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Feeding baby table food at 9 months


The Best 9 Month Old Baby Food + Table Food Ideas!

Get simple 9 month old baby food and table food ideas from a pediatric occupational therapist. This is a critical window of time for babies learning to eat. Learn how to maximize it. Includes 14 different 9 month old meal ideas! 

 

 

Around 9 months old begins an important transition for most babies…

The transition from baby food to table or finger foods. It’s a little overwhelming. Even though I had helped dozens of families through this transition as an occupational therapist, I still felt the stress of figuring it out on a daily basis with each of my 3 kids. 

In this post, I’m going to break down what your 9 month old should be eating and give you simple baby and table food combinations that are perfect for this age. You’ll also find some tips for helping your babe if they aren’t getting the hang of the whole chewing thing too! 

 

What Should a 9 Month Old Be Eating?

If you’re following the traditional method of feeding your baby, that means starting with baby food and progressing to table foods, then at around 9 months your baby is probably eating stage 2 foods and some table foods.

If you haven’t moved to stage 2 table foods, which are slightly more thicker than stage 1 foods, then you’ll want to start offering those now, as long as your baby is eating stage 1 baby food well.

If you’re making your own homemade baby food, you want the food to pour off the spoon with a little bit sticking to the spoon. Throughout the next month, you can slowly increase the thickness. Although it can be helpful to serve your baby a variety of thicknesses throughout the day. For instance, in the morning, they may have pureed squash and coconut milk. Then, in the afternoon, they have bananas, avocado, and chicken, which is a little thicker.

These variances are good.

 

 

Table Foods for the 9 Month Old

When giving your 9 month old table foods, it’s important to begin with small pieces of meltable solids. Foods like puffs, broken up rice husks, yogurt melts, and other stage 1 table foods you’ll find in the baby food aisle.

You can also use regular old graham crackers or Town House crackers.

Avoid Goldfish crackers, Ritz crackers, and Cheerios at this stage. Although these are often given to babies eating table foods, 9 month olds usually don’t have the oral motor skills to handle these harder textured snack foods.

If your baby is readily chewing those meltable solids like the puffs and yogurt melts, the next step is to move on to softer foods you can cut into a cube. Think zucchini bread, watermelon, banana, and tender meatballs. Most 9 month olds will be just beginning with these foods.

Once your baby is eating table foods, you can begin to transition out of baby foods all together. That process usually starts in the mid to late 9th month, but sometimes not until 10 or 11 months. However, babies have an instinctive chewing pattern that disappears around 11 months. Of course, they can be taught to chew after this point, but it’s easier if they learn in this window.

Learn more in the How to Transition Your Baby To Table Foods Guide.

 

 

How Much Should a 9 Month Old Be Eating? 

It’s very important that a 9 month old is beginning to work on learning to eat table foods, because in a few months, food will become their primary source of nutrition. But, for now, at 9 months old, breast milk or formula is their primary source.

That should take some pressure off of how much food their eating, but don’t let it be a pass to wait to work on eating table or baby food until after 1.

With that in mind, there really is no amount of baby or table foods they need to eat. Some babies will pound down 2 jars of baby food at this age. Others will happily eat 2 tablespoons and be done.

That’s okay!

The red flag for me as an OT is if they’re 9 months old and gagging, refusing, or upset nearly every time they try to eat baby and/or table foods. 

So, at 9 months old, don’t worry about quantity, just follow their lead. They’re getting all their nutrition from their milk source. But, if they’re having difficulty eating, keep reading for some additional steps you can take. 

 

9 Month Old Mealtime Schedule

I’m looking for babies to eat usually 2 times a day in their high chair for meals at 9 months old. Although, 3 times a day works great if you can fit it into your schedule.

Focus on meal times lasting anywhere from 15-30 minutes at the absolute max. 9 month olds need to be crawling and cruising as much as possible in between mealtimes and any more time than that in their highchair isn’t great for their development. Plus, it usually irritates them and creates a negative association with eating. 

It makes the most sense to schedule the meals as one in the morning and one in the afternoon/early evening. If you do three meals, you’ll want one in the morning, one in the early afternoon, and one for a dinner. Make sure these meals are 3-4 hours apart.

Also, space them away from their bottles of nursing so they may be a little hungry, and if at all possible, feed them when the rest of the family is eating.

In fact, that’s a bigger priority than spacing apart from their bottles. The community aspect of eating helps babies learn so much and often leads to better eating! 

