It is important to note that not all babies will be eating the same amounts as others, nor will they be eating the same foods. This is due to the differing ages that babies start solid foods as well as the fact that all babies are not the same!

Do NOT feel as though your baby should be eating solid foods according to any schedule! Your baby will eat as much solid foods as your baby needs - trust your baby cues! Learn more about how to tell if Your Baby Is Ready For Solids

Breast Milk and/or Formula are THE MOST IMPORTANT sources of nutrition for your infant up to 12 months old!!  Do NOT replace a nursing or bottle-feeding with a solid food meal and do not feed the solids first until your pediatrician indicates this is right for your baby!! 

This menu sample is for example/idea purposes.  Always feed your baby according to his or her needs and cues and not strictly by any chart or schedule. 

Read our How Much Should My Baby Be Eating article to learn why your baby may eat more or less than others

All babies are different and your baby may eat more or less than what is shown on these example charts. This menu and sample schedule outlines examples and shows ideas for solid foods only.  It does not account for, nor does it list, total daily Breast Milk or Formula intake.   See a "Suggested "Milk" chart below. 

Many breastfeeding moms supplement with formula as their milk supply may be low for a variety of reasons.  We give kudos to those moms who continue to hang in there and offer their babies breast milk while supplementing!  Hooray for you!  You will find our menu samples include the use of both breast milk and formula, separately and together as a total "meal" solution!

As always, you should feed your baby according to his or her cues and needs!  Always consult your pediatrician if you are worried that your baby is not receiving proper amounts of either milk or solid foods.

Babies 0-3 Months of Age
Breakfast - Breast Milk and/or Formula
Lunch - Breast Milk and/or Formula
Dinner - Breast Milk and/or Formula
Notes: We have included the 3 basic "meals" for example purposes only and we do not suggest, nor do we imply, that you should limit your infant to 3 meals per day. ** At this age and stage, most infants are hungry continually and thus are fed "around the clock" and on demand. The best way to feed your infant is as often as your baby needs "on demand".

 

Babies (4) 6- 8 Months of Age
Early Morning Awakening - Breast Milk and/or Formula
Breakfast - Breast Milk and/or Formula first! Infant Cereal (Optional) - 1 food cube Fruit or Vegetable (Optional) - 1 food cube - serve mixed into the cereal or separately
Lunch - Breast Milk and/or Formula first! Infant Cereal (Optional) - 1 food cube Fruit or Vegetable (Optional) - 1 or 2 food cubes of each, or mix the cubes together; for example, apples and carrots are Yummy together! Feed with or without the cereal
Snack/Dinner Breast Milk and/or Formula first! Fruit or Vegetable (Optional) - 1 food cube
Notes: Feeding Hints: Start out slowly, preparing a tablespoon sized portion of whatever food you have chosen to begin with. You will probably only manage to have baby eat 1/2 of the tablespoon sized portion the very first times you begin solids. As your baby becomes accustomed to eating solids, you will gradually increase the portion sizes. Pushing Food Out of the Mouth: Many parents find their babies will push the food out of their mouths on the first few tries. This is normal however, it may also indicate that your baby is not yet ready for solid food; only you know your baby and will be able to decide if baby is truly ready for solids.  ** (Optional) accounts for the fact that not all babies between (4)6-8 months of age will be eating "meals" of any or all of the suggested foods at a given mealtime **

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

A baby who began solid foods at 4 months of age will 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. 

How much solid foods a baby will be eating is simply the individual baby's appetite! As with adults, some babies will eat more than others due to their individual appetites.

Read More!  How Much Baby Food Should My Baby Be Eating?

Babies 8-12 Months of Age
Early Morning Awakening - Breast Milk and/or Formula
Breakfast - Breast Milk and/or Formula first! Infant Cereal - 1 food cube Fruit or Vegetable - 2 or 3 food cubes Dairy (Optional) - Yogurt - 1 or 2 food cube sized portions (or about 2 tablespoons) Read about Introducing Yogurt to Your Baby
Lunch - Breast Milk and/or Formula first! Infant Cereal or Other Grain - (Optional) (i.e. pasta, rice) - 1 or 2 food cubes Meat/Meat-Protein Alternate - (Optional) 1 or 2 food cubes Fruit or Vegetable - 2 or 3 food cubes of each or mix the cubes together with the Grain Example: Rice mixed with Peas served with Pear Sauce on the side Dairy (Optional) - Yogurt or Cheeses *A Lunch of Fruits, Veggies and a Protein without grains is an option. A Lunch of a Grain with Fruits and Veggies without a protein is also an option.
Snack/Dinner Breast Milk and/or Formula first! Grain (Optional) (i.e. pasta, rice) - 1 or 2 food cubes Meat/Meat Alternate - (Optional) - 1 food cube Fruit and/or Vegetable - 2 or 3 food cubes of each or mix the cubes together Example: Tofu mixed with Avocado served with Applesauce & Blueberries on the side Dairy - Yogurt or Cheeses (Optional)
Notes: Breast Milk and/or Formula are THE MOST IMPORTANT source of nutrition for your infant up to 12 months old!! Solids play a larger nutritional roll between 9-10 months old. Do NOT replace a nursing or bottle-feeding with a solid food meal and do not feed the solids first: until you thoroughly discuss a new feeding schedule with your pediatrician and until your pediatrician indicates that replacing "milk" with solid food feeding(s) is right for your baby!! 3 Meals a Day? We would like to point out that many infants are not ready to eat 3 "meals" per day until well into the 9-10 month range. Still, many babies may begin 3 "meals" at 7-8 months old.  Please keep in mind that many infants do not begin solids until 6 months of age and not all babies will be eating the same amounts or food items. There are many infants who may eat 4-6 ounces of food per day at 6 or 7 months old while others who are just starting solids will be within the 1-2 ounce range. These menus are to serve as examples of an infant's menu and schedule. The menus recommend meals based on age-ranges. You should follow the menu ideas in keeping with your infant's development and eating habits as well as your pediatrician's advice. ** (Optional) accounts for the fact that not all babies between (4)6-8 months of age will be eating "meals" of any or all of the suggested foods at a given mealtime **

• • • •

Suggested Daily "Milk" Intakes

0-3 Months of age:
Breast feed every 1-3 hours or Formula 18-40 ounces

4-5 Months of age:
Breast feed every 2-4 hours or Formula 24-45 ounces

6-8 Months of age:
Breast feed every 3-4 hours or Formula 24-37 ounces

9-12 Months of age:
Breast feed every 4-5 hours or Formula 24-31 ounces

Whole Cow Milk should not be introduced until 12 months of age!

compiled from Merck Source

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More Baby Solid Food and Baby Food Recipe Topics Transitioning to Sippy Cups between ages 6 months to 12 months.   Solid Food Stages & Feeding First Solids Month Range of Feeding Stages & Tips for Feeding First Solid Foods Introducing Solid Foods by Age Chart for information about what food to avoid and what foods are appropriate for certain ages.   How Much Food Should Your Baby Eat? Not as much as you may be thinking! Read our article and ease your mind! Is My Baby Ready for Solids? Explore some key signs and points about the readiness for solid foods, weaning and complementary feedings! Baby's First Foods Homemade Recipes Yummy Homemade Baby Food Recipes for Baby's very first weaning foods!.

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