A 9-month-old baby can eat a wide variety of foods. The following are some ideas for what to feed your 9-month-old baby:
Breakfast:
Fruit (banana, pear, apple or whole wheat toast with honey)
Yogurt and fruit (see above)
Protein source (cooked egg, cheese, peanut butter on toast or yogurt)
Lunch:
Fruit (pear or apple)
Vegetables (carrot sticks or green beans)
Chicken nuggets (homemade or from the freezer section at the grocery store)
Dinner:
Fish sticks (homemade or from the freezer section at the grocery store)
When it comes to the type of food you feed your baby, there are two schools of thought: One side says you should only give your baby pureed foods. The other says you can start offering finger foods at an earlier age — as long as they’re soft and easy to chew.
If you’re in the second camp, here are some ideas for what your 9-month-old can eat:
Finger foods for 9-month-olds
Soft, easy-to-chew finger foods include:
Ripe banana slices (remove the skin first)
Shredded cheese or yogurt (look for low-fat versions)
Cooked pasta or rice noodles
Quinoa puffs (remove any loose seeds first)
The 9-month-old baby’s diet should include at least four meals and two snacks. The meals should be supplemented with iron-fortified formula or breast milk.
The best food for your 9-month-old is meat, fish, eggs, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products. These foods provide protein, which helps build muscles and bones.
Here is a list of 10 nutritious foods that will help your child grow strong and healthy:
- Meat: Beef, lamb, pork, chicken and turkey are good sources of protein for your child.
- Fish: Salmon and tuna are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote brain development in infants.
- Eggs: Eggs contain iron, which helps prevent anemia in children under 12 months old. They also have high levels of vitamin D and phosphorus (both needed for bone development). However, avoid feeding raw eggs to infants because they may contain salmonella bacteria that causes food poisoning in young children (see below).
- Cheese: Cheddar cheese contains calcium and vitamin A, both important nutrients for growing bones. Cheese also provides vitamin B12 (essential for red blood cell formation), folic acid
9 Month Old Baby Food
9 month old baby food is not that different from 8 month old baby food. However, with 9 month old babies, you can start introducing more solid foods as well as finger foods. There are many fruits and vegetables that are perfect for 9 month old babies. They also need to take in a lot of iron so that their brain and body can develop properly.
9 months old baby food ideas. This is the age when your baby is starting to develop his/her fine motor skills. You may see him or her holding on to a small toy or feeding himself/herself with a spoon. However, be sure to not over-stimulate your baby as it can cause him/her anxiety and stress. So, here are some healthy lunch ideas for 9 month old babies:
Finger foods (e.g., Puffs, grapes)
Bread slices with hummus or peanut butter spread on top
Soft fruits like banana or avocado slices
9 month old baby can start eating whole fruits and vegetables. They will enjoy eating them as finger foods, especially if they are cut into small pieces. You can also use a blender to make purees for them.
Here are some ideas for lunch:
Bananas with yogurt and oatmeal or rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula
Oranges and carrots
Cooked sweet potatoes with a bit of butter on top
Mashed avocado with a little salt, pepper and lemon juice (good for digestion)
Cooked quinoa mixed with breast milk or formula
At this age, your baby is probably eating three meals a day and a couple of snacks. You may be ready to try some new foods, but you should also continue to offer the same ones in different ways.
At this age, your baby has no teeth, so it’s important that you cut food into small pieces. Use a soft-sided knife or spoon to make sure there are no sharp edges.
Babies this age love finger foods! Try sliced bananas; soft cooked carrots; peeled grapes; cheese cubes; bread sticks (cut into small pieces); egg yolks (cut in half); oatmeal cookies; crackers; cheerios and raisins.