Get a detailed feeding schedule for all bottles and meals at 8, 9, and 10 Month Old Feeding Schedule.

 

 

List of 9 Month Old Baby Food + Table Food Ideas

Below is a list of different baby food ideas. You’ll see that every meal, I’m giving a 9 month old water in a sippy or straw cup, a baby food, and a table food. Mix and match to create more baby food ideas for your 9 month old.

The meals below are also in a gradual progression of difficulty over the 9 months:

  • Stage 2 apple, blueberry, and spinach baby food with broken up baby mums and water in a sippy/straw cup
  • Thicker homemade pumpkin and banana baby food with yogurt melts and water in a sippy/straw cup
  • Stage 2 vegetable chicken baby food with blueberry puffs and water in a sippy/straw cup
  • Thicker homemade beef, peas, and sweet potato with graham cracker and water in a sippy/straw cup
  • Stage 2 pear, peach, and mango baby food with broken up wagon wheels and water in a sippy/straw cup
  • Thicker homemade baby food raspberries, whole milk plain yogurt, and pears with meltable crackers and water in a sippy/straw cup
  • Stage 2 apple, blueberry, and spinach with baby corn puff curls and water in a sippy/straw cup
  • Thicker homemade baby food spaghetti and meatballs with broken up baby mums and water in a sippy/straw cup
  • Stage 2 sweet potato and turkey with veggie puffs and water in a sippy/straw cup
  • Thicker homemade baby food of chicken soup and baby cereal with diced watermelon*, yogurt melts, and water in a sippy/straw cup
  • Stage 2 pea, carrot, and spinach thickened with baby cereal slightly with diced banana*, graham cracker, and water in a sippy/straw cup
  • Thicker homemade baby food with lentils, zucchini, and peaches with diced zucchini bread*, broken wagon wheels, and water in a sippy/straw cup
  • Stage 2 apple chicken baby food thickened slightly with baby cereal and with diced avocado*, corn puffs, and water in a sippy/straw cup
  • Thicker homemade banana and avocado with diced meatballs*, puffs, and water in a sippy/straw cup

*Only use foods with an asterisk if your child is chewing and swallowing the meltable crunchy foods before moving onto soft cubed foods.

 

 

When Your 9 Month Old Isn’t Eating Table Foods… Should You Worry?

Milestones are guidelines and if your child is eating a little slower than other kids their age, it’s okay. However, if your child shows no interest, gags frequently, vomits when attempting to eat, or food always falls out of their mouth, then you’ll want to talk to their pediatrician.

These are all signs that they may have some underlying difficulties with their oral motor skills, sensory sensitivity, or another difficulty. 

Don’t worry, they can all be addressed and improved upon once you have the right tools and support. Be careful of any “don’t worry, they’ll grow out of it” advice. While some babies will, if they’re gagging and totally refusing to eat at 9 months old, it’s time to consider some more help.

 

Getting More Help for Table Food Difficulty

You can contact a feeding therapist directly for more support if need be. But, we also have a free workshop you can take right now that will teach 5 things to avoid when feeding your 9 month old and how to help them learn to eat!

We’ll send you a free workbook too.

Click here to get a free spot in the table food workshop!

 

More Baby Food and Table Food Ideas

 

Why You Should Let Your Baby (or toddler) Get Messy Eating

Must-Know Pros & Cons of Using Baby Food Pouches

Feeding Schedule for 11, 12, and 13 month olds

Does Your Baby or Toddler Keep Spitting Out Their Food? Try This

 

 

Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. She has over 17 years experience with expertise in sensory processing and feeding development in babies, toddlers, and children. Alisha also has 3 boys of her own at home. Learn more about her here.

 

Foods, Tips, and Meal Plan for Feeding Your 9-Month-Old

By the time your baby is 9 months old, they have likely been eating solid foods in addition to either breast milk or formula for a few months.

It can be overwhelming deciding what foods to feed your little one, especially when you’re most likely already busy babyproofing and soaking up all the new and exciting milestones.

This article provides an overview of some of the best foods for your 9-month-old, as well as which foods are best avoided so that you can help your baby get all the nutrients they need.

Even though your 9-month-old is eating food, their main source of nutrition should continue to come from either breast milk or formula. Any additional foods can be considered complementary until your baby turns 1 (1, 2).

