Huge list of toddler and baby meal ideas. Perfect for baby led weaning, transitioning to table foods, or toddlers. Meals the whole family can eat.

Three years ago, I wrote a big list of baby finger food ideas (when my second child was in this stage), and it has remained one of the most popular posts on Your Kid’s Table to date. I know parents are looking for baby/toddler food inspiration! I wanted to take this post a step further and share whole toddler and baby meal ideas here, now that my youngest guy is 9 months old and I have been re-inspired. Of course, you can bet that I’m going to give you a few tips from a therapist’s perspective because this is an integral time in getting your child to establish good eating habits.

You’ll also find a Free Toddler Meals Printable at the end of the post. Perfect to hang on your fridge!

When to Offer Baby Meals

First and foremost, I want to remind you that every baby develops differently, and some 9 month olds aren’t quite ready for all these foods. If you aren’t sure if your baby is ready, I would highly recommend reading How to Transition Your Baby to Table Foods. I go into a lot of detail on signs of readiness and how to progress through to this point. I will say here that, once your baby is eating puffs, cheese curls, and graham crackers with good chewing and infrequent gagging, they are likely ready for foods in this list.

If you are following a Baby Led Weaning approach, this may be as early as 7.5 months. On the other hand, if you are following a more traditional pureed foods method, your baby may not be ready to eat these foods until 10.5 months. While I do strongly believe that we shouldn’t compare our children and let them develop on their own pace with encouragement, it is important that they begin eating some table foods by 11 months. Otherwise, they may miss a window of time where they reflexively learn how to chew. Obviously, the skill can still be learned, but it is usually more difficult. I would recommend getting an evaluation with early intervention (it’s free!) to rule out any underlying difficulties if your baby is older than 11 months and are refusing all table foods.

Please note that many pediatricians aren’t trained in feeding, and they commonly tell parents that babies will eventually learn on their own or to just stop offering them baby food and they will get it in time. I am not a fan of the wait and see approach, and advise against it.

Safe Eating for Babies and Toddlers

I know many of you are petrified of choking, and while it is obviously important to be aware of it and know how to handle it, I don’t want you to avoid feeding your child food out of fear of it. I would recommend taking an infant CPR class or at a minimum educate yourself with this online resource.

If you are uncomfortable with any of these foods, skip them. I have avoided all of the major choking hazards which are: whole grapes, popcorn, whole pieces of hot dog, whole cherry tomatoes, and nuts. If you see peanut butter, note that it is spread thinly and not given in large dollops.

Also, keep in mind that gagging and choking are two different things. Gagging is normal and is often a sign that your child didn’t chew the food enough or lost track of it in their mouth. If they are gagging frequently, they may be having difficulty tolerating some textures or knowing how to chew. In this instance, a feeding evaluation would be valuable. Choking is when a piece of food is caught in their throat. If this happens, they will not make any sound.

*Learn 5 Big Mistakes that Parents (Unknowingly) Make When Feeding Their Baby or Toddler Table Foods in my free workshop. And, learn what to do to help them eat well!*

What Types of Food to Offer Your Baby

I try to offer my baby a carbohydrate, fruit/vegetable, and protein at every meal. He also always has water in a straw cup. In addition, I make an effort to give him various textures and opportunities to feed himself with his fingers and accept food from a spoon or fork (the latter of which happens less often).

Generally speaking, I prefer diced foods that are about half the size of a dime (larger for toddlers), or stick shaped foods. Also, babies and toddlers tend to do well with foods that are ground, shredded, or minced into patties or breads. Think meatloaf or zucchini bread. Although, all food shouldn’t be presented in this way or they may come to depend on it.

How Much Food Do Babies Need?

Babies and toddlers and appetites fluctuate drastically. It is important to trust their instincts, and not overly cater to them. See this post on portion sizes for lots more specifics from a dietitian.

Toddler and Baby Meal Ideas

I have organized these meals into categories for ease of use, but it really doesn’t matter if you serve sloppy joes for breakfast or yogurt for dinner. I’m more concerned with a balanced meal that includes a variety of food groups and textures. For additional tips on preparation, I’ve included notes in italics beneath. Many of the foods include links to recipes to as well.

Lastly, most pediatricians have begun to reverse the previous recommendation of waiting until to 2 years old to eat highly allergic foods like peanut butter and shellfish. If you have any questions or concerns discuss it with them. I introduced my children to all foods as babies and then waited three days before any other new foods were introduced.

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Breakfast Ideas for Babies Eating Table Foods

• Yogurt with fruit/veggie puree mixed in and apple straws.
  • • I like to use plain yogurt and mix in pureed pumpkin, banana, berries, mango, etc. That way I can control the sugar. I also add in about a teaspoon of flax seed meal or baby oatmeal cereal

• Pancakes with diced banana
  • • I like to add various fruits into the batter and chia seeds or peanut butter as well

• Waffles with applesauce
  • • You can add a lot of nutrition to the waffle batter if making it from scratch, just like with pancakes. My favorite is pumpkin waffles.

