The menus for baby food below are designed to give you an idea of what babies may be eating from 4 months to 8 months of age.
Do NOT feel as though your baby should be eating solid foods according to any schedule. Your baby will eat as much solid foods as your baby needs – trust your baby cues. Start out slowly and let baby take time to taste and experiment with the food.
Pay attention to your baby’s cues. She may want more if she continues to lean in for the spoon, opens her mouth or tries to grab the spoon and bring it to her. She may be finished when she turns her head away, clamps her mouth shut or cries as the spoon comes close to her. Don’t fret if there’s leftover food in the bowl and never force your baby to eat “one more bite” when she indicates she’s finished.
This menu sample is for example and idea purposes only! You should always feed your baby according to his or her needs and cues and not strictly by any chart or schedule.You should look to charts and schedules as examples and for ideas about feeding your baby; following any chart or offered schedule may not be suitable for your baby’s particular circ*mstances and needs.
What is a Food Cube serving? When you see a reference to to a “food cube”, this means an ice cube sized serving. Each cube is equal to approximately 1 ounce.
4-6 month old babies will likely be eating between 2 and 4 ounces of food per day. Some 4-6 month old babies may not have started solids at all.
At 6 or 7 months old, some infants may eat 4-6 ounces of food per day while babies who are just starting solids at 6 or 7 months of age may be eating only 1-2 ounces per day.
Remember the 4 day wait rule when creating a menu plan for your baby and offer only those foods that your baby tolerates well.
Following any chart or offered schedule may not be suitable for your baby. It is important to say again that this menu sample is for example and idea purposes. The menus are geared to give you ideas of what types of food you could serve at different meal times to get a good balance of nutrients and variety. These menu suggestions assume that you have introduced the foods that are shown and that you have waited the proper time period to detect an allergic reaction. Do NOT feel as though your baby should be eating solid foods according to any schedule. Your baby will eat as much solid foods as your baby needs – trust your baby’s cues.
Breast Milk and/or Formula are THE MOST IMPORTANT sources of nutrition for your infant up to 12 months old. Do NOT replace a nursing or bottle-feeding with a solid food meal and do not feed the solids first until your pediatrician indicates this is right for your baby.
When you look at these sample menus, don’t think about serving adult sized portions. Your little one surely could not eat 1 cup of oatmeal with 1 whole avocado mashed into it. However, your little one might be able to eat 4 tablespoons of oatmeal with 2 tablespoons of mashed avocado. We do not note amounts of foods because, as we say, all babies are different and will be eating differing amounts of foods.
By 8-9 months of age, most babies will be eating 3 solid food meals per day. A baby’s appetite will change from one meal to the next so don’t expect your baby to eat 3 “full” meals each and every day.
Read our How Much Should My Baby Be Eating article to learn why your baby may eat more or less than others. All babies are different and your baby may eat more or less than what is shown on these example charts.
Remember, it cannot be stressed enough; all babies are different and your baby may eat more or less than what is shown on these example charts. This menu and sample schedule outlines examples and shows ideas for solid foods only.It does not account for, nor does it list, total daily Breast Milk or Formula intake.See a “Suggested “Milk” chart on the right sidebar to view how much “milk” your baby should be/might be drinking.
As always, you should feed your baby according to his or her cues and needs.Always consult your pediatrician if you are worried that your baby is not receiving proper amounts of either milk or solid foods.
Many breastfeeding moms supplement with formula as their milk supply may be low for a variety of reasons.We give kudos to those moms who continue to hang in there and offer their babies breast milk while supplementing. Hooray for you.You will find our menu samples include the use of both breast milk and formula, separately and together as a total “meal” solution.
Remember, always consult with your pediatrician regarding introducing solid foods to your baby and specifically discuss any foods that may pose allergy risks for your baby.
Suggested Daily “Milk” Intakes for Babies age 0 to 12 months
- 0-3 Months of age:
Breastfeed every 1-3 hours or Formula 18-40 ounces - 4-5 Months of age:
Breastfeed every 2-4 hours or Formula 24-45 ounces - 6-8 Months of age:
Breastfeed every 3-4 hours or Formula 24-37 ounces - 9-12 Months of age:
Breastfeed every 4-5 hours or Formula 24-31 ounces
Whole Cow Milk, as a drink, should not be introduced until 12 months of age. Learn about Introducing Yogurt and Feeding Cheese to your baby.
Table compiled from Merck Source
FAQs
They'll drink about 6 ounces at every feeding, so that'll come out to five or six bottles per day, or a bottle every three to four hours (except at night – babies this age typically can go through the night without a feeding). Breastfed babies will continue to nurse five or six times a day, though that may vary.
What foods can babies eat from 4 to 6 months? ›
Iron rich foods, such as iron-fortified baby cereal or pureed meats, and zinc rich foods, such as meats, beans and zinc-fortified infant cereals, are good first foods to introduce to infants 4 to 6 months of age.