Some parents choose to begin with puréed foods when first starting solids, while others may opt for a baby-led weaning approach, which involves offering foods in their solid form with an emphasis on allowing babies to feed themselves (3).

If your baby eats purées, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends beginning to offer foods with varying textures and some more solid foods that help a baby learn how to chew around 8 months of age (2).

Some great foods to offer your 9-month-old baby include:

  • Fruits: bananas, soft pears, peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries
  • Vegetables: soft-cooked broccoli, carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes
  • Protein: eggs, soft-cooked or ground meat, tofu, smashed beans, low mercury fish
  • Healthy fats: avocado, fish, olive oil, nut butters
  • Iron-containing foods: eggs, meats, fish, iron-fortified cereals, whole grain bread or pasta

Key nutrients for baby

Offering a variety of foods will provide your baby with a variety of important nutrients, some of which are especially important for healthy growth and development.

Vitamin D plays an important role in bone health and may help build strong immune systems in babies, though more research is needed on the latter.

Infant formulas are typically fortified with vitamin D, but it’s often recommended that breastfed babies take a supplement of 400 IU of vitamin D per day for their first year of life (4, 5).

Because babies experience such rapid growth in the first year, they’re at a high risk of an iron deficiency, which can lead to serious health outcomes.

Iron supplementation may be needed after the first 6 months, but it may not be necessary if your baby is getting enough iron-rich food sources regularly or drinking formula, which is typically fortified with iron (5, 6).

Healthy fats, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, are also important for babies and young children. They help promote the development and function of brain, eye, and immune health (7, 8, 9).

Summary

Offering your baby a variety of foods will provide them with a variety of important nutrients, but keep in mind, their main source of nutrition should still be breast milk or formula at this age.

While most foods are OK for babies as long as they are prepared and cut appropriately, some foods should be avoided in the first year. Some foods may cause food poisoning in little ones, and others are considered choking hazards.

Here are some important foods to avoid feeding your 9-month-old (10):

  • honey
  • raw or undercooked meat, fish, or eggs
  • fish containing high amounts of mercury, such as shark, swordfish, and marlin
  • added sugars
  • salt and high sodium foods
  • unpasteurized foods
  • potential choking hazards like whole grapes, whole nuts, raw fruits and veggies

You may have heard that babies under 1 year shouldn’t drink cow’s milk. That’s because they should still be drinking formula or breast milk to meet their nutritional needs.

They can have milk mixed into foods, such as oatmeal or smoothies, but you could also use breastmilk or formula.

Babies shouldn’t get added sugar, which can replace more nutritious options. Also, too much sodium may be harmful to their developing kidneys, so it’s best to limit their salt intake (10).

Summary

It’s important to stay away from certain foods in the first year of life because they can cause food poisoning or choking or may not be the best choices for their developing bodies.

A 9-month-old needs 750–900 calories per day and about 400–500 should continue to come from breast milk or formula (2).

You don’t need to track your baby’s calorie intake, but you may wonder how much to offer at each meal and snack.

Babies will eat when they’re hungry and stop when they are full, so you can let them decide how much they would like to eat.

Your baby will likely show cues of feeling full, such as turning his or her head away from you or pushing food away, and also show signs that they’re hungry, such as opening their mouth for food or getting excited (11).

Summary

A 9-month-old baby needs about 750–900 calories per day. Be sure to keep up with regular formula or breast milk feedings to help them meet their needs, and let your baby decide when they’re full at meals.

It’s normal for your little one’s appetite to vary day to day. Remember, breast milk or formula should continue to be the main source of nutrition for the first year of life, and babies should be getting about 24 ounces (720 mL) of either daily (2, 12).

You can and should also offer water with meals at this age to encourage proper hydration and help wash down solid foods. At this age, it’s recommended babies get about 4–8 ounces (0.5–1 cup) of water per day (13).

As for other beverages, the AAP recommends sticking to just water and breast milk or formula at this age and avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages and other drinks until 2 years of age. Cow’s milk or soy milk can be introduced after 12 months (13).

