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4. Know when your baby has had enough.
Here’s why: Mothers who miss signs of satiety in their infants tend to overfeed, leading to excess weight gain when their babies are 6 to 12 months old, says a recent Rutgers study. Recognizing hunger or “I’m full” cues takes some time, especially in someone who can’t speak yet! Reidy offers some hints on what to look for:

• Don’t always assume baby’s hungry when she’s fussy. She may just need some TLC.
• When your baby spits out the nipple or turns away from her bottle, she’s done.
• Remember, your infant doesn’t have to consume every last ounce you’ve readied for her.
• When a spoonful of yummy peaches nears her mouth and she turns her head, that’s a sign she’s full (even if it seems that she has hardly eaten any).
• If she’s playing with—and not eating—her food, mealtime is over.