7 month old baby solid food amount
7-Month-Old Baby: Your Questions Answered
7-Month-Old Baby
Your baby is 7 months old! As your little one is now more active, you’ve got to get your home ready. We know you probably childproofed when baby first came home, but having a mini mover and shaker changes everything. Get down on your hands and knees to see what hazards are around that you'll need to guard against. That includes anything baby could tumble over, bump into, get cut or pinched on or get tangled in. Also, make sure anything that could fall onto your child (a dresser, a bookshelf, the TV) is securely strapped into place, and be cautious to keep all choking hazards out of reach—that includes looking for small things that could easily drop on the floor unnoticed, like coins.
As your 7-month-old baby gets stronger and smarter every day, you may find yourself with a whole new slew of questions and concerns. What can a 7-month-old see? What can you give a 7-month-old for meals? Should you be worried if your 7-month-old doesn’t have teeth yet?
To help you navigate and prepare for the seven-month mark, we’re sharing a guide with all the 7-month-old baby milestones. From sleeping schedules to eating routines to fun activity ideas, here’s the intel you need to ensure your 7-month-old baby is on a happy and healthy track.
In this article:
7-month-old development
7-month-old health
7-month-old baby food
7-month-old sleep
7-month-old schedule
Activities for a 7-month-old
7-month-old checklist and tips
7-Month-Old Development
In the last three months, baby’s probably grown about 2 inches and their head circumference may have grown about an inch. They’re still developing their senses and skills that will lead to more independence.
7-month-old baby weight and length
Typically, how much does a 7-month-old weigh—or, rather, how much should a 7-month-old weigh? Average weight of a 7-month old is 16.8 pounds for girls and 18.3 pounds for boys. Average length is 26.5 inches for girls and 27.2 inches for boys, according to the World Health Organization.
But don’t get too caught up with the “normal” weight of a 7-month-old baby.
Height and weight can vary widely between healthy babies, so as long as your baby is growing at a healthy rate—on a steady upward curve on the chart at the doctor’s office—and the pediatrician doesn’t see any signs of a problem, your baby’s growth is right on track.
7-month-old’s five senses
- What can babies see at 7-months-old? A lot! Baby’s distance vision is improving every day. And they can see everything in full color now.
- The parts of baby’s brain dealing with sound processing have developed, which means baby can fully process and understand a range of sounds.
- Baby’s been listening to your voice and may try to copy the pattern and tones of your voice when they babble. So chatty!
7-month-old baby milestones
What should a 7-month-old be able to do? Remember, all babies develop at their own rate, but this is a peek at what might be happening with your baby this month.
- Baby might be able to sit up without any help, though they might have to keep their hands on the floor to stay upright.
If they haven't already started crawling, keep an eye out this month. Many babies start making moves as early as 6 or 7 months. However, if they’re not scooting around just yet, don’t worry. They’ll strengthen those muscles and get moving on their own time. And, FYI, some babies skip crawling and go straight to walking. - Baby is starting to work on fine-tuning their grasp. Now, baby probably picks things up with their whole hand, but they’ll also soon start working on the “pincer grasp,” where they’ll pick things up with their pointer finger and thumb.
- Baby bears weight on their legs when you hold them upright, and might even start to jump up and down in this position.
- Baby babbles and imitates sounds. They know what things to do to attract your attention (and isn’t it adorable?).
7-Month-Old Health
Click through for answers to some of 7-month-olds’ parents’ biggest health questions:
7-month-old teething
Got teeth? If your 7-month-old is still all gums, know that some pearly whites will probably pop up pretty soon.
Typically, the bottom incisors are the first two to make an appearance followed by the top incisors.
7-Month-Old Baby Feeding
Seven-month-old babies are eating some solid foods, but their main source of nutrition is still breast milk or formula.
How much should a 7-month-old eat, and how often?
- Bottle feeding: How much formula for a 7-month-old baby? They should be drinking about six to eight ounces of formula, four to six times per day.
- Breastfeeding: Seven-month-olds still typically nurse about every three or four hours.
