How many jars of baby food at 7 months

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.

How Much Baby Food Your Baby Should Be Eating- A Guide

You’re wondering about the above statement aren’t you? Ask the vast majority of pediatricians and they will all say, “Feed your baby as much as your baby will eat”.

One of the caveats when feeding your baby solid foods is that that you ensure that your baby is still receiving proper amounts of breast milk and/or formula. Solid foods in the early stage are meant for practice. Solids are not meant to provide for baby’s nutrition as breast milk and/or formula are.

How much solid food a baby will be eating depends on a variety of different things.

Don’t forget that your baby is a little human being, and like all of us, she has her own appetite. This will influence to how much solid foods she will be eating. As with adults, some babies will eat more than others due to their individual appetites. Below are a few key points to remember when feeding your baby.

A baby who began solid foods at 4 months of age will most likely be eating more solid foods than the baby who began to eat solid foods at 6 months old.
A baby who is eating soft diced foods as beginner foods may seem to eat less than the baby who is being spoon-fed purées.
A baby who is ill or teething may eat less than what has been typical for a few days and then suddenly the typical appetite comes roaring back.
An infant who is busy exploring the carpet or the new soft-book she has received may be miffed when she is put into a high chair and offered food.

The natural slow down of growth that babies go through will also influence how much they eat. They may be ravenous for a few days or a week or two and then suddenly, they are barely eating. Babies who are coming out of a growth spurt will tend to eat less than they were during the growth spurt.

How do I know if my baby is eating enough solid food?

As all pediatricians will tell you ” Your baby will never starve himself or herself! ” The majority of healthy babies will eat just the right amount of foods that they need. Resist the urge to offer “just one more bite” when baby indicates she’s finished. You do not want to accidentally override your baby’s developing ability to self-regulate his or her feeding by continuing to try and feed your baby. It is important to pay close attention to your baby’s cues as your baby’s feeding patterns will change daily and may be affected by the goings-on around him.

Offering a well balanced diet of solid foods will help ensure that your baby is eating the right amount of the right nutritious foods.

Example feeding “schedule” of solid foods

REMEMBER: 1 ounce equals approximately 2 tablespoons

Before 4 Months:

According to the CDC, babies before 4 months of age should not be fed solid baby foods. Infants should be able to sit up on their own and take food off the spoon before being introduced to solids
Why can’t we give baby younger than 4 months solids? According to Dr. Alice Kuo of UCLA, “Introducing solid foods early means that the baby gets less breast milk over the course of their infancy, and that decreases the ability to get optimal benefits, like protection against infection,”

What to Feed Baby:

Breast milk or formula
Breastfeed every 1-3 hours or Formula 18-40 ounces

4-6 Months:

If baby can sit up on their own and still seems hungry after breastfeeding, baby may be ready to start eating solids! Baby should be able to hold their head up, close their mouth around a spoon and “move” the food to the back of their mouth.

What to Feed Baby:

Breast milk or formula AND
1-3 tablespoons of food at 1 or 2 “meals”

Click here to learn what foods you can introduce to a 4-6 month baby

6-8 Months:

Formula and/or Breast Milk is still most important at this age and stage. Babies in this range may be just starting solids so the above for 4-6 Months would apply. Some babies may be eating up to 8 ounces of solid foods between 2-3 “meals” during a day.

What to Feed Baby:

Breast milk or formula AND
Foods in this chart for solids OK to give baby 6-8 months, 2-3 “meals” a day

Click here to learn what solid foods you can introduce to a 6-8 month baby

8 to 10 months:

Many babies will be eating 3 “meals” per day at this stage; including a grain, fruit, veggie and a meat or protein source such as eggs.

Again, pay close attention to your baby’s cues as your baby’s feeding patterns will change daily and may be affected by the goings-on around him. Your baby will eat just the right amount for YOUR baby.

What to Feed Baby:

Breast milk or formula AND
Foods in this chart for solids OK to give baby 6-8 months, 3 “meals” a day

Click here to lean what solid foods you can introduce to a 8 to 10 month baby

10 to 12 months:

Many babies will be eating 3 “meals” per day at this stage; including a grain, fruit, veggie and a meat or protein source such as eggs.

What to Feed Baby:

Breast milk or formula AND
Foods in this chart for solids OK to give baby 10-12 months, 3 “meals” a day

Click here to lean what solid foods you can introduce to a 10 to 12 month baby

Here are a few things to watch for to ensure that you are not over or under feeding your baby:

Signs that baby may want to continue to eat

Leaning in for the spoon
Opening the mouth
Grabbing for food and trying to put it in the mouth

Signs that your baby may be full

Closing of the mouth as the spoon comes close
Spitting out the food that is being fed
Turning the head away as the spoon comes closer

A healthy well-fed baby should be producing wet diapers regularly as well as producing a bowel movement or two during the day.