Here’s a sample menu for a 9-month-old, including 3 meals, snacks, and breast milk or formula:

Breast milk or formula

6 ounces (177.4 mL)

Breakfast

  • 2–4 ounces (59.1–118.3 mL) of prepared iron-fortified cereal
  • a banana or other fruit (you can try cutting it up or mashing and mixing it into the cereal, too)
  • about 1 teaspoon of nut butter stirred into the cereal

Snack (optional)

One of the following options:

  • soft (or cooked) fruit
  • plain, whole milk yogurt
  • teething biscuits

Breast milk or formula

6 ounces (177. 4 mL)

Lunch

  • scrambled egg
  • soft-cooked broccoli
  • whole wheat toast with mashed avocado (try cutting it into strips for easy self-feeding)

Snack (optional)

One of the following options:

  • cubed cheese
  • whole milk cottage cheese
  • soft (or cooked) fruit

Breast milk or formula

6 ounces (177.4 mL)

Dinner

  • soft-cooked shredded chicken (the slow cooker is great for this)
  • smashed peas
  • roasted sweet potato wedges
  • soft (or cooked) fruit

Breast milk or formula

6 ounces (177.4 mL)

Summary

Above is a sample menu for a 9-month-old baby. Remember, babies will let you know when they are full, and they may not eat everything offered. It’s important to continue to offer at least 24 ounces (720 mL) of breast milk or formula daily.

Feeding your little one can feel daunting, but there are ways to keep it simple so you don’t have to spend too much time cooking and prepping.

Here are some quick meal and snack ideas for your 9-month-old:

Quick and easy breakfast ideas

  • scrambled eggs, or a veggie omelet with soft fruit, and whole wheat toast topped with smashed avocado
  • French toast made with 1 egg and a sprinkle of cinnamon, topped with plain whole milk yogurt and no-sugar-added applesauce
  • plain, whole milk yogurt or whole milk cottage cheese mixed with soft fruit and Cheerios
  • iron-fortified cereals mixed with nut butter and smashed fruit

Quick and easy lunch or dinner ideas

  • baby meatballs with mashed potatoes and soft-cooked green beans
    • Combine 1 pound (0.45 kg) of ground meat with 1 egg and 1/2 cup oat flour (plus any seasoning you’d like, other than salt).
    • Roll the mixture into meatballs and bake or cook them with a little chicken broth in an instant pot or slow cooker.
  • shredded chicken with smashed peas and corn
  • whole wheat penne pasta with low sodium marinara sauce
  • poached fish with sweet potato wedges and soft-cooked broccoli and carrots
  • diced tofu with soft-cooked green beans and smashed chickpeas

Quick and easy snack ideas

  • soft-cooked vegetable finger food, such as asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, or potatoes
  • toast or crackers with smashed avocado
  • soft or cooked fruits like banana, ripe peaches, strawberries, or cooked pears
  • cubed cheese
  • plain whole milk yogurt
  • whole milk cottage cheese
  • hard-boiled eggs
Summary

Feeding your 9-month-old can be overwhelming and time-consuming. It’s a good idea to have some go-to ideas in your back pocket for quick and easy meals.

Meal prep

Meal prepping is a great way to save time and set yourself up for an easier week. If you can, try planning some meals ahead of time and doing some cooking in advance so that you can reheat things during the week rather than cooking daily.

By the time your little one is 9 months old, they can eat a lot of what you’re eating. When you prepare a meal for yourself or the rest of the family, see what you can do to make it baby-friendly. Here are some tips:

  • Leave the salt out until you portion out your little one’s helping first.
  • Cut foods into safe sizes for your baby to consume.
  • If you’re using a spicy or high sodium condiment, set aside some food for your baby before adding it in.
  • Check the texture of the meal yourself to make sure it’s soft enough for your baby. Pinching a food between your fingers is a great way to see whether they can squish it with their gums.

To reduce their choking risk, cut food small enough for them to grab and bite, but not so small that they can swallow it whole. Some raw fruits and vegetables, like apples and carrots, are also choking hazards because they’re too hard to bite into.

Food safety

It’s important to prepare your little one’s food using safe cooking practices to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

Wash your hands and switch cutting boards when handling raw meat to avoid cross contamination. Cook meats, fish, and eggs to safe temperatures — 145–165°F (62.8–73.9°C) — depending on the food (14).

Be sure to refrigerate food soon after finishing it to preserve it. It’s also a good practice to date leftovers so you know when to throw them away. Most food lasts a few days in the refrigerator or 1–2 months in the freezer (15).

Allergens

By the time your child reaches this age, you may have already begun to introduce some common allergens, such as peanut butter, eggs, and fish. If you haven’t yet, now is a great time, as introducing them earlier on may help prevent an allergy (16, 17, 18).