- Pumping: If you’re pumping, baby needs a total of about 25 ounces of breast milk per day. So you’ll need to divide that by how many feedings your baby typically has. For example, if you feed baby about six times per day, they should get about 4.2 ounces of breast milk at each feeding.
- Solid food: How much solid food for a 7-month-old? Baby should be starting to get three meals of solid food each day.
Depending on the baby, a meal might be as little as a tablespoon or two or as much as four to six ounces (eight to 12 tablespoons) of baby food.
What can a 7-month-old eat?
What to feed your 7-month-old baby is mostly up to you! There aren’t strict guidelines about when to feed baby certain foods, but you do want to stick to nutritious, unprocessed foods. Purees remain great options for you new eater. You can’t go wrong with mashed or pureed fruits and veggies and whole grain baby cereal. Here are some nutritious options.
Be aware that there are a few foods you should avoid giving baby at this point. These include honey, cow’s milk and unpasteurized and/or raw foods. Try not to give baby foods that are high in salt or sugar. Finally, watch for items that pose a choking hazard (hard veggies, whole nuts and anything cylindrical that can block an airway, such as whole grapes or hot dogs, should be avoided).
Can a 7-month-old eat eggs?
Eggs make some parents nervous because of the allergy risk.
In the past, pediatricians used to tell parents to wait until 9 months to introduce egg yolk to baby, and to wait until 12 months to give baby the egg white. But newer food allergy research suggests that in fact it might benefit baby to introduce allergenic foods early and often. So the short answer is yes, you can probably give baby eggs if they’re at least 6 months old, and if they haven’t had an allergic reaction to other foods; talk to baby’s doctor and decide together. (Baby’s allergy risk may come into play.) And as with introducing any new food, watch your baby for signs of an allergic reaction in the following days.
If your pediatrician wants you to hold off on eggs, there are still plenty of delicious and nutritious breakfast options to try. Go with blends like banana and apple, peach or berry purees. Oatmeal is often a hit, as is whole milk yogurt.
Can I give my 7-month-old finger foods?
If you choose to try baby-led weaning, make sure to give baby finger foods that are soft and cut l so baby can easily mash them with their gums.
7-month-old feeding schedule
Here’s a sample 7-month-old feeding schedule with solids:
Image: Megan Rubey
7-Month-Old Sleep
Sleep! Parents with babies always have questions about sleep. Here, we answer the biggest ones.
How much should a 7-month-old sleep?
Baby sleeps about 14 to 15 hours per day—6 to 11 of those hours are at night. Some babies sleep through the night at this age but others may still be waking up in the wee hours. It’s typical for a 7-month-old baby to have about two naps totaling three or four hours of daytime sleep.
7-month-old sleep schedule
Here’s an example of a 7-month-old sleep and nap schedule:
Image: Megan Rubey
My 7-month-old won’t sleep! Why?
In a 7-month-old baby, sleep regression can happen for several reasons. Babies might start waking in the middle of the night because of illness or teething pain. During a growth spurt, they might be extra hungry and want to feed more.
Now that they’re learning how to roll, creep and crawl, they might wake to practice their new skills in the middle of the night. They might just miss their parents and want some cuddle time!
How can I begin sleep-training a 7-month-old?
To sleep-train your child, you’ll want to gradually remove yourself from baby’s efforts to get to sleep; self-soothing is an important step. Babies, just like adults, wake up throughout the night. But being able to go back to sleep on their own is what will give them the ability to “sleep through the night.” Baby needs to practice in order to develop that skill. Here’s the full scoop on how to sleep train a 7-month-old baby.
Is a 7-month-old sleeping on her stomach okay?
Stomach sleeping is totally fine, so long as baby is skillfully rolling over on their own and able to hold up their head and shoulders. Still, put baby to sleep on their back. If they choose to flip to their tummy, you shouldn’t worry about SIDS at this point.
7-Month-Old Schedule
Baby’s daily schedule seems to be constantly changing and evolving, but this month’s routine probably looks pretty similar to the one they had last month—though we hope you’re getting more uninterrupted nighttime sleep!
7-month-old schedule example
A 7-month-old’s daily schedule might look something like this.
