Baby Feeding Chart for 6 to 12 Months: What to Feed Your Growing Baby

Starting your baby on solid foods is an exciting time, but if you’re a first-time parent, it can be a bit confusing, too. You might wonder which foods are safe and how much to give your little one. 

Using a baby feeding chart is a great way to stay organized and feel more confident about each meal you make for your little one. It helps you keep track of what your baby needs as they grow and try new things. Here’s a simple guide to starting your baby on solids.

6-8 Months: First Tastes and Simple Textures

This is the stage where most parents introduce solid foods. It can feel a bit messy and slow, and there might be times when you feel frustrated, but that is all part of the process. 

• Foods to try: Soft, easy-to-digest foods like mashed bananas, pureed carrots, applesauce, or iron-fortified baby cereals.

• Routine: Milk feedings throughout the day, with a small serving of solids in the mid-morning, eventually progressing to two or three meals a day.

• Portion size and safety: Keep portions small, about one to two tablespoons. Introduce only one new food at a time so you can watch for any reactions.

Don’t worry if your baby spits out food or just wants to play with it. This is simply how they explore and learn to eat.

You can also find Only Organic Puree baby food in resealable pouches for convenient feeding at the Baby Company stores.

8-10 Months: More Variety and Texture

By the time your baby is 8 to 10 months old, they will likely be excited for mealtimes. You can now offer a wider variety of foods with thicker textures.

• Foods to try: Mashed vegetables, soft fruits like mango or avocado, scrambled eggs, yogurt, and soft pasta.

• Routine: Aim for three solid meals a day, along with their usual milk feeds.

• Skill-building: This is also a great time to encourage self-feeding with finger foods, even if it gets a bit messy.

10-12 Months: Building a Real Mealtime Routine

Around ten to twelve months, your baby will start eating meals that resemble family meals. They might become more curious about your food and try to take some from your plate.

• Foods to try: Soft pieces of meat, fish, cooked vegetables cut into small chunks, and simple foods like rice, bread, or pasta.

• Snacks: Healthy snacks like cheese, yogurt, and small pieces of fresh fruit.

• Daily Routine: Usually starts with a morning milk feed, followed by breakfast, lunch, and dinner with light snacks in between.

• What to avoid: A baby’s kidneys cannot handle the salt levels found in standard adult recipes or processed foods.

By this age, your baby can handle about three meals and one or two snacks each day. Encourage them to feed themselves and to include them in family mealtimes. Just remember to avoid any hard foods that could cause choking.

Baby Feeding Chart

How a Baby Feeding Chart Helps You Daily

Using a feeding chart for your baby does more than just track what they eat; it helps make your daily life much easier. By keeping feeding times organized and helping you plan meals, a chart takes the guesswork out of your routine. It also makes it much simpler to share feeding tasks with a partner or caregiver because everyone knows the plan.

How to Recognize Baby's Hunger and Fullness Cues?

Every baby is different, but they usually have "cues" to let you know when they’ve had enough or when they are ready for more. Paying attention to these helps make mealtime a positive experience.

Signs your baby is hungry:

• Leaning toward the spoon or reaching for food.

• Opening their mouth when food is offered.

• They get excited or make happy sounds when they see food.

• Following the food with their eyes.

Signs your baby is full:

• Turning their head away from the spoon.

• Closing their mouth tightly when food is offered.

• Pushing the food or the spoon away.

• Slowing down their eating or starting to play with the food instead.

Tips to Help with the Transition to Solid Foods

Moving to solids is a big milestone. Start slow, stay patient, and let your baby explore the different textures and smells. If they reject a food, don't worry. Sometimes it takes several tries for a baby to accept a new flavor.

For a more detailed breakdown on getting started, check out our guide to introducing solid foods to babies.

Essential Items for Your Baby's First Foods

To make the transition to solids as smooth as possible, having the right baby feeding essentials on hand is key. Here are the must-have items to help your baby enjoy their new culinary adventures:

• Soft-Tip Spoons: Gentle on sensitive gums and designed for small mouths.

• Suction Bowls and Plates: To keep meals on the table and off the floor.

• Waterproof Bibs: Easy-to-clean bibs with pockets to catch stray crumbs and spills.

• Training Cups: To help your baby transition from bottles to sipping water.

• Baby Food Maker or Grinder: For creating fresh, healthy purees right at home.

• High Chair: A secure and easy-to-clean seat for mealtime safety.

Using the right tools, like the right bowls and spoons, can make feeding your baby much easier and less stressful. You can find a wide range of helpful baby food products and feeding supplies at Baby Company.

Explore our full list of essential solid-food items for your baby to find everything you need for a stress-free feeding journey.

Make Your Baby’s Solid Feeding Easier

Feeding your baby from 6 to 12 months does not have to be hard. A simple feeding chart can guide you, but it is important to let your baby lead the way. Your focus should be on offering a variety of foods, making mealtime a happy experience, and being patient as they learn. 

Every baby grows at their own pace, and with a little planning and patience, you will find a routine that works well for both of you.

Make every mealtime a success with high-quality, safe, and colorful feeding essentials from our collection. Shop at Baby Company stores near you or browse our online store for more baby feeding items.

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