It’s a good idea to introduce allergens one at a time and wait a few days in between so that you can monitor your baby for any possible reaction (19).

Signs of an allergic reaction include (20):

  • wheezing or coughing
  • swelling in the lips or throat
  • a runny nose
  • itchy skin or a rash
  • diarrhea, vomiting, or other signs of stomach upset

If you notice any signs of a mild allergic reaction, such as a rash or upset stomach, call your pediatrician. Call 911 if the symptoms are more severe, such as if you suspect anaphylaxis, which usually involves wheezing, hives, drooling, and drowsiness (21).

Packaged foods

Offering packed foods to your baby can be a convenient way to feed them when you’re short on time. We recommend offering a variety of whole foods whenever possible, but having some packaged items in the pantry can come in handy.

When shopping for packaged baby-friendly foods, look for foods that are low in sodium, added sugars, additives, and preservatives. Additionally, be sure they don’t contain any of the foods that should be avoided in the first year, such as honey.

Lastly, remember that mealtimes should be a fun, low pressure experience. Try not to force your baby to eat more if they are showing signs of feeling full. If they refuse a food, you can try offering it again another time.

Repeated exposure to new foods and maintaining a low stress environment has been shown to promote food acceptance among little ones (22).

Summary

Properly handling, preparing, and storing foods for your baby will help prevent choking and possible foodborne illnesses. Do your best to keep mealtimes fun and relaxed, and let your baby take the lead on how much to eat.

With so many exciting changes and challenges that come with parenting, thinking about and preparing healthy meals and snacks for your 9-month-old baby can feel overwhelming.

By planning ahead and having some go-to meal ideas, you’ll be able to throw together a healthy, balanced plate for your little one in less time.

Preparing some food ahead of time and making your own meal baby-friendly will help save time and the stress of putting together more than one meal.

While 9-month-olds can eat most of the foods you eat, some foods should be avoided, including honey, salt, added sugars, and undercooked or unpasteurized foods.

Properly handling, cooking, and storing your baby’s food will significantly decrease the risk of them experiencing a foodborne illness. Be sure to cut your little one’s food into safe shapes and offer appropriate textures to reduce their choking risk.

Just one thing

Try this today: Combine 1 pound (0.45 kg) of ground meat (chicken, turkey, beef, or pork), 1/2 cup (45 grams) of oat flour, 1 egg, and 2 teaspoons of dried oregano.

Roll the mixture into meatballs and place them on a greased baking sheet in the oven at 400°F (204°C) for 20–25 minutes, or until they’re fully cooked.

Freeze them and defrost 1 or 2 at a time when you need a quick protein source for your little one.

menu for a week, diet for a 9 month old baby with artificial and breastfeeding

Published: 06/20/2020

Reading time: 5 min.

Number of reads: 219168

The author of the article: Ponomareva Yuliya Vladimirovna

Pediatrician, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Allergist-Immunologist

Your baby is 9 months old, and it's time to adjust his nutrition again. The activity of digestive enzymes is already high, teeth erupt in the crumbs, and the volume of the stomach becomes larger, which determines the possibility of increasing the amount of food per feeding and further expanding the diet. What can a child eat at 9months?" - this question very often worries the parents of a grown baby. By this age, the baby's nutrition already includes all the main food groups, and parents should try to diversify the child's menu, expanding the range of his taste sensations. In addition, a varied diet naturally provides a wide range of nutrients. Let's focus on the main food groups that should be on the menu of a 9-month-old baby.

Contents: 9-month-old baby is not enough, so mother's milk should now be no more than a third of the diet. It is best to leave breastfeeding (HF) before bed at night, as well as immediately after waking up in the morning. If the baby is formula-fed, an adapted formula for babies over 6 months of age can be offered at these meals.

See also: Complementary foods and dishesmonths in an amount of at least 200 grams per day. It is a source of minerals, vegetable fibers and organic acids. The assortment of vegetables is very wide, which allows them to be evenly distributed throughout the week. In addition to potatoes, zucchini, cabbage, carrots - traditional vegetable complementary foods for children in the second half of life, pumpkin, beets, spinach and tomatoes can be used in the nutrition of a 9-month-old baby. At this age, if the baby is not worried about excessive bloating, the diet can be diversified with legumes. Start with mashed green peas as a side dish with a meat dish or as an addition to a vegetable soup for dinner.

