Creating a healthy and balanced 9 month old feeding schedule should be done with great care, taking every detail into account because everything matters during the early days of your newborn. There are a number of variables to think of such as what you should be feeding your baby, when, and how. Therefore, in this blog, we will be guiding you through the process of feeding your 9-month-old baby to give you all the information you need to do it correctly.
First of All, What Will You Feed Your Child?
Before trying to come up with the perfect 9 month old feeding schedule, you have to know what you’re allowed to feed your child, as well as how to introduce new foods to his digestive system. Let’s talk a little bit more in detail about that.
Breastfeeding or Formula?
If you're going natural and choose to breastfeed, you can keep breastfeeding for as long as you and your baby are feeling comfortable with it. You should breastfeed at least 8-12 times per day. On the other hand, if you're formula-feeding, you should stick with the appropriate amount that your pediatrician recommended. At this age, newborns typically drink between 24 and 32 ounces of formula each day.
Introducing Solids:
This is about the appropriate age to start introducing solid foods to your baby. Here’s a quick insight on how you can do this properly along with the recommended food options.
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For Starters, Try Single-ingredient Foods:
For 9 month old feeding, the ideal start would be with the single-grain baby cereal that includes added iron, like oatmeal or rice. To be cautious, you should start with a tiny quantity combined with formula or breast milk.
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Fruits and Vegetables:
Your little one's stomach is still very delicate, so, start introducing pureed fruits and vegetables to your baby one at a time. Bananas, apples, pears, sweet potatoes, carrots, and peas are typically what parents choose in the beginning. As for how to prepare them, it's fairly simple. You don't need to add anything to them, just steam or boil them until their texture is soft, then blend and mash them.
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Proteins:
9 month feeding should include proteins to provide your little one with the nutrition they need. It's the perfect age to start introducing pureed meats like beef, chicken, or turkey. And of course, let's not forget about eggs. You can offer your baby some mashed or diced-boiled eggs. Make sure that the texture of the food is soft enough for your baby to prevent any unfortunate choking accidents.
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Dairy Products:
Your baby needs their essential fats and calcium, so now is the perfect time to start feeding them plain, full-fat yogurt and some cottage cheese as well.
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Finger-sized Foods:
Introduce soft finger-sized foods to your baby as they become more comfortable with the process of chewing and swallowing. Some good examples of these foods are little bits of light cheese, mushy fruits, and well-cooked veggie pieces.
9 Month Old Eating Schedule:
With that being said, now is the time to move on to our main point. Let’s guide you through a sample schedule for 9 month old feeding to make the picture clearer for you.
- Morning:
Breakfast: Mix some iron-fortified cereal with breast milk or formula with a side of pureed or mashed fruits.
- Mid-morning:
Snack Time: Remember the finger-sized foods we mentioned earlier in the blog? Now is the time for some of them. After your baby is done with their snack, offer them some water from their sippy cup to keep them properly hydrated.
- Mid-noon:
- Afternoon:
- Evening:
Dinner: For dinner, you should offer your child 6-8 ounces of breast milk or formula, then some whole grain foods like well-cooked pasta or rice, after that, you can serve them some pureed fruits or veggies, and finally, a good source of protein well-chopped meat or mashed beans.
- Around Bedtime:
Before Bed: This one should be a light meal in order not to disturb your little one’s stomach. 6-8 ounces of breast milk or formula would be sufficient for this meal.
- Night Meals:
If your baby tends to wake up at night, you can offer them as much milk as they want until they go back to sleep.
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Final Thoughts:
In the end, we would like to note that when it comes to health-related matters, each body is different so please keep in mind that this is only a sample suggested schedule; you should modify it to suit your baby's particular requirements and preferences. Be mindful of your baby's body signals of hunger and fullness, and adjust the time and quantity of each meal as needed. Additionally, remember that your baby might not be comfortable eating certain foods, so keep an eye out for what they like and what they don’t. And finally, for more professional advice on your baby's growth and nutritional requirements, keep in contact with your child's pediatrician.
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