The journey of nine months of a baby is extremely significant for the parents. This is the time when the baby is nearing to becoming a toddler yet still an infant, independent and can get into mischief without any help or support. To satisfy these activities, they need good, healthy, nutritious and a variety of foods as most of the calories are obtained from it and the rest from mother’s milk or formula. So, what can a 9 month baby food comprise of?
By now, your baby has been eating solids for three months. which means that they are used to a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains and other solids. As your baby continues to eat the foods that you have already introduced, it is also vital to keep introducing new foods to increase their amiability to all sorts of foods and turn them into good eaters.
In This Article
- How Much Food Should a 9 Month Baby Eat?
- Top Five Best Foods For Your 9 Month Old Baby
- Food Chart For a 9 Month Old Baby
- List of Top 6 Foods to Avoid For Nine Month Old Baby
- Nine Months Old Baby Food Schedule
- Sample Feeding Schedule For a Nine Month Old Baby
- List of Easy Homemade Baby Food Ideas For a Nine Months Old Baby
- Tips and Precautions For Feeding a Nine Month Old Baby
How Much Food Should a 9 Month Baby Eat?
A 9 month old baby needs comparatively more solids than the previous months due to their increased activity levels and the growth spurts they keep experiencing. Till now, you may have given your baby 3 solids and three to four breastfeeds or formula feeds. But now, this schedule can change slightly. A 9 month old baby must have 4 solid meals and 3 breastfeeds or bottle feeds.
Babies need strength to explore everything around them and the source of their strength is food. So it is very important to offer them proper nutrition and include food from all possible groups. Some even start getting more than one tooth, so nibbling is easier.
Top Five Best Foods For Your 9 Month Old Baby
A baby’s growth and development are dependent on the nutrition they are given. Solid meals are very integral at this stage for the development of the brain and the body. Some of the food options for the 9 month baby are given as under
1. Fruits
Fruits are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients. This month is an excellent time to introduce blueberries, cranberries, and grapes.
2. Vegetables
Another great source of nutrition for babies is vegetables. At this stage, you can start introducing more vegetables like bell pepper, turnip, coconut, and asparagus. Remember to cook each vegetable properly and follow the three-day rule to check for allergies.
3. Non-Vegetarian
Non-vegetarian food is introduced after seven months, and it is a good source of protein for the baby. Non-veg foods also offer nutrition as well as strength. The ninth month is a good time to add shellfish to your baby’s diet. Shellfish are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins. They promote your baby’s immune system and ensure proper bone development and overall growth.
4. Finger Foods
This is a good time to introduce finger foods to your baby. Bread pieces and scrambled eggs are some good initial foods that you can introduce to your munchkin. Additionally, you can also introduce meatballs and biscuits.
5. Others
Apart from the foods mentioned above, you must continue to give all the foods mentioned so far at regular intervals. You must include grains, nuts, seeds, paneer, cereals, etc. Including a variety of feeds will ensure that the meals have the complete nutrition your baby requires. In addition, your baby will not forget flavors and will continue to eat whatever is offered without fuss
Food Chart For a 9 Month Old Baby
For developing chewing power as well as a liking for different foods, babies should have exposure to foods of different shapes, tastes and textures. At the same time, the food should be healthy and nutritious and fulfill the needs of the baby. Here is list of 9 month baby food:
- Fruits: Blueberry, Grapes, Cranberry
- Vegetables: Coconut, Asparagus, Turnip, Spinach, Bell Pepper
- Grains: Poha, Quinoa, Dalia, Wheat
[Read : Spinach For Babies: 8 Amazing Health Benefits]
List of Top 6 Foods to Avoid for Nine Month Old Baby
Proper nutrition is definitely the key to a healthy and strong baby. It is the reason why so many different varieties of food from all groups are given to babies. It is, however, important to remember that certain foods should be even avoided as they can result in infections, choking, other illnesses etc. Some of the foods to avoid are:
1. Fruit Juice and Beverages
Soda, tetra pack of juices, and sports drinks are not advisable for babies younger than a year. The juice purchased from the market contains added sugar which results in high calories. This also leads to additional weight gain which is not healthy. It can even result in tooth decay.