Fruit and berry complementary foods

Fruits and berries have low nutritional value, but, despite this, they are actively used in the daily diet of a 9-month-old child. Fruits are rich in natural sugars and have an attractive aroma that enhances the palatability of many dishes and is liked by kids. In addition, such food is a source of valuable minerals, organic acids and fiber, which determines its biological significance. It is optimal to include a fruit and berry component 3-4 times a day, it can be a fruit dessert for an afternoon snack, an additional component in the composition of porridge or a curd dish. Every day, a baby can consume up to 90 grams of fruit. By 9 months, it is already permissible for a child to give garden and wild berries, bananas, plums and apricots. Expand the fruit menu consistently and take your time to introduce foods with high allergenic potential, such as citrus fruits, melons, strawberries and exotic fruits.

Grain-based complementary foods

Grain-based foods continue to be the most important source of nutrition and energy for a 9-month-old baby. By this age, the assortment of cereals is increasing, on the basis of which you can cook porridge for your baby. In addition to traditional buckwheat, rice, corn, oat and wheat groats, you can expand the diet with multi-cereal porridge, which may also include rye, barley and millet. When choosing a method for preparing porridge, preference should be given to industrial products. In addition to guaranteed environmental and microbiological safety, the enriched composition provides a daily supply of vitamins and minerals. AT 9months, the child can already eat bread and special baby biscuits without prior dissolution. It is preferable to use wheat bread, no more than 10 grams per day. It is better to dry it before use for easier digestion. Children's cookies are not only a delicacy and a source of energy for the baby, the multi-cereal composition and enrichment with a vitamin and mineral premix favorably distinguishes this healthy food product from traditional bakery products.

Meat food

By the age of 9 months, the baby is already well acquainted with meat complementary foods, and he already has favorite combinations with vegetable and cereal products. What changes await him during this period? The development of the maxillofacial apparatus makes it possible to move from puree-like grinding of meat to various options for meatballs and steam cutlets. In the daily menu, meat complementary foods should be at least 60 grams. In addition to beef and veal, turkey, chicken and rabbit, the baby can be offered dishes based on pork, lamb and horse meat. Meat lure is a traditional lunchtime meal. This feeding accounts for up to 40% of the energy needs of the baby, which is satisfied by a rational combination of vegetables, meat and grains.

Fish

At 9 months, a new food product appears in the baby's diet - fish. In addition to easily digestible protein, it is a valuable source of iodine, fluorine, phosphorus, iron, zinc and magnesium, as well as a number of vitamins. In the diet of young children, ocean fish is primarily used. This variety is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3, which are extremely important for the functional maturation of the central nervous system and the formation of the retina. However, fish protein is a powerful allergen, so this type of complementary food should be introduced with caution. Start with a teaspoon of fish puree at lunchtime and keep a close eye on changes in your baby's health. In the next two days, do not give the child any new foods so that there is no doubt about the tolerance of the product. Within a month, the amount of fish puree can be gradually increased to 30 grams, but introduced into the menu no more than 1-2 times a week.

Sour-milk products

Specialized non-adapted sour-milk drinks (kefir, yogurt, biolact) can be used in a 9-month-old baby's diet. Unlike whole cow's milk, the protein and lactose in them are partially split, which determines their better digestibility, low allergenicity and a slight burden on the kidneys, provided that they consume no more than 200 ml per day. The most preferred choice among the products of this group are drinks based on probiotic cultures, which have a positive effect on their own intestinal microbiota. Cottage cheese is a valuable source of calcium and a complete protein in terms of amino acid composition. AT 9months, it is given to a child in an amount of not more than 50 grams per day in combination with a fruit, vegetable or cereal filler.

Fats

Butter is added to prepared meals in the amount of 5 grams per day, improving the taste of prepared complementary foods, as well as increasing their nutritional and energy value. Vegetable oils are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, so they should also be present in the baby's daily menu at 5 grams per day as an additive to meat, vegetable or fish dishes.

Drinks

Babies meet their physiological fluid needs through mother's milk or adapted formula. But at 9 months, the consumption of mother's milk is noticeably reduced, so it is necessary that the baby receive other drinks. If your child is thirsty, encourage him to drink baby water. The balanced mineral composition and the absence of sugars make it the best option for satisfying fluid needs. Water should be drunk between meals so as not to overload the digestion process. To diversify the diet, you can use specialized children's tea based on extracts of herbs and dried fruits. The pleasant taste of such drinks is combined with a calming and normalizing effect on the digestion process.