Image: Megan Rubey
Activities for a 7-Month-Old
Your little busy bee loves activity. Here are some ways to keep a 7-month-old entertained:
- Flip through baby’s favorite board books or a colorful magazine, and describe what’s in the pictures. For more interaction, get some “lift and see” books or try one that has textured images, so baby can have a full sensory experience.
- Right now baby is thrilled by “cause and effect” activities. Find an interactive toy that rewards them for pushing a button.
- Looking for more games to play with a 7-month-old? Get baby activity ideas here.
7-Month-Old Baby Checklist and Tips
- Schedule baby’s nine-month checkup, if you haven’t already.
- Introduce a high chair—if you haven’t already—for baby to enjoy meals with the rest of the family and work on self-feeding from the tray.
- Does baby need a new car seat? A car seat for a 7-month-old baby should be rear-facing (until age 2 or 3). We recommend a convertible seat that can be used for at least another year or two.
- Take baby’s 7-month-old baby milestone photo.
- Baby is bound to start scooting or crawling any day now, so make sure to babyproof your home to keep your 7-month-old safe.
- Baby is making progress with their babbling. Continue to encourage them to make sounds and repeat after you. They will also begin to understand more words like “hi” or “dog.” Keep talking, singing and reading to your 7-month-old every day.
It probably feels like baby is marking off the 7-month-old baby milestones left and right, and that’s certainly something to be proud of. Each day is a new adventure as baby grows and learns. If they haven’t started crawling yet, enjoy the serenity while you can.
Once baby is on the move, there’s no stopping them!
Medical content was reviewed by Dina DiMaggio, MD, a board-certified pediatrician at Pediatric Associates of NYC and NYU Langone Health in New York City, and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is also the coauthor of The Pediatrician’s Guide to Feeding Babies and Toddlers.
A Cheat Sheet for Parents
7-month-old baby food: What’s right?
Just like with adults, every child is slightly different and thus has a unique appetite. Babies are born with the innate ability to self-regulate feeding capacity. In other words, they know when they are finished or full.
You’ve probably already taken note of this during breastfeeding. They’ll latch on when they’re hungry and stop when they’re satisfied. If you’ve had trouble with this, consider looking into how to use a nipple shield while breastfeeding to address latching issues.
You’ll likely be able to tell when your baby is ready for solid food, since they’ll show obvious signs of agitation and hunger after breastfeeding.
Usually, this happens at about the 6-month mark, and baby food for a 7-month-old frequently starts to consist of more solid foods. The signs of readiness for solid foods include hand-to-mouth coordination, decreased tongue protrusion reflex, sitting without support, and opening mouth to spoon. You may continue breastfeeding, as well, until you decide an appropriate time to stop.
Perhaps you’ve already been feeding your baby solids for a month or so, but you want to make sure you have your information straight, or maybe you’ve been wondering how many jars of baby food for a 7-month-old is appropriate. You’ve come to the right place. Let’s take a closer look.
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Baby food list for a 7-month-old
When you’re ready to start feeding your baby solid food, you’ve got an array of options to choose from.
These foods help ensure that your baby gets sufficient amounts of the nutrients and vitamins they need to continue down the road of healthy development.
Before you dive into the list, make sure you only introduce a little bit of one food at a time — about 1–2 tablespoons to start is good. New foods should be introduced individually and about a week apart in order to identify any allergies and intolerance the baby may have. It’s best to introduce foods from most bland to sweetest.
If you haven’t already started feeding your child solids, start with the following baby food for your 7-month-old:
- Pea puree: Peas have iron, protein, calcium, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C, which are all important for encouraging and promoting the healthy development of your child.
- Baby brown rice cereal: This cereal is easy to digest and it’s unlikely that your child will suffer an allergic reaction to it.
- Baked sweet potato puree: Adults benefits from sweet potatoes, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that your baby will benefit from this antioxidant, nutrient, and vitamin blend.
- Banana Puree: Bananas are easy to digest and won’t upset the stomach. However, avoid feeding your child too much, as a lot of banana can result in constipation, which isn’t fun for you or your baby.
- Carrot Puree: Babies usually love carrot puree because of the sweet taste. It’s also packed full of antioxidants and various vitamins and minerals.
