What’s the best feeding routine at 9 months?
Your baby will be moving on from mashed to chopped food and lots of other finger foods. He’ll need three good meals a day and three-four milk feeds, as solid food becomes his main source of nutrition
How much milk does your baby need at 9 months?
At 9 months you should continue to breastfeed on demand or offer up to, but no more than, 20oz (600ml) of infant formula in a 24-hour period – with three to four milk feeds a day. As your baby eats more, he’s likely to reduce how much he drinks, so don’t worry if your baby’s milk intake naturally decreases. You may want to reduce milk feeds to three a day, dropping the lunch time feed.
Best routines at 9 months
Remember, all babies are individual so try to adopt a feeding routine that suits your baby.
Routine for spoon-fed mixed with baby led weaning/finger foods...
By 9 months, your baby should be eating a mixture of spoon-fed and finger foods.
- On waking: Breast or infant formula milk (around 4oz)
- Breakfast: Chopped hard-boiled egg and toast
- Mid-morning: Breast or infant formula milk (around 4oz)
- Lunchtime: Poached haddock in cheese sauce with spinach, sweet potato fingers; fruit puree
- Mid-afternoon: Breast or infant formula milk (around 4oz); small snack such as rice cakes
- Teatime: Homemade minestrone soup with chunks of cheese and pieces of pasta
- Bedtime: Breast or infant milk (around 4oz)
Routine for baby led weaning...
Your baby should ideally be given the opportunity to eat the same meal at the same time as the rest of the family. You can also give him a spoon so he can attempt to feed himself sloppy foods like yoghurt and porridge.
- On waking: Breast or infant formula milk (around 4oz)
- Breakfast: Toast and fruit
- Mid-morning: Breast or infant milk (around 4oz)
- Lunchtime: Spaghetti Bolognese (chop spaghetti into short pieces); yoghurt
- Mid-afternoon: Breast or infant formula milk (around 4oz)
- Teatime: Bread, cheese, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, strawberries
- Bedtime: Breast or infant formula milk (around 4oz)
Mums share their 9 months feeding routines...
"My son Joshua will be 9 months next week & at the moment I am giving him milk before his solids. I breastfeed him first thing in morning, then he has porridge & banana & some toast, then I feed him at about 11.30 then lunch at 12.30. He then has 6oz bottle at 3.30-4pm, dinner at 5.30 then I give final breastfeed just before bedtime. He seems absolutely fine but been reading that I should be giving milk feeds after solids now." Lizapsley
"We're still on 4 feeds a day at 9 months! I really want her to drop the daytime ones as she's less interested and keeps biting me, but she still wants a bit of milk. The HV suggested that I try swapping one of the feeds for a small snack and drink to see if that works so you could try that. You could also try dropping the afternoon feed and bringing his tea forward." A-Nonny-Mouse
"Louise is 9 months and her routine is: 6-7am bf; when awake fully - breakfast – cereal; 10am - snack - toast if at home, if not then breadsticks, rice cakes etc; 11am – bf; 12.30ish – lunch; 3/3.30pm bf; 6.30pm dinner; 8pm - bedtime feed Her morning and evening feeds are definitely the longest feeds. If we are out or we have visitors then are daytimes feeds can be at different times but I try to make sure that she has solids 1hr after a breastfeed. Sometimes she manages to slot in a 5th bf feed - if her 11am feed is early (she's nuzzled for it) then she'll fit 2 feeds in the afternoon." Loopyloo80UK
5 great foods to introduce at 9 months
- Boiled rice
- Well-cooked salmon
- Cherry tomatoes
- Strawberries
- Well cooked egg
"By 9 months your baby is likely to be comfortably sitting unsupported so try to involve him in family mealtimes," says registered child nutritionist, Charlotte Stirling-Reed.
"This can help encourage a wider variety of foods and develops self-feeding. It’s now a good idea to mince and chop foods rather than mashing to encourage more biting and chewing."
What texture is right for 9 months?
Now’s the time to start moving from mashed to chopped food and if you haven’t already, it’s time to stop pureeing. Make sure you chop into small, chewable pieces and always watch your baby while he’s eating.
What to buy this month
Short-handled cutlery: a blunt fork and shallow spoon will help your child get to grips with feeding himself.
Best feeding schedules for: 6 months | 7 months | 8 months | 10 months | 11 months
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