How to make a diet for the day

The standard diet at 9 months includes 5-6 meals. Each of them is necessary for the even distribution of all nutrients and ensuring vigorous activity during the daytime and a full healthy sleep at night. The table shows an approximate menu for one day for a healthy baby of 9 months.

Eating

900

Vegetable puree (zucchini+colored cabbage)/olive oil/yolk

100/2/2/10

Meat steamy cutlet

9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000

Dried wheat bread

50003

Breast milk/adapted formula

200

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Diet for a 4-6 month old baby

Your baby is already 4 months old. He has noticeably grown up, become more active, is interested in objects that fall into his field of vision, carefully examines and reaches for them. The emotional reactions of the child have become much richer: he joyfully smiles at all the people whom he often sees more and more often, makes various sounds.

You are still breastfeeding or have had to switch to formula or formula feeding. The child is actively growing, and only with breast milk or infant formula, he can no longer always get all the necessary nutrients. And that means it's time to think about complementary foods.

The optimal time to start its introduction is between 4 and 6 months, regardless of whether the baby is receiving breast milk or formula. This is the time when children respond best to new foods. Up to 4 months, the child is not yet ready to perceive and digest any other food. And with the late introduction of complementary foods - after 6 months, children already have significant deficiencies of individual nutrients and, first of all, micronutrients (minerals, vitamins, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, etc. ). In addition, toddlers at this age often refuse new foods, they have delayed development of chewing skills for thick foods, and inadequate eating habits are formed. It is important to know that, no matter how strange it may seem at first glance, with a delayed appointment of complementary foods, allergic reactions more often occur on them.

When is it advisable to introduce complementary foods as early as 4 months, and when can you wait until 5.5 or even 6 months? To resolve this issue, be sure to consult a pediatrician.

As a rule, at an earlier age (4 - 4.5 months), complementary foods are introduced to children at risk of developing iron deficiency anemia, as well as children with insufficient weight gain and with functional digestive disorders.

The optimal time to start complementary foods for a healthy baby is between 5 and 5.5 months of age.

The World Health Organization recommends that breastfed babies should be introduced to complementary foods from 6 months of age. From the point of view of domestic pediatricians, which is based on extensive practical experience and scientific research, this is possible only in cases where the child was born on time, without malnutrition (since in these cases the mineral reserves are very small), he is healthy, grows well and develops. In addition, the mother should also be healthy, eat well and use either specialized enriched foods for pregnant and lactating women, or vitamin and mineral complexes in courses. Such restrictions are associated with the depletion of iron stores even in a completely healthy child by 5-5.5 months of age and a significant increase in the risk of anemia in the absence of complementary foods rich or fortified with iron. There are other deficits as well.

The first complementary food can be vegetable puree or porridge, fruit puree is better to give the baby later - after tasty sweet fruits, children usually eat vegetable puree and cereals worse, often refuse them altogether.

Where is the best place to start? In cases where the child has a tendency to constipation or he puts on weight too quickly, preference should be given to vegetables. With a high probability of developing anemia, unstable stools and small weight gains - from baby cereals enriched with micronutrients. And if you started introducing complementary foods with cereals, then the second product will be vegetables and vice versa.

If the first complementary food is introduced at 6 months, it must be baby porridge enriched with iron and other minerals and vitamins, the intake of which with breast milk is no longer enough.

Another important complementary food product is mashed meat. It contains iron, which is easily absorbed. And adding meat to vegetables improves the absorption of iron from them. It is advisable to introduce meat puree to a child at the age of 6 months. Only the daily use of children's enriched porridge and meat puree can satisfy the needs of babies in iron, zinc and other micronutrients.

But it is better to introduce juices later, when the child already receives the main complementary foods - vegetables, cereals, meat and fruits. After all, complementary foods are needed so that the baby receives all the substances necessary for growth and development, and there are very few in their juices, including vitamins and minerals.

Juices should not be given between feedings, but after the child has eaten porridge or vegetables with meat puree, as well as for an afternoon snack. The habit of drinking juice between meals leads to frequent snacking in the future, a love of sweets is instilled, children have more tooth decay and an increased risk of obesity.

With the start of the introduction of complementary foods, the child is gradually transferred to a 5-time feeding regimen.