- Avocado Puree: This can provide a pleasant texture and introduce good fats into your child’s diet.
If you’ve already introduced solid baby food for your 7-month-old, you may begin slowly presenting more thick purees and foods to your child’s diet, including:
- Pumpkin thyme puree: It’s loaded with iron, potassium, and beta carotene.
- Varieties of veggies: Puree different vegetable combinations, such as spinach with yams.
- Fruits: New fruits may include pears, papayas, and blueberries. Blend them into a puree for easy eating.
Avoid foods that are choking risks, including small fruits, raw vegetables, nuts, candy, gum, and whole grapes. Children under the age of five are at risk of choking on grapes and similarly shaped foods, and parents should cut them in half or quarters.
How to know if your baby is ready for solids
Most babies are ready for solid foods by 6 months of age. Yet, there are tell-tale signs that can help you determine if it’s the right time to introduce them.
Certain developmental stages should be reached before you feed your baby solid foods. They should be able to sit up unsupported, as well as keep their head stable and upright. Your baby should not be pushing the solid food out of their mouth, and they should have good hand-to-mouth coordination.
You may also be ready to alter your 7-month-old baby food menu when your child begins taking increasingly longer breastfeeding sessions. They may still seem hungry after your normal duration, indicating that it’s time to start introducing other foods besides breast milk.
If your 7-month-old isn’t ready for solids, don’t panic. It’s absolutely normal for different babies to be ready at different times. Most babies’ development won’t be impacted if they continue with just breast milk until 9–12 months of age.
7-month-old baby food recipes
If your baby is all set and ready to eat solids, it’s cooking time. There are a variety of 7-month-old baby food recipes you can begin to create, including the following three. Similar to storing breast milk, these purees can be frozen but should be used within about six months.
- Pea puree: This one is great for newbies to solid food. In other words, if your child has just begun eating solids, this is a good one to start with — and it’s simple. Take 3 cups of frozen peas and half a cup of breast milk. Boil water, lower the heat, and add the peas, steaming them for about 15 minutes. Blend the peas and the breast milk in a food processor, filtering any lumps that remain using a strainer.
Freeze the batch in an ice cube tray. When you’re ready to feed your little one, simply take out one pea puree ice cube and heat it up until warm. Make sure it’s not too hot! - Spinach and white yam puree: You’ll need about a half pound of washed spinach and a half pound of white yams, as well as either 1.5 cups of water or sodium-free vegetable broth. Chop up the yams into small cubes. Bring them to a boil in the liquid of your choice, then let them simmer for about 10–15 minutes. Put the spinach in and wait until the spinach is cooked, which should only take a few minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat, then blend it all in a food processor. You can freeze it in a similar way to the pea puree recipe.
- Blueberry and beet mash-up: Grab 2 mid-sized beets and a half cup of fresh or frozen blueberries. Remove the skin of the beets and chop them up into small cubes. Place the cubes in a saucepan with the blueberries, and pour just enough water to cover the contents.
Cover and cook for about 10–15 minutes on medium-high heat. Make sure the beets are tender before removing them from the heat. Blend everything in a food processor and freeze them similar to the above recipes.
How much baby food does a 7-month-old need?
Now, you’re probably wondering how much baby food for a 7-month-old is enough? The answer is that it varies depending on the baby. While all babies are a bit different, a typical 7-month-old will have three meals a day. These meals may be anywhere from less than a tablespoon to two tablespoons in size. Some babies may consume up to eight or twelve tablespoons per day; it depends on their size and appetite.
In terms of breastfeeding, usually a 7-month-old baby nurses for 3–4 hours a day. Your baby may consume a total of about 25 ounces of breast milk every day at this age.
The daily caloric requirements for babies aged 7–9 months is around 825 kcal/day for boys and around 765 kcal/day for girls.
7-month-old baby food menu: Feeding tips
Lastly, let’s leave you with some feeding tips and tricks regarding 7-month-old baby food.
Strict guidelines don’t exist for baby food or when to feed your baby. It depends on where your baby is at in development, though most doctors recommend steering clear of processed foods and sticking to simple purees as outlined above.
