Optimal infant nutrition from 7 to 9 months

At the age of 7-9 months, the child should receive a variety of foods every day. It is important to get foods rich in iron and to avoid some foods until the end of the first year.

Number of meals and amount of food

Even at this age, breast milk remains the most important food for infants and provides half of the baby’s energy needs. Continue breastfeeding your baby on demand both day and night.  Solid foods cannot replace milk during the first year of life. There is no need to give infant formula or follow-up formulas (which are specially formulated milks for older children from 6 months of age), as breastmilk with a diversified diet provides all the nutrients your child needs. Remember to breastfeed first before giving other foods.

When giving complementary foods to your baby, there are six important things to consider:

  1. Frequency: Feed your baby complementary foods 3 times a day
  2. Amount: Start with 2–3 tablespoonful at each meal at 6 months, increasing gradually to 1/2 cup, at each meal
  3. Thickness: Give mashed/pureed family foods. By 8 months, your baby can begin eating finger foods
  4. Variety: Try to feed a variety of foods at each meal. For example: Animal-source foods (flesh meats, eggs and dairy products), staples (grains, roots and tubers), legumes and seeds and vitamin A rich fruits and vegetables (carrot, spinach) and other fruits and vegetables (zucchini).
    • Animal source foods are very important. Start animal source foods as early and as often as possible and give daily. Cook well and chop fine. Infants can eat well-cooked and finely chopped eggs, meat and fish even if they don’t have teeth.
    • Mashed foods and porridges should include a mixture of grains, vegetables, beans, root vegetables and, meat – beef, fish, poultry, egg, fruits, vegetables, if possible. You can add milk to these porridges. Thick foods are richer in energy and vitamins and will nourish your child better than watery foods (like soup). The infant has great energy and nutritional needs and a small stomach capacity. It is important that the food has a great nutritional value to the child in such a small amount.
    • Additional snacks (extra food between meals) such as fruit can be offered once or twice per day. 
    • If your baby has been exclusively breastfed, he should start drinking water with the beginning of a non-dairy diet. Water needs depend on the age of the child, the number of meals, the amount and type of solid food. Offer your child water more often, especially after a meal! Give water from a cup. In the first year, boiled and cooled water is recommended.
    • Please limit or do not give your child sugary foods (such as cookies or biscuits), fried snacks, juice, tea or soda. Avoid giving sugary drinks
    • If you prepare food for the baby that has oil or fat in it, use no more than half a teaspoon per day.
    • Each week you can add one new food to your child’s diet
    • Use iodized salt
  5. Responsive feeding:  Be patient and actively encourage your baby to eat. Don’t force your baby to eat. Use a separate plate to make sure young child eats all the food given.
    • Observe your baby and react to his signals. Feed the child slowly and patiently, following his / her rhythm. Try different combinations of foods, flavors and textures to encourage your child to eat their meal. Wait for the child to stop eating before offering it again.
    • Stop the feeding when the child shows he had enough.
    • As he grows, the child gradually develops the skills necessary for independence in nutrition (taking pieces of food and offering them by mouth, choosing food, using cutlery).
    • Establish predictable routines for meals and snacks. Limit mealtime to 15-20 minutes. Feed the child exclusively in a highchair at the table.
  6. Hygiene: Good hygiene (cleanliness) is important to avoid diarrhea and other illnesses. Use a clean spoon or cup to give foods or liquids to your baby. Store the foods to be given to your baby in a safe hygienic place. Wash your hands with soap and water before preparing foods and feeding baby. Wash your hands and your baby’s hands before eating. Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet and washing or cleaning baby’s bottom.

Foods to avoid in the first year of life

  • Do not give honey to a child in the 1st year of life      
  • Cow's milk (as well as goat's, sheep's) is not recommended in the first year of life, because its composition does not meet the needs of infants and can contribute to the development of anemia. A small amount of cow's milk can be used to prepare porridge.         
  • Avoid citrus fruits (lemon, orange, mandarin) in the first year.         
  • Do not add salt or spices to baby food.         
  • Always take care of the child's safety: do not give the infant peanuts, popcorn, small fruits or whole grapes, pieces of solid food that can choke.         

The way a baby is fed

It is important that the child is fed variety of foods at each meal. This would include starting off with thick porridge, and gradually adding to the porridge one type of vegetable puree (pumpkin, carrot, cauliflower, white, brussels sprouts) or adding fruit puree (apple, banana, pears, peaches). After that you could move onto mashed/puree meat (low-fat beef, lamb, horse meat, pork, chicken, turkey) or beans with vegetables. Your child may like some items more than others, encourage your child to try different foods.

  • Don’t restrict foods for your child, since your child needs a variety of foods (i.e. protein, fruits and vegetables, a little fat (i.e. vegetable oil), and grains/cereals in the diet)
  • If your child develops an allergy to a food, you can remove that food item.
  • If you have a family history of allergy, in this case, you can gradually introduce one food /day over a one week to 10-day period.