Combined Baby Food Menus for babies from birth to age 12 months.
Learn more about how to tell if Your Baby Is Ready For Solids
It cannot be stressed enough – 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.
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.
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.
Baby Menu Sample for Babies 0-3 Months of Age
Breakfast – Breast Milk and/or Formula
Lunch – Breast Milk and/or Formula
Dinner – Breast Milk and/or Formula
Baby Menu Sample for 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 or 1-2 tablespoons
- Fruit or Vegetable (Optional) – 1 food cube or 1-2 tablespoons – serve mixed into the cereal or separately
Lunch – Breast Milk and/or Formula first.
- Infant Cereal (Optional) – 1 food cube or 1-2 tablespoons
- Fruit or Vegetable (Optional) – 1 or 2 food cubes (2-4 tablespoons) of each, or mix the cubes together.
- Example: apples and carrots are delicious together. Feed with or without the cereal
Snack/Dinner – Breast Milk and/or Formula first.
- Fruit or Vegetable (Optional) – 1 food cube or 1-2 tablespoons
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 **
Baby Menu Sample for 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 or 1-2 tablespoons
- Fruit or Vegetable – 2 or 3 food cubes or 4-6 tablespoons total
- 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 or 2-4 tablespoons
- Meat/Meat-Protein Alternate – (Optional) 1 or 2 food cubes or 2-4 tablespoons
- Fruit or Vegetable – 2 or 3 food cubes or 4-6 tablespoons total of each or you can 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 he side
- Dairy – Yogurt or Cheeses (Optional)
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.
You should follow the menu ideas in keeping with your infant’s development and eating habits as well as your pediatrician’s advice.
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
Whole Cow Milk, as a drink, should not be introduced until 12 months of age. Learn about Introducing Yogurt and Feeding Cheese to your baby.
Table compiled from Merck Source
Is my baby eating enough food?
How much solid food a baby will be eating depends on a variety of different things.