Get a printable 6 month old feeding schedule with helpful tips to use and adjust for your baby through the end of their 7th month. And, grab some bonus feeding tips that will help you safely and confidently feed your baby!
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I know how fast the first year goes as a mother of three, but I am still in disbelief that my baby just turned 8 months! Feeding each of my three babies have been completely different experiences, as they are all unique little beings. James (the 8-month old) is loving meal times and is quite an eater, for now anyways.
I think part of his success in eating has been due to the 6 month feeding schedule I’ve had him on since he started traditional home-made baby food at 5.5 months. Read about how I, as a licensed occupational therapist, introduced baby food for the first time if you’re looking for some tips and tricks.
*These 6 and 7 month old feeding schedules are also the ones I’ve recommended to the families I work with as a licensed occupational therapist that specializes in feeding babies and children.
As we begin this 8th month, I can see our schedule evolving, and I thought it might be helpful if I shared how I created his feeding schedule for 6 months old through 7 months old.
During these last two months, I’ve reflected a lot on how much James is benefiting from slipping into an already very established eating routine (there are some benefits to being the third child!).
Whether it is your first, second, or even third child, it can be challenging to make this transition from just bottle feedings to breast or bottle feedings AND baby food especially because every child is different.
In my experience, parents often have a lot of questions about how to set up these routines. While I think there is value in that, this schedule is not a hard and fast rule for every baby.
We all know that every baby is unique, but as parents, it’s hard not to compare. Try to avoid playing the comparison game with these feeding milestones, as long as you’re giving lots of positive opportunities for interactions with food.
I should also note that James is breastfed, and only takes an occasional bottle when I’m away from the house (find help for getting a breastfed baby to take a bottle). However, he doesn’t eat frequently like some nursing babies do. If your baby has lots of mini meals, this 6 month old eating schedule may look a little different.
It’s meant to be a guideline to starting a flexible routine that you can tailor to your own needs. This schedule is great for bottle babies, too!
And, if you’re starting to think about those table foods and what ages specifically you can start giving them to your baby, then check out When Can Babies Eat Cheerios?
6 Month Old Feeding Schedule (works for 7 month olds too)
*Times are given in a range of possible start times, not duration. Also, you’ll find some links throughout the schedule for my favorite cups and foods.
6:30-7:00 AM: Wake-Up – Breastfed or bottle upon waking
(This is one of my favorite bottles for breastfed babies)
7:30-8:00 AM: Breakfast – Water available in a sippy cup, about 1/4 cup of various homemade/store bought baby food, and a meltable crunchy food like puffs and/or soft cubed food (see note below).
(These are a great first sippy cup)
9:00 AM: Nap
11:00 AM: Breastfed/Bottle
(One of my picks for bottle fed babies. Keep in mind your baby might be ready for faster flow nipples at this age, as well.)
12:00 PM: Lunch – Water available in a sippy cup, meltable crunchy foods like rice husks. (I don’t look for James to consume much here and don’t offer baby food, but I like him sitting with us and “snacking” a little so that he can get used to the schedule he ultimately will have.)
1:00-2:00 PM: Nap
4:00-4:30 PM: Breastfed/Bottle
5:30-6:00 PM: Dinner – Water available in a sippy cup, about 1/4 cup of various homemade/store bought baby food, and a meltable crunchy food like these wafers and/or soft cubed foods (see note below).
7:00-7:30 PM: Breastfed/Bottle
7:30-8:00 PM: Sleeping for the night
Where to Feed Your 6 and 7 Months Old
My son is sitting in a Tripp Trapp chair, which I love because he’s pulled up to the table eating with the rest of us without a tray. The majority of the time it works out that he is able to eat at the same time as the rest of us.
However, the Tripp Trapp is an investment, a more budget friendly high chair is this one from Ikea, but be sure to add a foot rest for stability so that baby is in a good position to eat well. Check out why seating positioning matters when it comes to eating with this article.
How to Give 6 and 7 Month Olds Water to Drink
Most babies will be drinking water during their meal from a sippy cup until around 9 months. This is one of my favorite sippy cups to start with.
James started drinking from a sippy around 7 months old, and at that time, I switched him to a straw cup at meals (learning to drink from a straw at this age is very early though, most babies learn around 9 months old).
A sippy cup is perfectly appropriate for this age, but look for your baby to be using a straw by one year old. When you’re ready, learn how to teach your child to drink from a straw here.
Now is also a great time to begin offering small sips of water from an open cup- with your help, of course, unless you want mealtime and bath time to happen at the same time. Here is an open cup you can try that is perfect for small hands.
When to Feed Your 6-7 Month Old
You will see that many people recommend 1-2 feedings a day at this age, and that is totally fine. While there were a few times we couldn’t squeeze in two meals on a busy day, I made it a priority to do two meals a day from the time he turned 6 months.
