So your baby began eating solid foods a few months ago and you’re looking for a 9 month old meal plan. Welcome! You’re in the right place.
Introducing new foods is a super exciting time, but I vividly remember realllllly wanting to get my hands on a 9 month old meal plan. Any sample schedules for eating and sleeping are so helpful at ANY age. It is always nice to get an inside look into what the day in the life of a baby should look like. We all want to know that our babies are getting exactly what they need AND that they are getting the essential nutrients.
There is something quite intimidating about nourishing your little bundle of joy. Of course, you want to introduce them to a variety of foods they will love and crave more of. There is SO much to learn during that first year. So allow me to make feeding your baby at 9 months a little bit more simple.
Besides 9 month old meal plan ideas, you are also getting nutritious food ideas, what the diet of a 9 month old should look like, foods to avoid, helpful reminders, and more!
Before we dive in… do you have the LifeVac? This is something I bought BEFORE introducing my baby to solids. I promise it will give you SUCH peace of mind. God forbid your baby chokes on their food. Having a product that can literally save their life is critical. I have not had to use mine and hope to never have to. But you just never know. Choking does happen and having a LifeVac to clear their tiny airway is crucial. If you don’t have one, buy one now.
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9 Month Old Meal Plan
Nutrition for a 9 Month Old Baby
Let’s chat about your baby’s diet at 9 months. Breastmilk or formula should be your child’s main source of nutrition. Solid food should ALSO be added to your child’s everyday routine.
At 9 months your little darling should be getting between 750-900 calories a day. 400-500 should be coming from breast milk or formula.
When first introduced to solids, babies will typically use their whole hand to reach for food. At around 9-10 months old, your baby will begin developing their pincer grasp.
This is an important milestone where they can use their thumb and index finger to pinch an object. At this time they can grasp or pinch their food.
With this being said, your baby has likely graduated from purees to small pieces or finger foods. Or maybe you jumped into baby-led weaning from the very beginning.
Baby Food Chart by Age
Having a baby food chart by age is INCREDIBLY helpful. Around the 5-month mark, my pediatrician handed me a chart detailing what food to introduce and when. It was just okay. It didn’t make my type A super organized heart happy. So I created an even better one.
It even includes a note-taking section where you can jot down whether or not your babe liked the food and the date you introduced it. IT IS ALSO FREE.
So if you’re looking for help with meal plans for your little one, this free printable is perfect for you.
Click the post below to access the greatest baby food chart by age.
(RELATED POST: Informative Beginner’s Guide: Baby Food Chart by Age | This Will Help You Plan Mealtime)
How much solid food for 9 month old baby?
A 9-month-old baby should be getting 750-900 calories a day. HOWEVER, it is important to note that not all babies are the same.
Things also change from day to day. If your baby is feeling under the weather, you can expect their eating intake to be affected.
You may discover that your baby can really put it away and eat more than the caloric recommendation. Or maybe they eat less.
The BEST thing you can do is to regularly offer nutritious and healthy foods. Don’t stress if your baby pushes the food you offer away or doesn’t want what you’re offering.
Consistency is key. It can take SEVERAL introductions to a food before your baby agrees to try it or even likes it.
Pay close attention to your baby’s cues.
Here are signs that your baby is hungry:
- Reaches for food
- Points to food
- Opens mouth
- Face lights up when he or she sees food
- Signs/signals for more
Here are signs that your baby is full:
- Pushes food away
- Turns away from food
- Closes mouth when offered more food
- Signals all done
Ideas to Feed Your 9 Month Old
Of course, you’ll want to maintain a balanced feeding schedule (which we will get into below).
Here are some ideas to feed your 9 month old:
- Fruit-apricot, blueberries, papaya, grapes, melon, kiwi, mango, cherries, coconut, pineapple
- Vegetables- peas, beans, broccoli, zucchini, asparagus, cauliflower, bell pepper, spinach, okra
- Cereals/grains- quinoa, barley, oats, pasta, wheat
- Meat/dairy- salmon, light tuna, white fish, egg, beef, turkey, lamb, cheese
Add these to your 9 month old meal plan.
Did you remember to download your baby food chart by age free printable? Go ahead and grab it from the post below.
(RELATED: Informative Beginner’s Guide: Baby Food Chart by Age)
Food to Stay Away From
- Honey
- Raw or undercooked food
- Fish that are high in mercury
- Sugar
- Food high in salt
- Food high in sodium
- Cow or goat’s milk
- Unpasteurized food
- Saturated fat
- Choking hazards!