What is the feeding schedule for a 6 8 month old? ›
Baby feeding chart: How much should I feed my baby in one sitting?
| Baby's Age | Breast Milk/Formula |
|---|
| 6 to 8 months | 24 to 36 ounces of formula or breast milk over 24 hours (four to six nursing sessions) |
| 9 to 12 months | 16 to 30 ounces of formula or breast milk over 24 hours (or three to five nursing sessions) |
1 more rowFeb 29, 2024
Around 4 to 6 months old, your baby will need four to six feedings of breast milk or formula a day and can start eating solids. Babies close to a year old can usually eat a variety of solid foods and have three to four bottles or breastfeeding sessions a day.
How many times a day should I feed solids to my 6 month old? ›
From 6–8 months old, feed your baby half a cup of soft food two to three times a day. Your baby can eat anything except honey, which they shouldn't eat until they reach 12 months old. You can start to add a healthy snack, like mashed fruit, between meals.
How much should 4 month old weigh? ›
Baby weight chart
| Age | 50th centile weight for baby boys | 50th centile weight for baby girls |
|---|
| 2 months | 5.2 kg (11.5lbs) | 4.8 kg (10.5lbs) |
| 3 months | 6 kg (13.2lbs) | 5.4 kg (12lbs) |
| 4 months | 6.7 kg (14.8lbs) | 6.2 kg (13.7lbs) |
| 5 months | 7.4 kg (16.3lbs) | 6.7 kg (14.7lbs) |
9 more rowsExperts recommend only offering pureed apples or applesauce until babies are 9 to 12 months old. After that, you can give your baby small piles of raw apple that's been shredded with a cheese grater. As your baby gets more teeth between 1 and 2 years old, they can have very thin slices of apple.
What is the best food for baby 6 months? ›
You can start weaning with single vegetables and fruits – try blended, mashed, or soft cooked sticks of parsnip, broccoli, potato, yam, sweet potato, carrot, apple or pear. You could also try baby rice mixed with your baby's usual milk. Make sure any cooked food has cooled right down before offering it to your baby.
Can 6 month old have yogurt? ›
Milk itself is also a good source of vitamin D, as it is added to the milk we buy. You can introduce yogurt and cheese once your baby is six months old, as long as they continue to eat a variety of iron-rich foods. Let your baby enjoy the taste of plain unsweetened yogurt, or add fresh, canned or frozen fruit.
What should an 8-month-old eating schedule look like? ›
Most 7 - 8 month olds eat every 3 to 4 hours. Babies who nurse may eat more often or have periods where they nurse frequently. If your baby is eating solid foods in between feedings they may go longer before they need their next liquid feeding.
8-month-olds feeding schedule
Solid foods at least twice or three times a day along with 25 to 32 ounces of formula or breast milk every 24 hours. You can start increasing the quantity and variety of the foods in your 8-month-old baby's diet. You can also try introducing a sippy cup and finger foods.
What is 8 month routine feeding? ›
At 8 months you should continue to breastfeed on demand or offer up to, but no more than, 600ml infant formula in a 24-hour period. Aim for four milk feeds during the day. However, don't worry if your baby's milk intake naturally declines as his intake of solid food intake increases.
How many times a day should I feed solids to my 4 month old? ›
If your baby is showing signs that they are ready to start solid foods, you may want to start a 4 month old solid food feeding schedule. You can begin by introducing small amounts 2-3 times a day, after your baby has been breast or formula fed. Don't try and give your baby new foods when they are hungry.
Can my 4 month old have strawberries? ›
Strawberries are safe for babies beginning around ages 4 to 6 months old when solids are typically introduced. Because strawberries are not a common allergen, the biggest risk in feeding them to babies is introducing them too early, in which case the infant may gag or push the food back out of their mouth, warns Dr.
Can a 4 month old baby eat banana? ›
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), most babies are ready to start eating solid foods, including mashed banana, between 4 and 6 months of age. However, it's important to watch for signs of readiness before introducing solid foods.
How often should a 4 month old feed? ›
How often should a 4-month-old nurse? Feedings are still typically about every three or four hours, but each breastfed baby may be slightly different.
Should I feed my baby at 4 months or 6 months? ›
Most babies this age are ready to try solid foods. Experts recommend starting solid foods when a baby is about 6 months old, depending on the baby's readiness and nutritional needs. Be sure to check with your doctor before giving any solid foods.
What is the feeding schedule for a 5 6 month old? ›
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , most babies need to eat at least every 2–3 hours, which is about five to six times per day. At 5 months, some babies sleep through the night. Others still wake to feed. Parents and caregivers who follow a schedule should try to remain flexible.
How many feedings does a 4 month old need? ›
Your 4-month-old baby's development
Breastfed babies should get 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk a day spread out over about five or six feeds. Formula-fed babies should have 24 to 32 ounces of formula in about five feeds of 6 to 8 ounces per session.