Rules for the introduction of complementary foods:

  • preference should be given to baby products of industrial production, they are made from environmentally friendly raw materials, have a guaranteed composition and degree of grinding
  • Complementary foods should be offered to the baby by spoon at the start of feeding, before breastfeeding (formula feeding)
  • the volume of the product increases gradually, starting with ½ - 1 spoon, and in 7 - 10 days we bring it to the age norm, subsequent products within the same group (cereals from other cereals or new vegetables)
  • can be entered faster, in 5 - 7 days
  • start introduction with monocomponent products
  • it is undesirable to give a new product in the afternoon, it is important to follow how the child reacts to it
  • new products are not introduced in the event of acute illnesses, and before and immediately after prophylactic vaccination (should be abstained for several days)

When introducing a new type of complementary food, first try one product, gradually increasing its amount, and then gradually “dilute” this product with a new one. For example, vegetable complementary foods can be started with a teaspoon of zucchini puree. During the week, give the baby only this product, gradually increasing its volume. After a week, add a teaspoon of mashed broccoli or cauliflower to the zucchini puree and continue to increase the total volume every day. Vegetable puree from three types of vegetables will be optimal. The portion should correspond to the age norm. Over time, you can replace the introduced vegetables with others faster.

After the introduction of one vegetable (bringing its volume to the required amount), you can proceed to the intake of porridge, and diversify the vegetable diet later.

If the child did not like the dish, for example, broccoli, do not give up and continue to offer this vegetable in a small amount - 1-2 spoons daily, you can not even once, but 2-3 times before meals, and after 7 - 10, and sometimes 15 days, the baby will get used to the new taste. This diversifies the diet, will help to form the right taste habits in the baby.

Spoon-feeding should be done with patience and care. Forced feeding is unacceptable!

In the diet of healthy children, porridge is usually introduced after vegetables (with the exception of healthy breastfed children, when complementary foods are introduced from 6 months). It is better to start with dairy-free gluten-free cereals - buckwheat, corn, rice. At the same time, it is important to use porridge for baby food of industrial production, which contains a complex of vitamins and minerals. In addition, it is already ready for use, you just need to dilute it with breast milk or the mixture that the baby receives.

Children suffering from food allergies are introduced complementary foods at 5-5.5 months. The rules for the introduction of products are the same as for healthy children, in all cases it is introduced slowly and begins with hypoallergenic products. Be sure to take into account individual tolerance. The difference is only in the correction of the diet, taking into account the identified allergens. From meat products, preference should first be given to mashed turkey and rabbit.

Diets for different age periods

Explain how you can make a diet, it is better to use a few examples that will help you navigate in compiling a menu specifically for your child.

From 5 months, the volume of one feeding is on average 200 ml.

Option 1.

If your baby started receiving complementary foods from 4-5 months, then at 6 months his diet should look like this:

Breast milk or VHI* 200 ml
II feeding
10 hours 		Dairy-free porridge**
Supplementation with breast milk or VHI* 		150 g
50 ml
III feeding
14 hours 		Vegetable puree
Meat puree Vegetable oil
Supplemental breast milk or VHI* 		150 g
5 - 30 g
1 tsp
30 ml
IV feeding
18 hours 		Fruit puree
Breast milk or VHI* 		60 g
140 ml
V feeding
22 hours 		Breast milk or VHI* 200 ml

* - infant formula
** - diluted with breast milk or VHI

Option 2.

I feeding
6 hours Breast milk or VHI* 200 ml II feeding
10 hours Dairy-free porridge**
Fruit puree 150 g
20 g III feeding
14 hours Vegetable puree
Meat puree Vegetable oil
Fruit juice 150 g
5 - 30 g
1 tsp
60 ml IV feeding
18 hours Fruit puree
Breast milk or VHI* 40 g
140 ml V feeding
22 hours Breast milk or VHI* 200 ml

* - infant formula
** - diluted with breast milk or VHI

Option 3. :

I feeding
6 hours 		Breast milk
II feeding
10 hours 		Dairy-free porridge**
Breast milk supplement 		100 g
III feeding
14 hours 		Vegetable puree
Meat puree Vegetable oil
Breast milk supplement 		100 g
5 - 30 g
1 tsp
IV feeding
18 hours 		Breast milk
V feeding
22 hours 		Breast milk

** - diluted with breast milk

Up to 7 months, increase the volume of porridge and vegetable puree to 150 g and introduce fruit puree.

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