2. Unpasteurized Foods
It is strictly prohibited to give unpasteurized food to babies since it can be dangerous due to the presence of bacteria.
3. Soy and Cow Milk
Cow milk and soy milk can have digestion issues for babies who are younger than a year. It is not good for the kidney of the baby.
[Read : Soy Milk For Babies – Benefits And Side-Effects]
4. Chokeable Foods
It is always advisable to prevent choking of babies by giving them small bite size pieces of food.
5. Raw Vegetables
Raw vegetables should never be given to babies. One should always cook them properly before giving the baby.
6. Sticky Foods
Things that can get stuck to the baby’s throat should be totally avoided like peanut butter, chewing gums, candies, jellies as they can result in choking.
Nine Months Old Baby Food Schedule
The food chart for a 9 month old baby should have a balanced food diet, can include all sorts of fruits and vegetables for adequate nutrition. He needs to be fed milk as well as solids. A food chart for a 9 month baby is shared as below
- Morning – Wake Up and Nurse 120 ml
- Breakfast – I cup of Pureed Fruits or Cereal
- Mid-Morning Snack – Breast milk or Formula Milk (about 120 ml)
- Lunch – Rice/Ragi With Dal or Vegetable
- Evening Snack – ¼ Cup Soup, Boiled Veggies, or Fruits
- Dinner – Khichdi
- Bedtime – Breast milk or Formula Milk (about 120 m) or Water
Sample Feeding Schedule for a Nine Month Old Baby
A nine month baby becomes active day by day as they start crawling, sitting by themselves, some even start standing with support. This is the reason they need immense energy and proper nutrition.
A food schedule for 9 month baby is shared as under:
Baby Meal Plan For Nine Month Week 1
Your baby has by now explored many new foods in terms of flavors, textures, and food groups. The ninth month is an ideal time to introduce finger foods if your baby shows readiness. Many babies may show readiness by expressing their interest in eating whatever their parents are eating. If you see this in your baby, this is a good time to let them take their steps into finger foods. But this must be done gradually.
Here is a sample schedule for week 1 in your baby’s ninth month.
Week 1, Day 1 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Cereal With Mashed Grapes |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Quinoa With Spinach Puree |
| Evening Snack | Bread Pieces |
| Dinner | Khichdi with Moong Dal and Carrots |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 1, Day 2 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Upma |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice With Mashed Potato and Urad Dal |
| Evening Snack | Mashed Kiwi Puree |
| Dinner | Bajra Khichdi |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 1, Day 3 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Ragi porridge |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Quinoa With Avocado Mash |
| Evening Snack | Scrambled Egg/ Cucumber soup |
| Dinner | Dal Khichdi |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 1, Day 4 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Wheat Sheera |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice With Mashed Bottle Gourd and Red Lentils |
| Evening Snack | Spinach Pumpkin Soup |
| Dinner | Daliya With Mashed Carrots |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 1, Day 5 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Cereal With Bread |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice With Mashed Turnip |
| Evening Snack | Crumbled Meat Ball/ Blueberries |
| Dinner | Spinach Khichdi |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 1, Day 6 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Suji kheer |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Mashed Rice With Veggies/ Egg or Chicken |
| Evening Snack | Green Pea Soup |
| Dinner | Ragi Porridge |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 1, Day 7 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Boiled Egg Yolk or Paneer(Homemade) |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Quinoa With Pumpkin Puree |
| Evening Snack | Coconut Water/ Mashed Fruits Smoothie |
| Dinner | Dal Khichdi |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Baby Meal Plan For Nine Month Week 2
When introducing finger foods, it is important to start slowly and allow the baby enough time to get used to eating something new. You have to keep a constant watch on your baby t ensure that do not choke. For this reason, you can introduce items that melt in the mouth and do not crumble to pieces.