Some foods should be avoided. 7-month-old baby food to avoid includes honey, cow’s milk, raw vegetables, nuts, small fruits, candy, gum, and any other food that could pose a choking hazard.
Don’t force it. The general rule is to feed at the earliest sign of hunger and stop at the earliest sign of satiety. If your child doesn’t want solid food, they may not be ready or may not be hungry.
If you’re struggling with it, allow your baby to handle a small spoon after breastfeeding. This may help your child associate the spoonfed foods with the comfort that comes with breastfeeding.
Ensure your child is sitting upright. This prevents choking. Consider using a high chair if necessary.
If you’re having trouble breastfeeding or notice you feel sore on one side, consider switching positions. Various breastfeeding positions exist and can make the whole process easier for you and your baby.
Check with your healthcare provider before attempting to feed your baby solid foods. Your doctor knows what is good for you and your baby and can give good advice regarding your specific situation. Doctors are able to offer advice and recommendations on medicine you can take while breastfeeding, other breastfeeding issues or problems, the types of foods that are safe for you and your baby, how much solid food you should start with when feeding your child, and what foods you should stay away from at the 7 month mark.
Enjoy this time and explore foods that you know are safe to feed your little one at 7-months-old. Don’t forget to introduce only small amounts of new foods at first and remember that every baby is unique.
If your child isn’t ready for solid foods yet, it’s not necessarily a reason to panic. Every child develops at their own pace. Before you know it, they’ll be eating all on their own!
Baby menu at 7 months: what is possible and what is not yet
- Anastasia Ivanovna, what are the nutritional features of children at 7 months?
- The menu for a baby at seven months is different from the menu for a newborn and a baby at one year old. This difference exists due to the fact that a number of body systems, including the gastrointestinal tract and oral cavity, have not yet been formed in a newborn, he is only learning to suck. From four to six months, the diet begins to include complementary foods - food that is different from breast milk or infant formula. In the year of the child, in ideal conditions, they are transferred to a common table. nine0005
Some pediatricians recommend introducing complementary foods from five to six months, sometimes even from four.
But the enzymatic system of the baby's body has not yet been formed, so pedagogical complementary foods are possible at four or five months, and pediatric complementary foods by six months.
— How to combine breastfeeding or bottle feeding with complementary foods?
— Pediatricians and nutritionists recommend separating these meals and giving the main dairy food and complementary foods in separate meals so that the child understands what he is eating. nine0005
If complementary foods started at 4-5 months
— What rules of baby food should parents know?
— The functions of the gastrointestinal tract are formed in such a way that the body needs to adapt to the incoming products. With proper complementary foods, it is important to monitor the child's condition in the food diary and, if necessary, consult a doctor.
Basic feeding recommendations for seven-month-old babies
- One new product is given in small doses at the beginning of the day every four days to monitor for allergies, constipation, peeling and other reactions.
nine0029 - One new food can be given per feeding.
- Water is best offered between feedings and not given with complementary foods.
- Do not force-feed: if the child refuses a certain dish, it can be offered at another time and in a different form.
- A child is not given unfamiliar food when he is not in a very good mood, teething, or has just been vaccinated.
— How to identify food allergies and find the allergen? nine0004
Observant mothers will see or hear the problem. The baby will have something on the body, constipation or indigestion will begin. A restless child will cry. To track the allergen, it is advisable to keep a food diary and keep your finger on the pulse. If there is a connection with the pediatrician, ask questions and, taking into account the vaccination calendar, the physiology of the development of your child, offer him certain products so as not to once again provoke an immune response.
What foods can be given at 7 months
Read also
- Why it is necessary to introduce meat complementary foods into the baby's diet and what products can be combined with it.
— What purees and cereals can be given at 7 months?
- If this is the first complementary food for a baby, then monocomponent purees, dairy-free and milk porridges with one cereal in the composition are good: they are easier to digest and it is easier to track the reaction of the body using them.
