.
Cluster feeding is over. What you will see now are appetite cycles. A 12 month old might eat like a linebacker for 2 days and then barely nibble for 2 days. This matches how growth actually happens: in bursts, not linearly. As long as the weekly average looks reasonable and energy is good, it is fine.
The "extinction burst" around 12 months: some toddlers suddenly become picky, refusing foods they loved 2 weeks ago. This is a normal neophobic phase, not a problem to solve with bribery. Keep offering. Most foods come back into rotation after 10 to 20 exposures. See our guide on feeding schedules by age for toddler meal structure.
Neophobia peaks between 18 months and 3 years. Keep offering refused foods without pressure. Model eating. Do not bribe with dessert. Do not short-order cook.
Some 12 month olds reject cow's milk after breast milk or formula. Try a mix (25% cow's milk, 75% usual) and slowly increase. Also offer dairy in other forms (yogurt, cheese).
Cow's milk intake of over 24 oz a day can cause constipation and displace iron-rich foods. Cap milk at about 16 to 20 oz. Add prune puree or whole-grain options.
Peaks around 12 to 15 months. Ignore the throw, end the meal calmly after 2 warnings. Most toddlers phase out within weeks when it stops getting a reaction.
5 to 6 wet diapers a day, bowel movements 1 to 2 times a day (firmer, more adult-like). Weight gain slows to 1 to 3 oz per week in year 2, which is normal. The 12 month well-check includes hemoglobin and lead screening, both relevant to nutrition.
Behaviorally, a well-fed 12 month old is energetic, active, growing in length (height often outpaces weight gain this year), sleeping well, and engaged at mealtimes even if picky. Per the CDC 12 month milestones, feeding-related skills include drinking from a cup with help, self-feeding with fingers, and signing or saying hunger-related words. If your toddler is losing weight, has low energy, or refusing all food and drink for more than 24 hours, check with your pediatrician.
16 to 20 oz of whole milk a day, split across meals. Over 24 oz can displace solid food and cause iron deficiency.
AAP recommends by 15 to 18 months. Start transitioning at 12 months, dropping one bottle a week and replacing with a cup.
Almost certainly not. This is developmentally normal and coincides with the growth slowdown after year 1. Keep offering, do not bribe, and check energy levels as the real indicator.
Yes. The botulism risk drops after 12 months. Honey is fine as an ingredient and on foods.
Not required. WHO recommends continuing to 2 years or beyond if it works for you. AAP recommends at least 12 months. Transitioning off is a personal choice.
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