Baby Feeding Schedule (6–12 Months)
Starting solids can make daily feeding feel confusing.
How many meals should your baby have? When should you introduce snacks? And what foods should you offer first? If you're starting solids, see our guide to first foods for babies or jump to daily meal ideas below.
The good news is that babies don't need a complicated plan. A simple daily rhythm of milk feeds and solid meals helps babies explore new foods while still getting the nutrition they need.
Below is a simple feeding schedule to guide you through the starting solids stage.
Quick Answer: Baby Feeding Schedule
Most babies between 6 and 12 months follow a gradual progression.
6–7 months
- • 1 solid meal per day
- • Breastmilk or formula remains the main nutrition source
8–9 months
- • 2 solid meals per day
- • Milk feeds continue throughout the day
10–12 months
- • 3 meals per day
- • Optional snack
- • Milk feeds continue but gradually reduce
Every baby develops differently, so these schedules are only guidelines.
Example Baby Feeding Schedule (6 Months)
At 6 months, solids are mostly about exploring textures and flavors.
Example day:
- 7:00 – Milk feed
- 9:30 – Solid meal (first foods)
- 12:00 – Milk feed
- 15:00 – Milk feed
- 18:00 – Milk feed
Solid meals can include foods like:
- • mashed avocado
- • soft sweet potato
- • banana
- • oatmeal
- • yogurt
Start with small amounts and let your baby explore. For more ideas, see our first foods for babies and BLW breakfast ideas.
Example Feeding Schedule (8–9 Months)
As babies get more comfortable with food, you can add a second meal.
Example day:
- 7:00 – Milk feed
- 9:00 – Breakfast
- 12:00 – Milk feed
- 13:00 – Lunch
- 16:00 – Milk feed
- 19:00 – Milk feed
At this stage babies can eat a wider range of foods including:
- • soft fruits
- • vegetables
- • eggs
- • yogurt
- • toast fingers
- • pasta
- • soft meat or fish
Example Feeding Schedule (10–12 Months)
By this stage many babies eat three meals per day.
Example schedule:
- 7:00 – Breakfast
- 10:00 – Milk feed
- 12:30 – Lunch
- 15:30 – Snack
- 18:00 – Dinner
- 19:30 – Milk feed
Meals should include a mix of:
- • vegetables
- • fruits
- • protein foods
- • healthy fats
- • grains
What Should My Baby Eat Each Day?
A balanced day of eating might look like this:
Breakfast
• oatmeal with fruit
Lunch
• soft vegetables with shredded chicken
Dinner
• pasta with vegetables
Snack
• yogurt or fruit
Babies don't need perfectly balanced meals every time - variety across the week matters more.
Tips for Feeding Babies Starting Solids
Follow your baby's cues
Babies are naturally good at regulating hunger. Let them decide how much to eat.
Offer iron-rich foods
Iron becomes especially important after 6 months. Examples include:
- • meat
- • lentils
- • beans
- • eggs
- • iron-fortified cereals
Introduce allergens early
Foods like peanut, egg, and yogurt can usually be introduced early in safe forms.
Focus on texture progression
Move gradually from mashed foods to soft finger foods. Learn how to cut food for baby-led weaning to prepare foods safely at each stage.
How Nibli Helps Parents Plan Baby Meals
Many parents struggle with one question:
“What should my baby eat today?”
Nibli removes that guesswork.
The app creates a personalized feeding schedule based on your baby's age and development stage, helping you:
- •know what meals to offer each day
- •discover baby-safe recipes
- •learn how to safely prepare foods
- •track foods your baby has tried
Instead of planning every meal yourself, Nibli gives you a clear daily plan.
verifiedSources & References
This guide is informed by current guidelines from leading health organizations:
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a 6 month old eat in a day?
At around 6 months babies usually drink breast milk or formula while gradually trying small amounts of solid foods once or twice per day.
How many meals should a 6 month old have?
Many babies start with one or two small meals daily while continuing regular milk feeds.
How much solid food should babies eat?
When starting solids babies may eat only a few spoonfuls. Intake increases gradually as they learn to chew and swallow.
Do babies still need milk after starting solids?
Breast milk or formula remains the main source of nutrition during the first year even after solids are introduced.
What is a typical baby feeding schedule?
A baby feeding schedule often includes several milk feeds and one or more small meals depending on age.
When do babies start eating three meals a day?
Many babies progress to three meals per day sometime between 9 and 12 months as their appetite and skills develop.
Plan Your Baby's Meals With Confidence
Nibli creates a personalized starting solids plan so you always know what to feed your baby next.
Try Nibli free to start building your baby's feeding routine today.
