You took the photos of your messy munchkin starting solid food and shared the first meal milestone and now you're wondering where to go from here.
How much solid food should you give your baby a day and when should he adopt the three meals a day routine? What is the proper ratio between solid foods and breast milk or formula? Should they both be on the menu at the same time?
Get answers to these questions along with simple guidelines for setting up an overall babymeal time.
How often and at what time should I feed the baby?
There is no "perfect" time of day to feed your baby, as long as it's convenient for you. If you arebreast-feeding, you can offer solid foods when your milk supply is low (probably in the late afternoon or early evening). On the other hand, babies who wake up bright-eyed and anxious may be happy to try solid foods for breakfast.
She'll quickly learn when your baby is and isn't interested in eating, which she'll demonstrate by opening her mouth wide and voluntarily biting (or picking up and chewing food with her fingers) rather than clumsily turning her head. She follows the advice and does not force feed; she can always try again later.
Start with one meal a day and increase to two (try one in the morning and one at night) over the next month. As your baby grows and approaches infancy, she can eat up to three solid meals a day with one or two snacks in between.
Baby Feeding Chart: How much should I feed my baby at one time?
A good rule of thumb when figuring out how much to feed your child at each meal: Start small and work your way up.
Although your baby's first feedings may consist of a teaspoon or two of solid foods, once he gets used to it, you can use the following baby feeding chart as a general guide:
4 to 6 months:
- 24 to 36 ounces of formula or milk over 24 hours (or five to eight nursing sessions per day)
- 1 to 4 tablespoons of granola once or twice a day
- 1 to 4 tablespoons of fruits and vegetables once or twice a day
6 to 8 months:
- 24 to 36 ounces of formula or breast milk every 24 hours (now that your baby is a more efficient caregiver, she is likely to nurse four to six times a day)
- 4 to 9 tablespoons of muesli, fruits and vegetables a day, spread over two or three meals
- 1 to 6 tablespoons of meat or other protein (such as yogurt, cottage cheese, or scrambled eggs) per day
9 to 12 months:
- 16 to 30 ounces of formula or milk over 24 hours (or three to five nursing sessions per day)
- About 1/4 to 1/2 cup of grains, fruits, and vegetables twice a day
- About 1/4 to 1/2 cup of dairy a day
- About 1/4 to 1/2 cup of protein-rich foods a day
How do I determine the best serving size for baby food?
General serving size recommendations can be helpful, but remember that every baby is different. It's perfectly normal for her little eater to eat (and even have seconds or thirds) one day and cover her little mouth the next.
Try not to worry if your girlfriend has an appetite.it's not always the same, or if what you choose to eat does not match the recommended servings.
Forcing your baby to eat when he's not interested isn't fun for either of you, and over time, your baby may find it more difficult to adjust to his body's natural hunger and fullness cues.
Instead, focus on offering a variety of nutrient-dense foods in age-appropriate portions and let your child go from there. Your new Nosher has the ability to absorb anything your body desires.
As long as you offer balanced options, you are likely to get what you need for the day or week.
On the other hand? Trust your instincts Talk to your pediatrician if you suspect that your baby is having trouble feeding, is uncomfortable or fussy after eating, or is not gaining weight as expected. Together you can find out what's going on and make mealtime more enjoyable.
How to integrate breastfeeding or bottle feeding into the introduction of complementary foods?
Although your baby is now sucking purees from a spoon (or, if she is trying, from aBaby-led weaning method, learning to chew sweets) will be satisfied with most of their dietbreast milk or formula. First, think about the solids you're serving as a healthy addition and an opportunity for your partner to discover new flavors and textures.
When should you bring a bottle or breast and when should you hand out solid foods? There really isn't a hard and fast rule. Some parents find that starting breast milk or formula is a good way to start a meal so their children aren't too hungry to sit down for a meal.
Other parents offer solid foods as a starter and breast milk or formula for dessert. Then there are the mothers who like to completely separate solid foods from nursing orbottle sessions.
Since there is no hard and fast rule, experiment until you find a feeding schedule that works for you.
Examples of Baby Meal Plans
Your baby's first few days of complementary feeding should be about helping him get into the flow of family meals. Ideally, she also eats at times when everyone else is at the table.
Keep in mind that since most of your baby's nutrition should still come from breast milk or formula until he is one year old, these liquid foods should still be a priority.
You can start with just one or two solid meals a day, whichever works best for you.
For example, offer her breakfast and dinner if your cutie is in daycare and you want the honor of feeding her solid food. If eating dinner before bed is too difficult, start with breakfast and lunch.
When your baby turns 8 or 9 months old and starts eating more (and only naps in the morning and afternoon, giving more time in the day), you can switch to three meals.
The sample plans below can help you visualize how complementary feeding can fit into your baby's day; remember that every child (and family!) is different. Your child's schedule may not be predictable or consistent until he reaches infancy. However, you will find that a typical day looks something like this:
Example of a feeding plan for babies from 4 to 6 months
This schedule assumes your 4- to 6-month-old takes three naps (although some 6-month-olds take two naps) and you introduce solid food via a spoonful of puree.
If your family takes a baby-led approach to weaning, solid foods (in the form of soft, gummy snacks) are not offered until after 6 months, when your child will likely be able to feed himself better.
