Feeding Your Baby: 7- 9 Months

This page was reviewed or revised on Friday, August 14, 2009.

A Sample Menu Plan

PDF of Factsheet

This meal plan is only a guide. Each baby is different. Some babies will not eat this much; others may want more and need a bit more. Start with smaller amounts and try larger amounts when your baby is ready to eat more. Remember, offer solid foods after nursing or feeding formula. When your baby starts solid foods they will take less breast milk or formula.

Feeding	7 Months	8-9 Months
Early Morning	4-6 oz. (120-180 mL) breast milk or formula	4-6 oz. (120-180 mL) breast milk or formula
Breakfast	4-6 oz. (120-180 mL) breast milk or formula 1-4 tbsp. (15-60 mL) iron fortified infant cereal	4-6 oz. (120-180 mL) breast milk or formula 4-6 tbsp. (60-90 mL) iron fortified infant cereal 2-3 tbsp. (30-45 mL) fruit
Lunch	4-6 oz. (120-180 mL) breast milk or formula 1-2 (15-30 mL) tbsp. vegetable	4-6 oz. (120-180 mL) breast milk or formula 1 Grain Product serving 2-4 tbsp. (30-60 mL) vegetable 1-3 tbsp. (15-45 mL) meat 2-4 tbsp. (30-60 mL) fruit
Snack	4-6 oz. (120-180 mL) breast milk or formula
Supper	4-6 oz. (120-180 mL) breast milk or formula 1-4 tbsp. (15-60 mL) iron fortified cereal 1-2 tbsp. (15-30 mL) fruit	4-6 oz. (120-180 mL) breast milk or formula 1 Grain Product serving 2-3 tbsp. (30-45 mL) meat/alternative 2-4 tbsp. (30-60 mL) vegetable 2-4 tbsp. (30-60 mL) fruit
Evening	4-6 oz. (120-180 mL) breast milk or formula	4-6 oz. (120-180 mL)  breast milk or formula

Examples of grain products include: iron-fortified infant cereal, whole grain crackers, whole grain toast, pasta and rice.

Cereal should be thick.  Puree or mash soft table foods. Do not force your baby to eat. Remember, babies will let you know when they are full. Watch for signs like: turning their head away, refusing to eat, falling asleep and playing instead of eating. Do not use food to reward or punish.

Snack

The time between meals is often too long for babies because their stomachs are small and their energy needs are high. Snacks between meals help to fill this gap. Stick to nutritious foods like breast milk, formula, infant cereal, vegetables and fruit.

Making Your Own Baby Food

Although it can take extra time, making your own baby food can save you money and allow your baby to eat a greater variety of food. It is important to cook and store food properly. Be extra careful about being clean. Here are some basic recipes:

Kitchen Tips

• Do not add salt, sugar, butter, gravy or sauces to recipes.

• Cooked ground meats (ground beef, turkey, chicken, pork, veal, fish) will blend more smoothly than other meats.

•  If there are food allergies in the family, wait until your baby is 24 months old to try peanut butter and fish

• Cooked fresh, frozen or canned vegetables or fruit can be pureed (blended).

• Remove seeds and tough skins from vegetables and fruit before processing.

• Do not refrigerate pureed food longer than 3 days.

• For freezer storage - place puree in ice cube trays or "drop" spoonfuls on a cookie sheet and freeze.

• Once frozen, put in labeled freezer bags for storage. Thaw only the amount of food needed for a meal.  Freeze for up to 4 weeks.  Never re-freeze thawed food.

• Throw out any leftover food that has touched the serving spoon or the baby's mouth.

• Avoid egg white until your baby is 12 months old.

Adapted from: Feeding Your Baby Booklet, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, July 2000 and The Manual of Clinical Dietetics, American Dietetic Association.

June, 2006