Sample Baby Food Menus & Baby Food Schedules for Baby 8-12 Months

The baby feeding menus below are designed to give you an idea of what babies may be eating
from 8 months to 12 months of age.

Wow! Your little one is quickly moving onto new foods, more meals and greater
independence. By this stage/time, she has now been introduced to a wider variety of
foods but please remember the 4 day wait rule.

There are still a variety of foods that your baby has not tried and adverse reactions are
still possible. At this point, you may have been gradually increasing the amount of solids
your baby eats as baby gets older and becomes accustomed to eating solid foods. Offer
your baby 1 or 2 food cubes of each item when your baby indicates she is ready for
more. You may also think about introducing finger foods and more textured table
foods at this age range.

It is important to note that even at this stage, not all babies between the age of 8-12
months old will be eating the same amounts nor will they be eating the same foods.
Again, due to the differing ages that babies start solid foods, some 10 month old babies
still may not have had dairy products for example. There are many infants that do not
start solids until 8 months of age and thus, this particular menu sample would not be
appropriate.

Following any chart or offered schedule may not be suitable for your baby. Our menu
sample is for example and idea purposes. The menus are geared to give you ideas of
what types of food you could serve at different meal times to get a good balance of
nutrients and variety. These menu suggestions assume that you have introduced the
stated foods and that you have waited the proper time period to detect an allergic
reaction.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
babys cues.

When you look at our sample menus, dont think about serving adult sized portions.
Your little one surely could not eat 1 cup of oatmeal with of a banana mashed into it
along with cup of yogurt for example. However, your little one might be able to eat
cup of oatmeal with a wee bit of banana mashed in with a small drizzle of yogurt to stir
in. We do not note amounts of foods because, as we say, all babies are different and
will be eating differing amounts of foods.

What is a Food Cube serving? A food cube is an ice cube sized serving. Each ice cube
is equal to approximately 1 ounce. There are approximately 2 tablespoons in an ounce.
Read the page How Much Should My Baby Be Eating 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.
How much food should your baby eat at a meal? What is a serving or portion size for a
baby?
Your Baby Should Be Eating as Much Solid Baby Food as Your Baby Will Eat.
How much solid food a baby will be eating depends on a variety of different things.

Dont 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 pures.

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 shes finished. You do not
want to accidentally override your babys 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 babys cues as your babys 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.

REMEMBER: 1 ounce equals approximately 2 tablespoons

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
8-10 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 babys cues as your babys 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

10-12 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.

Again, pay close attention to your babys cues as your babys 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 10-12 months, 3 meals a day

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 babys pediatrician. Your pediatrician should be able to
assist you in validating your feeding routines and also help allay your fears.

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

Follow Your Babys Cues When Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods

Following your babys 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 friends 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 friends 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.

Baby Constipation Its heartbreaking when baby is constipated.

Your baby hasnt had a bowel movement for 3 or more days is this normal or is this
constipation? Your babys infrequent bowel movements are hard and dry is this
normal or is this constipation? Find answers to these questions and learn all about
constipation and babies.

There are many causes of infant constipation. One of the most common causes of
constipation in babies is the introduction of solid foods.
Common Causes of Infant Constipation are:

Introduction of solid food(s) breastfed babies may be more prone

to constipation when solid foods are introduced. This is because their tiny
tummies are used to processing the easily and highly digestible mothers milk

Diets low in fiber

Diets of excessive dairy products (yogurt, cheeses, milk)

Foods such as Bananas, Applesauce, Cereals, Breads, Pasta and White

Potatoes may contribute or cause constipation

A change in diet usually relieves a baby with constipation. The following tips may also
help the constipated baby get things moving.

Remedies and How to Treat Constipation in Babies

There are many things you can do to help relieve babys constipation. You can change
babys feeding pattern and/or engage in some physical exercises.

Exercises to Help Relieve Infant Constipation include:

Tummy Massage Gently massage and rub babys tummy in a clockwise

direction. Place your hands at babys navel and massage in a circular motion,
moving your hand(s) out and away from the center of babys belly.