• English muffin with peanut butter and sliced papaya

• Oatmeal with fruit puree
  • • Blend up whatever you have on hand and mix right in for added sweetness

• Eggs, toast, and diced cherry tomatoes
  • • You can spread egg right onto toast and cut it up as well

• French toast with diced strawberries

• Cream of wheat with mashed banana and avocado

• Blueberry muffins with cream cheese and papaya

*Check out more at the greatest toddler breakfast ideas.

Dinner or Lunch Ideas for Babies

Check out toddler lunch ideas for even more ideas specifically targeted to lunch at daycare or home. Healthy and easy ideas also included!

• Meatballs, diced potatoes, and peas

• Enchilada casserole and diced avocado
  • • The casserole includes shredded chicken (or ground beef), tortillas, and beans can be added. Everything is very soft

• Hummus on whole wheat toast and watermelon
  • • You can make homemade hummus by blending chick peas, olive oil, and cumin together. Be careful of processed versions with many added unnatural ingredients

• Brown rice cakes with peanut butter and diced cooked apples

• Sloppy Joe on bun, green beans and mango

• Zucchini squares, sausage crumbles, and steamed broccoli
  • • Most American babies are very sensitive to spice. You will have to look for a mild version of sausage. Apple, maple, and sun-dried tomato sausages are often very mild tasting

• Grilled cheese and spinach sandwich with diced pear.
  • • I like to use a creamy Gouda and a few leaves of fresh spinach

• Breaded chicken tenders, sweet potato fries, and papaya.

• Quesadilla with ground turkey and diced tomatoes
  • I use whole wheat tortillas, ground turkey or beef, cheese, and diced tomatoes. I heat on a skillet or griddle so that it is crunchy and cut into small squares.

• Risotto with slow cooked beef roast and green beans

• Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and diced cooked carrots

• Pizza rollups

• Fish sticks, veggie sticks, and green beans
  • • I look for high quality wild Alaskan fish or make my own

• Noodles with salmon, finely chopped spinach, olive oil and Parmesan cheese
  • • Make this in one pot and add olive oil and seasonings to your liking. It all sticks together and can be easily fed with a fork. Or, use penne or rotini shapes and leave whole, allowing your child to finger feed

• Brown rice cake with turkey and cream cheese spread on top. Serve with diced grapes

• Cereal bar/soft granola bar with diced banana

• Pizza
  • • Try lots of variations. Make home-made. Use different soft cooked veggies on top like mushrooms, green pepper, and tomatoes

• Quinoa, crab cakes, and cauliflower

• Blueberry corn bread, pulled pork, and broccoli

• Quiche and crackers
  • • Be sure to include veggies in your quiche and won’t have to serve them separately at this meal

• Pumpkin bread with cream cheese and diced cooked apples
  • • Also use banana, zucchini, blueberry breads, etc.

• Spaghetti with a meat/spinach sauce and garlic bread

• Rotisserie or slow roasted chicken with french fries and zucchini pancakes

• Beef Stew and biscuits

• Chicken pot pie
  • • I will serve this from a spoon and chop up a bunch and just place right onto the tray

• Diced hamburger/ turkey burger/ veggie burger, french fries, and strawberries

*If you want EVEN MORE ideas head over to Toddler Meal Ideas, I especially focused on meals for older toddlers in that post!

Tips for Successful Baby Meals

• Try to have everything ready before your baby comes to the table.
• Get them used to meals by everyone sitting together at the table.
• Try to have at least one food at every meal that you expect your baby to eat. Don’t expect them to like everything, every time. My baby often refuses potatoes and noodles, for example. This is totally normal and does not mean they are a picky eater. Keep trying!

If you are concerned that your child isn’t eating enough then check out our guides on what to do when your baby won’t eat, or when your toddler refuses to eat.

• Take opportunities at parties and restaurants to expose your baby or toddler to new foods.

• Head to High Calorie Food Ideas for Babies if you want or need to focus on weight gain. You’ll find tips for getting the most calories out of every meal, too. Of course, this isn’t necessary for most babies and toddlers.

Get Your Free Toddler and Baby Meal Ideas Printable

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More Baby Meal Ideas and Tips

How to Wean Baby from a Bottle

Teach Your Child to Self Feed

How to Prevent Toddlers from Becoming Picky Eaters

Mega List of Table Foods for Your Baby or Toddler

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Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. She has over 19 years experience with expertise in sensory processing and feeding development in babies, toddlers, and children. Alisha also has 3 boys of her own at home. Learn more about her here.