Week 2, Day 1 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Meatballs/ Bread Pieces With Oats Porridge |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice With Scrambled Egg/ Mashed Shellfish |
| Evening Snack | Peach Puree |
| Dinner | Khichdi |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 2, Day 2 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Grated Apple |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Masala Pongal |
| Evening Snack | Green Gram Dal Soup |
| Dinner | Vegetable Daliya |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 2, Day 3 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Apple Oat’s kheer |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Quinoa With Beetroot Puree |
| Evening Snack | Fruit Puree/ Soup |
| Dinner | Lauki Rice Porridge |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 2, Day 4 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Mashed Banana |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Shellfish or Paneer With Rice |
| Evening Snack | Ragi Banana Halwa/ Puree |
| Dinner | Sabudana Khichd |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 2, Day 5 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Scrambled Egg/ Paneer |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Dal Spinach Soup + Rice Porridge |
| Evening Snack | Ragi Biscuits |
| Dinner | Mashed Idli |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 2, Day 6 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Barley Porridge |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Tomato Rice |
| Evening Snack | Strawberry Banana Smoothie |
| Dinner | Dal Khichdi |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 2, Day 7 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Oats Apple Smoothie |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Mixed Vegetable Khichdi |
| Evening Snack | Carrot Kheer |
| Dinner | Wheat Almond Porridge |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Baby Meal Plan For Nine Month Week 3
The ninth month is also a good time to introduce bread and biscuits to babies. Both of these are foods that babies love the most. But commercially manufactured products may be loaded with sugars, salt and chemicals. If possible, homemade is the best for your baby. In case you cant bake, you can always get in touch with home bakers who can bake it for you. Alternatively, opt for branded organic products specially made for babies.
Week 3, Day 1 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Fruit Porridge |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Spinach Pumpkin Puree + Jowar |
| Evening Snack | Bread or Biscuits |
| Dinner | Paneer Khichdi |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 3, Day 2 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Turnip Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | French beans and Peas Dalia |
| Evening Snack | Fruit Puree/ Halwa |
| Dinner | Rice With Mashed Turnip |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 3, Day 3 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Pureed Beetroot Idli |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Khichdi/ Mashed Roti and Ghee With Dal |
| Evening Snack | Smoothies With Banana and Mashed Cranberries |
| Dinner | Masoor Dal Vegetable Khichdi |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 3, Day 4 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Ragi Porridge With Mashed Turnip |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice with Sambar and Curd |
| Evening Snack | Bottle Gourd Soup |
| Dinner | Barley Porridge |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 3, Day 5 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Oatmeal With Mashed Blueberries |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice With Spinach Dal and Yogurt |
| Evening Snack | Bottle Gourd Potato Soup |
| Dinner | Dalia With Mixed Veggies |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 3, Day 6 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Banana Berry Mash |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice With Bottle Gourd Dal And Yogurt |
| Evening Snack | Scrambled Egg |
| Dinner | Mashed Roti With Ghee And Dal |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 3, Day 7 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Oatmeal With Cranberry Mash |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice With Spinach Bottle Gourd Dal and Yogurt |
| Evening Snack | Green Pea Soup |
| Dinner | Barley Porridge |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Baby Meal Plan For Nine Month Week 4
As your baby gets comfortable with eating bread and biscuits as finger foods, you can start introducing more finger foods in the subsequent weeks. The goal is to get them to feel comfortable with solids by the end of the first year.
Week 4, Day 1 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Scrambled Egg/ Paneer |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice With scrambled Egg/ Mashed Shellfish |
| Evening Snack | Vegetable Clear Soup |
| Dinner | Paneer Pulao |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 4, Day 2 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Spinach and Cucumber Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Moong Dal and Spinach Rice |
| Evening Snack | Carrot Kheer/ Paneer Cubes |
| Dinner | Dalia With Mashed Potato and Peas |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 4, Day 3 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Banana Sheera |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice With Mashed Shellfish/ Scrambled Eggs |
| Evening Snack | Avocado Mash |
| Dinner | Dal and Bottle Gourd Soup |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 4, Day 4 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Mashed Carrot Idli |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Pumpkin Khichri/ Rice With Shellfish |
| Evening Snack | Yogurt With Mashed Grapes |
| Dinner | Rice With Mashed Turnip |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 4, Day 5 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Oats Apple Porridge |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice With Bottle Gourd Mash and Rasam |
| Evening Snack | Blueberry Smoothie |
| Dinner | Quinoa With Mashed Cucumber |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 4, Day 6 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Beetroot Carrot soup |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice With Mashed Shellfish/ Scrambled Eggs/ Paneer |
| Evening Snack | Apple Banana Puree |
| Dinner | Khichdi |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 4, Day 7 – Nine Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Idli With Sambhar(no spices) |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice carrot porridge |
| Evening Snack | Bottle Gourd Kheer/ Halwa |
| Dinner | Poha/ Khichdi |
| Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
[Read : The 3-Day Wait Rule For Babies To Introduce Solids]
List of 8 Easy Homemade Baby Food Ideas For a Nine Months Old Baby
At nine months, some babies can transition from pureed and mashed foods to chewable foods as they now have more than one tooth. They can nibble and chew bite-sized pieces. A few homemade nutrient-rich recipes that can be offered to your munchkin are listed below.
1. Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin puree is fibre-rich and has beta-carotene which is good for eye health. It is rich in Vitamin A that helps build immunity and calcium that is good for the bones.
2. Atta Halwa
Atta halwa is soft and yummy. It is rich in carbs which provide your baby with all the energy they need. Atta halwa is a nutritious dish, especially for babies and can be an excellent meal for your baby.
3. Oats Pancake
Oats are very good for babies as they are mineral and fibre-rich, a great source of energy. They help with digestion and keep the baby full for a long time. If your baby is not ready for finger-foods yet, you can feed them mashed pancakes instead of giving them pieces.
4. Quinoa And Banana Mash
Quinoa is a food which is delicious as well as loaded with nutrients. It is rich in fiber and protein. When mixed with banana, the flavor and the nutritive content get enhanced. It is loved by babies as it is nutty and soft, and easy on the stomach. It can be made very quickly too.
5. Chicken And Apple Mash
Chicken is a good source of protein and very good for muscle growth. Chicken also has iron that helps in producing red blood cells, enhancing the circulatory system and boosting the immune system as well. Apples, on the other hand, have flavonoids which help in reducing cough, enhancing the digestive system and all sorts of dental disorders.
6. Vegetable Soup
Making soup out of vegetables is a great idea to make the baby get complete nutrition from it. Soups made from vegetables are hydrating as well, making them an excellent snack or a meal option. Homemade soups are loaded with proteins, fats, vitamins, carbohydrates, and minerals that are needed for the extra energy the baby needs at this age.
7. Plain Vegetable Khichdi
Vegetable khichdi is the simplest form of soft food given to babies that soothes the baby’s tummy and throat. It is a sumptuous meal and offers protein, folic acid, and immense energy for the baby. It even has phosphorus which together with calcium is ideal for bone strength.
8. Elaichi Wheat Porridge
Wheat porridge is a nutrient-rich dish which has many vitamins and nutrients. It keeps the bone healthy and is rich in fiber. Elaichi seeds on the other hand are a rich source of fibers that help to soothe the digestive system. Elaichi seeds are also helpful in resolving stomach-related issues issues such as loss of appetite, heartburn, constipation etc.
Tips and Precautions For Feeding a Nine Month Old Baby
A nine month old baby grows very rapidly and even the brain develops at a fast pace. This is also the reason why a proper well-nourished diet is important for the baby. Babies at this age like to have foods of different colours, but there are few precautions and tips that should be borne in mind before feeding the baby.
- Never force the baby to eat. Go slow and have patience and try after some time again.
- Never give too much food in one go, start with smaller portions, and then increase the quantity.
- Follow the 3-day rule and do not introduce anything new at this time.
- Never leave the baby alone as there are chances of choking.
- Never offer too big bites to the baby as they have problems chewing it and they can even get stuck at times.
- Babies should always sit upright when being fed.
- Never put the baby to sleep with a bottle of milk, juice etc. in their mouth. This can lead to the decaying of teeth and other dental issues.
- All vegetables and fruits can be given at this age to the babies after creating a proper routine to avoid infections.
Thus, time passes by, when the baby is nine months and the right time to offer nutrient-rich food and get healthy food habits instilled that help in creating a rock-solid foundation later in life. It totally depends on the parents to decipher what is the best for their child and give them foods that offer adequate nutrition, energy, and strength.