- 7:00 am: Wake up and nurse or bottle (6 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula)
- 7:45 am: Breakfast (1-4 tablespoons of children's cereal, 1-4 tablespoons of mashed banana)
- 8:45am - 10:45am: Siesta
- 10:45 am: Wake up and breastfeed or bottle (6 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula)
- 12:00 pm: Nurse or bottle (6 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula)
- 12:30 – 14:30: Siesta
- 2:30 pm: Nurse or bottle (6 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula)
- 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.: Siesta
- 5 p. m.: Nurse or bottle (6 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula)
- 5:45 pm: Dinner (1-4 tablespoons mashed sweet potato, 1-4 tablespoons mashed peas)
- 6:45 pm: Nurse or bottle (6 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula)
- 19h00: cama
Sample feeding plan for babies 7 to 9 months
This schedule assumes that your 7- to 9-month-old baby takes two naps (although some 7-month-olds still need three naps).
- 7:00 am: Wake up and nurse or bottle (6 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula)
- 7:45 a.m.: Breakfast (2-3 tablespoons plain yogurt, 2-3 tablespoons thinly sliced strawberries, 1/4 whole wheat toast)
- 9:30am - 11:30am: siesta
- 11:30 am: Nurse or bottle (6 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula)
- 12:15 PM: Lunch (1/4 to 1/2 hard-boiled egg, crumbled or sliced, 2 to 3 tablespoons sliced or mashed avocado, 1/4 to 1/2 sliced whole-grain pita bread)
- 1:45 pm (nurse or bottle) 6 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula
- 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Siesta
- 4 pm: Nurse or bottle (6 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula)
- 5:30 pm: Dinner (2-3 tablespoons turkey or beef meatballs, 2-3 tablespoons cooked whole-grain pasta, 1-2 tablespoons steamed broccoli)
- 7:00 pm: Nurse or bottle (6 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula)
- 19:30: cama
Example of schedule for children from 10 to 12 months
- 7:00 am: Wake up and nurse or bottle (6 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula)
- 8 am: Breakfast (1/4 cup cooked oats, 1-2 teaspoons peanut butter, 2-3 tablespoons blueberry puree)
- 9:30am – 11:00am: Siesta
- 11:00 AM: Nurse or bottle (6 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula)
- 12:00 PM: Lunch (1/4 to 1/2 black bean and cheese quesadilla on small thick whole wheat tortilla, 2 to 3 tablespoons steamed half carrot, 1/4 thinly sliced ripe pear)
- 2.30. -4:00 p.m.: Nap
- 4 pm: Nurse or bottle (6 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula)
- 5:45 pm: Dinner (3-4 tablespoons salmon flakes, 3-4 tablespoons baked sweet potato, 3-4 tablespoons steamed buttered green beans)
- 7:00 pm: Nurse or bottle (6 to 8 ounces of breast milk or formula)
- 19:30: cama
It will take some trial and error to figure out the best feeding schedule for your baby, but as long as your little one eats a variety of foods and grows and thrives, you can be sure he's well fed.
frequent questions
When should I give my baby solids?
Any time of the day is good – watch your baby's cues to see when he seems interested in eating. Start by giving your baby one meal a day, then offer two meals a day (one for breakfast, one for lunch or dinner). Once your baby is 8 or 9 months old, you can gradually introduce three solid meals and snacks. Talk to your pediatrician if you have questions about feeding your baby.
How often should a 4 month old baby be fed?
A 4-month-old baby receives breast milk or formula five to eight times a day. If you have started complementary feeding, give a small amount of porridge once or twice a day.
What is the typical feeding schedule for a 6-month-old baby?
Your 6-month-old baby will likely need four to six feedings or bottles and one to two solid meals a day. Once your baby starts complementary feeding, she continues to offer breast milk or formula in the usual amounts and simply add a small breakfast, lunch or dinner to your baby.
How often should a 9 month old baby be fed?
A 9-month-old baby will likely need three to five feedings of breast milk or formula and two to three solid meals a day. This usually means that your baby will eat every two to three hours during the day.
From the editorial team What to expect andHeidi Murkoff,author ofWhat to expect when you are pregnant. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only reputable sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and reputable healthcare organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up to date by reading ourmedical review and editorial guidelines.
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FAQs
What is the best feeding schedule for babies? ›
Most newborns eat every 2 to 3 hours, or 8 to 12 times every 24 hours. Babies might only take in half ounce per feeding for the first day or two of life, but after that will usually drink 1 to 2 ounces at each feeding.
What is your 1 year old feeding schedule? ›At 1 year, solid foods – including healthy snacks – are now your child's main source of energy and nutrition. He can take between three quarters to one cup of food three to four times a day, plus one to two snacks between meals. Continue breastfeeding as much as your child wants, until he is at least 2 years old.
How much should I feed my baby for the first time? ›Start with small amounts of new solid foods — a teaspoon at first and slowly increase to a tablespoon. The goal for feeding is one small jar (four ounces or a cup) of strained baby food per meal. Start with dry infant rice cereal first, mixed as directed, followed by vegetables, fruits, and then meats.
What age do babies go 4 hours between feeds? ›Baby is at Least 12 Weeks Old
Baby needs to be old enough to go 4 hours between feedings both for the length between feedings and also because going 4 hours between feedings means dropping the number feedings in a day.
It's OK to think about night weaning for healthy breastfed children from 12 months of age. At this age, most children are getting enough food during the day for their growth and development. But before 12 months, night weaning breastfed babies can reduce your milk supply.