Healthy Foods and Meal Ideas for Your 6-to 9-Month-Old

9 month old opening mouth for spoon Once your baby has gotten the hang of solid foods, you might need some help figuring out what to feed her when—and how much. From purees to mashed foods to finger foods, our simple meal plans are here to help you choose healthy foods that fit your baby’s developmental needs.

Note: If your baby has not tried any of the foods listed below, introduce only one new, single-ingredient food at a time. Wait two to three days before trying another new food to make sure she doesn’t have an allergic reaction.

In this article:

8 month old self feeding

How much solid food?

Every baby is different. Some babies will eat more or less than others, and a lot of times how much a baby eats will differ from day to day or even meal to meal. This is why it’s still important to pay attention to your baby’s hunger and fullness cues, and use these meal plans only as general guidelines.
cereal with peaches and water

Purees: 6 to 7 months

Your baby is still getting used to this whole “solid foods” thing, so it’s important to take things slow. Breastmilk or iron-fortified formula will still provide most of his nutrition and fluid needs, so this stage is more about exploring and learning how to eat.

Wake Up: Breastmilk or formula

Breakfast:

  • 1-4 tablespoons iron-fortified infant cereal
  • 1-4 tablespoons pureed or “stage 1” fruit
  • A few sips of water from an open cup (with help) or a sippy/straw cup

Snack: Breastmilk or formula

Lunch:

  • 1-4 tablespoons pureed meat or iron-fortified infant cereal
  • 1-4 tablespoons pureed or “stage 1” veggies
  • A few sips of water from an open cup (with help) or a sippy/straw cup

Snack: Breastmilk or formula

Dinner:

  • 1-4 tablespoons pureed meat or iron-fortified infant cereal
  • 1-4 tablespoons pureed or “stage 1” veggies
  • 1-4 tablespoons pureed or “stage 1” fruits
  • A few sips of water from an open cup (with help) or a sippy/straw cup

Before Bed: Breastmilk or formula

meat, sweet potatoes, blueberries, & water

Thicker purees and mashed foods: 7 to 8 months

When your baby is around 7 or 8 months old, he is probably ready for more texture in his food. Start buying the thicker “stage 2” foods, or mash foods your family already has at home, like bananas, sweet potatoes, avocados or hard-boiled egg yolk. If you want to thin these after mashing, use a little breastmilk, formula or water.

Wake Up: Breastmilk or formula

Breakfast:

  • 1-4 tablespoons iron-fortified infant cereal, mixed thick (use less liquid)
  • 1-4 tablespoons fruit, like mashed banana or plain, unsweetened applesauce
  • A few sips of water from an open cup (with help) or from a sippy/straw cup

Snack: Breastmilk or formula

Lunch:

  • 1-4 tablespoons mashed egg yolk, mashed beans or iron-fortified infant cereal
  • 1-4 tablespoons mashed or “stage 2” veggies, like peas, sweet potato or carrots
  • A few sips of water from an open cup (with help) or from a sippy/straw cup

Snack: Breastmilk or formula

Dinner:

  • 1-4 tablespoons pureed meat or iron-fortified infant cereal
  • 1-4 tablespoons mashed or “stage 2” veggies, like avocado or green beans
  • 1-4 tablespoons mashed or “stage 2” fruits
  • A few sips of water from an open cup (with help) or from a sippy/straw cup

Before Bed: Breastmilk or formula

pork, noodles, broccoli, & peaches

Finger foods: 8 to 9 months

By now, your baby is probably ready for self-feeding, or finger foods. Finger foods are fun for Mom too; you can sit back and watch while your baby feeds himself. Start with about 1 tablespoon of each food on his tray, and let baby decide what and how much to eat from the healthy foods in front of him.

Wake Up: Breastmilk or formula

Breakfast:

  • 2-4 tablespoons iron-fortified infant cereal (mixed with just a little liquid, or just with the fruit)
  • 2-4 tablespoons mashed or “stage 2” fruit

Snack: Breastmilk or formula

Lunch:

  • 1-4 tablespoons cooked (or canned) beans or 1/2-1 egg (scrambled or hard-boiled)
  • 1-4 tablespoons diced, cooked veggies, like green beans or carrots
  • 1-4 tablespoons grains, like brown rice or 1/4 slice dry whole-wheat toast
  • A few sips of water from an open cup (with help) or from a sippy/straw cup

Snack:

  • Breastmilk or formula
  • 2-4 tablespoons iron-fortified toasted oats cereal
  • 1-4 tablespoons fruit or veggie

Dinner:

  • 1-4 tablespoons ground or shredded meat, like chicken or pork
  • 1-4 tablespoons diced, cooked veggies, like sweet potato or broccoli
  • 1-4 tablespoons grains, like small noodles or torn, soft tortilla
  • 1-4 tablespoons fruit, like diced banana, mango or canned peaches
  • A few sips of water from an open cup (with help) or from a sippy/straw cup

Bed Time: Breastmilk or formula

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