6-9 Months Feeding Guide

Discover how much to feed your 6-9 month old with this infant feeding guide. Learn about portions and types of food for a baby at this age. The amount and type of food your baby eats will vary.

AGES & STAGES

Infant hunger cues

Shows likes and dislikes for foods

Enjoys holding food and finger-feeding

Opens mouth wide when offered food on spoon

How much should an infant eat?

Liquid

• Breast milk

• Infant formula, iron-fortified

Liquid intake:

• About 32 fl oz/day (4-5 feedings)

Solid

• Iron-fortified infant cereal

• Cooked meat, fish, poultry, legumes

• Cooked vegetables (carrots, peas, sweet potato)

• Peeled, cooked or ripe fruit (banana, kiwi, apple, avocado)

Solid food intake:

• 1-2 Tbsp per serving 2-3 times/day (Ensure texture is right)

Consistency

• Crunchy but easy to dissolve

• Mashed with tiny soft lumps

• Finely chopped

Key Nutrients

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DHA
Docosahexaenoic Acid
DHA is an Omega-3 fat found in your baby's brain and important for their normal brain and eye development. By your baby's 2nd birthday, most of their brain growth will have already occurred.

Tip
If using an infant formula, use a formula that has DHA. Once on solids, fatty fish is another excellent source of DHA for your baby.

Average DHA amount in breast milk:
0.32% of total fatty acids
Iron
Iron is essential for your baby's physical and mental growth, and as they grow, they need more to meet their nutritional needs. Once your baby is on solids, make sure you provide iron rich foods.

Tip
Iron from animal products, especially meat, is absorbed more easily than from other sources. Vitamin C also helps absorption of iron from plant sources.

Iron recommendation:
0-6 months: 0.27 mg/day
Calcium
Your baby needs calcium for healthy development, especially of their bones and teeth.

Tip
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends not introducing cow's milk until 12 months of age.

Calcium recommendation:
0-6 months: 200mg/day

Introducing Solid Foods

When and How

At 6 months, you can begin introducing iron rich solid foods one at a time. Wait a least 2 days after each to identify which foods your baby won't tolerate well. The amount they drink will naturally decrease as their solid food intake increases.

Tip

For up to 9 to 12 months, your baby will get most of their nutrients from breast milk or formula. As your baby is learning to eat a variety foods with different textures, think of solids as a complement to their diet.

Preventing Choking

Start with nearly liquid foods, then gradually introduce foods with thicker textures. Always supervise infants when they're eating.

Tip

Avoid foods like nuts, raw carrots, popcorn, hard, sticky or round candy, raisins, hot dogs and whole grapes.

Foods to Avoid

• All infants: Sugary drinks or foods

• Infants under 1: Honey (risk of botulism)

Tip

Limit fruit juice as it may take the place of more nutrient-rich foods. Give only if baby is older than 6 months and drinking from a cup. Limit to 4-6 fl oz per day.

Breast milk provides the optional nutrition for your baby.

How to tell if your baby is getting enough to eat:

• 4-5 wet diapers a day
• As they begin to eat more solid foods, the amount of breast milk needed will likely decrease in both frequency and amount

Tips
• Lactating women should have at least 200 mg of DHA/day^†. Eat foods rich in DHA, especially fatty fish such as salmon, to support your baby’s normal brain and eye development.^§
• All breastfed infants should receive a daily Vitamin D supplement of 400 IU (10 μg) until their diet provides it.

* Average amount of DHA and ARA in worldwide breast milk is 0.32% and 0.47% (mean ± standard deviation of total fatty acids) based on an analysis of 65 studies of 2,474 women).
† Koletzko B et al. J Perinat. Med. 2008;36:5-14.
§ For example, herring, mackerel, pollock, salmon and shrimp. Visit the FDA website for advice regarding eating fish.