9 Month Old Meal Plan
Are you looking for ideas to feed your little one? Here are some low-prep and easy meal ideas!
Easily customize your baby’s 9 month old meal plan.
Our family enjoys these recipes. When feeding my babies, I leave out ingredients they shouldn’t have. Ingredients like brown sugar, salt, etc.
These recipes are easy to alter for kids.
Breakfast Ideas
Mini Buckwheat Banana Pancakes
Your baby won’t get enough of these mini buckwheat banana pancakes. They are sugar-free, egg-free, and gluten-free!
They also have no added sugar, making these a fantastic option for babies.
When making these for my baby, I leave out the pinch of salt.
Mini pancakes are perfect for babies.
Sourdough Banana Pancakes
All you need to whip up these irresistible sourdough banana pancakes are 3 ingredients. They are naturally sweet and quick to make.
I swear every mama needs a few great pancake recipes!
Spinach Pancakes
I love sneaking spinach into my kids’ pancakes. Hello omega 3’s, 6’s, and other great vitamins.
Give these healthy spinach pancakes a try!
Applesauce Overnight Oats
Can you tell we love our applesauce? Applesauce and oatmeal are the most brilliant combo.
Make your mornings easier with this applesauce overnight oats!
Cinnamon Spice Oatmeal
You can bet your baby will enjoy every bite of this cinnamon spice oatmeal.
We make it every week, sometimes even several times a week.
When my kids are just beginning solids, I leave out the maple syrup.
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Make this apple cinnamon oatmeal in just 10 minutes. I appreciate that oatmeal is so versatile.
For MY oatmeal I love to garnish it with brown sugar. For my baby, I leave out the sugar and keep it simple.
Your baby will love this creamy classic breakfast.
Snack Ideas
Easy Homemade Squeeze Pouches
Quick and easy snacks are a no-brainer. Instead of buying store-bought pouches, make these easy homemade squeeze pouches.
Simply prepare fruit, veggie, and yogurt pouches.
You will notice some recipes recommend honey. Do not feed your 9 month old baby honey. At this stage, I leave it out!
Slow Cooker Applesauce
I make this on repeat, ESPECIALLY during the fall.
Everything tastes better in the slow cooker, and this homemade applesauce is no different!
Pear Applesauce
If your baby is an applesauce fanatic like my kids are, I suggest preparing different applesauce variations.
This pear applesauce is so good. It will not disappoint. We love mixing this in with oatmeal or eating it as is.
Strawberry Jam
Your kids will love this strawberry jam AND it is made without pectin. All you need is a few simple ingredients. After making homemade jam, we have no plans to return to store-bought jam!
Since this jam is sugar-free, I feel good about serving this to my little ones.
To make some food a thinner consistency, I will add breastmilk.
Lunch & Dinner Ideas
Meatballs
These dairy-free and egg-free meatballs are simple and super yummy.
Ground beef, finely chopped onion, Italian seasoning, and boom! I like to make my kids meatballs miniature-sized.
Smashed Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes were my daughter’s first food and have remained her favorite as a toddler. Mashed, diced, smashed, she loves them however they are prepared.
Serve these smashed sweet potatoes to your little one and I am sure it will quickly become a favorite.
Even though the recipe calls for a small amount of sea salt (a teaspoon), I leave this out when preparing these for babies.
Easy Slow Cooker Refried Beans
Soft cooked beans are better to introduce to little ones, so why not try these easy slow cooker refried beans?
I am pretty certain this recipe will make everyone happy! When making these for my baby, I leave out the jalapeno.
Helpful Reminders
- Always supervise your babe while they are eating
- BUY THE LIFEVAC!
- Introduce one new food at a time. Wait 3-5 days before introducing another. This way, if your child has a food allergy, you can easily identify which food to avoid.
- Remember to avoid what is listed on the food to stay away from section above
- Use the app Solid Starts! This will remind you about when to introduce what food AND how to serve it to your child depending on their age.
- Use bibs that hold up well AND are easy to clean
- Stock up on great feeding sets
- Learn your baby’s hungry and full cues
- Teach your baby signs so they can easily communicate when they want more, milk, or they’re all done.
- Have fun!
This post was all about 9 month old meal plan.
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