Ensure that you take your baby to the well-child visits as scheduled so that your pediatrician may weigh and measure baby to ensure that your baby has good sustained growth.

If you are ever uncertain about the foods and the amount of solid foods you are feeding your baby, always consult your baby’s pediatrician. Your pediatrician should be able to assist you in validating your feeding routines and also help allay your fears.

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.

No two babies will eat the exact same amounts (or foods!) The amount that each eats is just right for that 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

Follow Your Baby’s Cues When Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods

Following your baby’s cues during feeding time will ensure that your baby is eating the proper amounts of food for him or her.

There is no “set-in-stone” guideline or chart of exactly how many jars of baby food or how many 8 ounce bottles of formula each baby should be receiving. This is simply because each and every baby is different. Babies will eat as much food and drink as much breast milk and/or formula as they need.

For example: You may wonder how it is possible that your friend’s 7 month old baby is eating 2 whole jars of baby food (8-9 oz) in one day while your 7 month old baby barely manages to eat 3 or 4 baby food cubes (3-4 oz) of food per day. You may also wonder why your baby nurses every 2 hours at 7 months old while your friend’s baby may only nurse every 3 or 4 hours. Again, each baby has different food and milk needs and these needs are just right for the individual baby.

Diet for a child aged 7 months

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 chicken 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 child aged 7 months.

I feeding 6 hours	Breast milk or VHI*	200 ml
II feeding 10 hours	Dairy-free or milk porridge ** Butter Boiled egg yolk Supplementation with breast milk or VHI	150 g about ½ tsp. ¼ pcs 50 ml
III feeding 14 hours	Vegetable puree Vegetable oil Meat puree Fruit juice	170 g approx. 1 tsp. 30 g 70 ml
IV feeding 18 hours	Fruit puree Baby biscuits Breast milk supplement or VHI	70 g 1-2 pcs 130 ml
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.

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 approx. 1 tsp. 70 g
III feeding 14 hours	Vegetable puree Vegetable oil Meat puree (rabbit, turkey)	170 g approx. 1 tsp. 30 g
IV feeding 18 hours	Vegetables or dairy-free porridge** Vegetable oil Meat puree	180 g approx. 1 tsp. 20 g
V feeding 22 hours	Breast milk or medicated formula for infants with cow's milk protein intolerance	200 ml

* - dairy-free porridge should be diluted with breast milk or formula for children with intolerance to cow's milk proteins.
** - you can either alternate porridge or vegetables, or offer a mixed dish - porridge with vegetables.

From 4 to 6 months

Breast milk is the best food for your baby.
It is very important that the baby consumes breast milk for as long as possible.

Correct age to start complementary foods

Complementary foods are recommended to be introduced into the baby's diet no earlier than 4 months, but no later than 6 months*. At this age, the baby is in the active phase of development and reacts with curiosity to everything new! Some babies at 4 to 5 months of age can no longer satisfy their appetite with breast milk alone and need complementary foods for healthy growth. Other children have enough breast milk, and they are ready for the introduction of complementary foods only after 6 months. The decision to start complementary foods should always be made according to your baby's development. Do you feel like your baby is not getting enough breast milk? Does your baby hold his head on his own, show interest in new foods or a spoon? Then it's time to start feeding. If in doubt, consult your pediatrician.

If your baby spits out the first spoonfuls of puree, be patient. After all, he must first learn to swallow it. Start with a few scoops and give your child time to get used to the new form of feeding.

*Recommendation of the Nutrition Committee of the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN)

Why is complementary food so important for the baby?

After 4-6 months of life, mother's milk or milk formula alone is not enough to supply the child's body with all the nutrients and energy it needs. In addition, the transition to solid food trains the muscles of the mouth. And finally, with the introduction of complementary foods, the child will get acquainted with the variety of taste directions, which is also important for his development.

When to start complementary foods?

Gradually replace one breastfeed with complementary foods. First for lunch, then for dinner and finally for lunch. The mouse eats breakfast with the usual dairy food.

Starting complementary foods with HiPP products is easy. The first spoonfuls will be vegetable or fruit purees HiPP:

First step: lunch

We recommend that you start complementary foods at lunchtime with HiPP vegetable puree (for example, "Zucchini. My first puree", "Cauliflower. My first puree" or "Broccoli .My first puree"). Then, for satiety, feed your baby as always: breast or bottle. The amount of vegetable puree can be increased daily by 1 spoon. Be patient if your baby does not immediately love vegetables. Try repeating the vegetable puree in the following days. Next week, you can expand your diet with other varieties of HiPP vegetables (for example, "Carrots. My first puree" or "Potatoes. My first puree").

If your baby tolerates vegetables well, in the third week you can introduce grain porridge into the diet, and as a dessert, offer a few spoons of fruit puree enriched with vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to better absorb iron in the body.

Once your baby starts eating a whole serving of mashed potatoes for lunch, you can eliminate breast milk or formula during that meal.