— In what order can complementary foods be given? nine0004
— If your baby is overweight by seven months, it is better to feed him vegetable puree. If everything is in order with weight, then preference can be given to cereals. All new products are introduced gradually: they begin to feed in the amount of 5-10 g, gradually increasing the volume to 50 g. By seven months, a portion of porridge at one time can reach up to 200 g. The third option for complementary foods, if parents want, can be fruits. It is in this sequence, because fruits are sweet, and the child does not always eat unleavened vegetables or cereals after them. nine0005
Each product will also have its own processing specifics:
- vegetables and fruits are given in the form of puree;
- purchased cereals are prepared according to the instructions;
- homemade porridges are boiled in water, then milk or a mixture is added if desired;
- cottage cheese is properly stored in the refrigerator, tracking the expiration date;
- dairy, vegetable broths are brought to a single consistency (mashed) so that the child develops the correct perception of the product.
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— How many times to feed a child at 7 months and how much food to give?
- You need to focus on five feedings per day. If your baby cannot tolerate the interval between meals, it is worth supplementing with breast or formula after the introduction of complementary foods.
How to calculate complementary foods
A baby at seven months should weigh about eight kilograms. 1/8 of the child's weight is the daily amount of food, that is, approximately a kilogram of food, taking into account all feedings, or 200 grams per meal. nine0005
Sample menu for a 7-month-old baby (Russian Federation)
— At what age can semi-solid and solid foods be introduced into a child's diet?
- By 6 months, most babies are ready for a new food: the baby realizes that something is hard in his mouth.
By the age of seven months, the skill of palmar grip is formed: the child is able to hold solid food in his hand, and he can be given biscuits and crackers to grind. Allergists and pediatricians consider 6-10 months as the optimal period to begin the introduction of semi-solid and solid foods. But if the swallowing apparatus is not formed, there may be problems with chewing and swallowing disorders up to the gag reflex. nine0005
— What should parents do if their child refuses to eat? How to create food interest?
— It is necessary to understand the reasons for the baby's refusal to eat, among which may be: The pediatrician will track changes in health by analysis and, if necessary, adjust the diet.
At seven months, significant changes occur in the work of the gastrointestinal tract, the child actively shows interest in "adult" products, in new tastes. It will be easier for the baby to readjust if you choose products that will match his physiology and fully cover his needs for growth and communication.
You need to carefully monitor the reaction of the body to each new product for 4-6 days. nine0005
* Breast milk is the best food for babies. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a child's life and continued breastfeeding after complementary foods are introduced until the age of 2 years. Before introducing new products into the baby's diet, you should consult with a specialist. The material is for informational purposes and cannot replace the advice of a healthcare professional. For feeding children from birth.
Diet for a 7-month-old child
When compiling a diet for a seven-month-old baby, distribute the products so that you get a certain prototype of the menu of an already grown-up child with breakfast and lunch.
At this age, the yolk of a boiled egg, a valuable source of fat, vitamin B12, A, phosphorus and selenium, is introduced into the child's diet. Chopped yolk can be added to porridge or vegetable puree.
At the age of 7 months, you can already give your baby a cracker (in the form of dried bread) and baby biscuits.
The volume of fruit puree and juice is increased to 70 g.
It is still better to give preference to commercially produced complementary foods, given their high degree of safety and variety. If the baby does not perceive a new product the first time, it can be mixed with an already familiar product.
Approximate diet for a 7 month old baby.
| I feeding 6 hours | Breastmilk or VHI* | nine0135 200 ml |
| II feeding 10 hours | Dairy-free or milk porridge ** Butter Boiled egg yolk Supplementation with breast milk or VHI | 150 g |
| III feeding 14 hours | Vegetable puree Vegetable oil Meat puree Fruit juice | 170 g about 1 tsp.  30 g 70 ml | nine0143
| IV feeding 18 hours | Fruit puree Baby biscuits Breast milk supplement or VHI | 70 g |
| V feeding 22 hours | Breast milk or VHI | 200 ml |
* - infant formula
** - dairy-free porridge should be diluted with breast milk or infant formula that the child receives. Milk porridge is diluted with water. nine0005
Approximate diet of a 7-month-old child with cow's milk protein allergy:
| I feeding 6 hours | Breast milk or formula for infants with intolerance to cow's milk proteins | 200 ml |
| II feeding 10 hours | Dairy-free porridge* Vegetable oil Fruit puree (apple, pear) | 130 g about 1 tsp.   .
|