Bicycle Legs Place your baby on her back and lightly hold her legs in a half-
bent position. Gently begin to move your babys legs as if she is riding a bicycle.
Alternate Bicycle Legs with Tummy Massage. *Bicycle Legs also may help to
relieve a baby who is gassy.

A Warm Bath Some medical professionals suggest giving your constipated

baby a warm bath. The thought is that this may help relax baby and get things
moving again. Give a tummy massage as you are drying baby.

Relieving Constipation in Babies Younger than 4 Months:

Try giving one to two ounces of diluted fruit juice such as grape, prune or apple-prune
twice daily and practice some of the above exercises. (Always consult your
pediatrician about the appropriateness of new foods/liquids to help alleviate
constipation) Learn about Fruit Juice in your babys diet.

Relieving Constipation in Babies 4 Months to 12 months + by Changing the Food Diet

Adding more fiber to babys diet may help get things moving again. Try strained foods
that contain high fiber such as:

apricots pears

prunes peas

peaches spinach
 plums

For older infants who are just beginning solid foods, you may want to avoid baby foods
such as rice cereal, applesauce and bananas as these may aggravate constipation.

Get the BRAT Out!

If your baby is constipated, reverse the BRAT diet

The BRAT diet is used for the treatment of diarrhea in infants because these foods help
firm up stools. An easy and natural way to remember how to help alleviate babys
constipation is to cut out the foods that contribute to it! BRAT stands for

Bananas,Rice, Applesauce and Toast

If you ever forget which foods to cut out, remember BRAT and cut out those foods!

Barley or oatmeal cereals, prunes, peaches, plums, apricots and most vegetables are
preferred when baby has constipation.

Juices are helpful, especially apple or prune, but use in moderation, as they are not as
nutritious for babies as formula or breast milk

Why can I give my baby apple Juice but NOT applesauce when baby is constipated?

There is a difference in the amount of sugars and pectin in apple juice and applesauce:

Apple juice contains more sugars and liquids so it helps relieve constipation.

Applesauce is the whole of the fruit. It may contain a higher level of pectin which firms
up stools and may thus lead to constipation.

Apple juice also has a mild laxative effect that may help provide relief from
constipation commonly experienced by little ones. About Apple Juices

Apples contain pectin, which will add bulk to your stools, and their cleansing action will
encourage bowel movements. They have a laxative effect yet are also used for to help
people get back on a regular diet after suffering bouts of diarrhea.

The pectin in the apple fiber apparently is why whole apples will firm up bowel
movements. Think of Kaopectate a popular over-the-counter diarrhea remedy.
Kaopectate , actually contains an oxidized form of pectin. Also, that same fiber pectin is
what dietitians have been telling us for decades is necessary to keep us regular and to
prevent constipation. While it will help prevent constipation by helping to keep the
bowels regular, it will not help alleviate constipation.

When it comes to bowel regularity, apples contain two types of fiber; insoluble and
soluble. The insoluble fiber works like roughage, while the soluble fiber (pectin), which is
found primarily in the skin, acts as a stool softener by drawing water into the stool and
increasing stool bulk. Because pectin firms up an excessively loose stool, its also used
to treat diarrhea.

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.
Constipation in Breastfed Babies and Formula Fed Babies

When solid foods are introduced, breastfed babies may become truly constipated while
formula fed babies may struggle more frequently with bouts of constipation.

Breastfed babies are rarely constipated as breast milk is almost 100% completely
digested and utilized by babys growing body. Breast milk leaves little leftovers to
cause constipation. Many breastfed babies do have infrequent bowel movements
however this does not mean that they are constipated.

Formula fed babies tend to battle constipation more often than their breastfed
counterparts. Unlike breast milk, formula is not as easily digested nor is it as completely
absorbed and used by a babys body.

Rice cereals, bananas, and applesauce are some of the most binding foods around and
are common causes of constipation.