This consistent exposure was very beneficial, and I think is best for most babies. It can seem like a pain at times, but it is worth it if you can make it work.
As mentioned above, if your baby prefers many small breastfeeding sessions a day, that is okay and this schedule can still work for you.
Try to focus your schedule and routine around opportunities for baby to join you for meals at the table with solids and water in a cup, not so much on when they are nursing or taking a bottle.
The goal over time is to offer meals and snacks in a predictable consistent routine. You know your baby best, so definitely continue to breastfeed flexibly at 6 and 7 months, and use this guide to help make it work for your unique situation.
Take note of how well your baby eats in relation to how tired he is, how much time he has had to play, and when he had his last milk feeding.
You may want to adjust your times based on his hunger cues and energy levels. Even adjusting times by 10 or 15 minutes can make a big difference on how much your baby wants to engage with food at meals!
Set your expectations low, and focus on a pleasant experience during meals, not volume of food. It is completely normal to have a meal where your baby only has a few bites. This is NOT his main source of nutrition right now.
6 – 7 Month Feeding Schedule Tips
Babies learn so much about eating by watching us, and has been wonderful to watch how he loves being part of this family time, even at such a young age.
He gets excited to come to the table when everyone is there and will actually fuss if he sees everyone at the table without him!
In the 6 month eating schedule above you read to include “meltable crunchy” foods. Wondering what those are? They’re all of those first table foods you find in the baby food aisle like Biter Biscuits, Puffs, Rice Husks, buttery soft Crackers, etc.
A good rule of thumb is seeing if the food easily breaks down when wet or crushed. In the beginning of the 6th month, you are going to just let them mouth on some of these meltable crunchy foods, and help them put small pieces into their mouth.
Watch them closely, but keep in mind some gagging is normal. If this feels too soon for you to introduce “real” foods, you can wait 1-2 months, but want to begin around 8 months.
By the end of the 7th month, they will likely be feeding themselves some easy to pick up pieces of the dry food and chewing them a variety of these well.
Once they are eating these well, they can begin to have soft pieces of foods cut into cubes like ripe bananas, cooked zucchini, and banana bread. Anything that is very easily mashed between your finger and thumb is likely safe for baby to eat by this stage, even without teeth.
See my post on transitioning your baby to table foods for more details.
As your baby eats it’s important to allow them to get messy. Don’t worry about wiping their face off until they’re finished eating. Strip your baby down to his diaper or plan a bath for after meals. See more on why it’s important for babies to get messy!
While this is a time to just explore foods, if your baby is underweight and you’re trying to beef up the calories you’re giving them, then check out these high calorie baby food combinations and some extra tips to maximize what your baby is eating.
These months are very important for establishing good eating skills, and can go a long way in how your child eats throughout childhood. This feeding schedule for 6 and 7 month olds, and all the tips you’ve read are a fantastic foundation for continued happy eating.
However, if your baby is stressed at mealtimes or is rarely consuming any food during meals by the end of the 7th month, then I would discuss your concerns with your doctor, and consider setting up a feeding evaluation through early intervention (free if you are in the states) or with an occupational therapist or speech therapist through feeding therapy.
Don’t panic if you see some of these challenges with eating, it’s more common than you think.
Some babies just need a little extra help, and that help can make a world of difference and really ward off major picky eating problems in the future.
You can also check out Feeding Red Flags, which will help you pinpoint if there’s a problem, or if your baby is gagging a lot, head to the baby gagging guide for tips on moving past it.
Get Ready for Table Foods
You’ve got a couple of months before it’s time to start introducing table foods, but it will be here before you know it! There’s a lot of conflicting advice out there about the best approach, so I’ve simplified what I recommend as a feeding therapist in our How to Teach Your Baby to Eat Table Foods Guide.
Click here to download it now!
You’ll be all set.
More Baby Feeding Schedules and Tips
Feeding Schedule for 8, 9, and 10 Month Olds
Feeding Schedule for 11-14 Month Olds
Mega List of Table Foods for Your Baby
Did you pin this?
You’re going to want to save this, you can get to all the other feeding schedules here as your baby continues to grow!
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.
My 7 month old is now on two naps but I’m thinking we should go back to three because he’s waking around 5:30 am. Ugg. I was looking at your suggested schedule.. 2pm- 7:30/8:00pm seems like a long stretch for that age.
This is definitely just a rough idea. He may still need a third nap:)
Love your blog! My 6 and half month old daughter has preaxial polydactyl thumbs on both hands. One hand’s thumbs are next to each other and her other hand has thumbs that are set further away from each other. One of those is a tiny thumb.All four thumbs have bones. She won’t have surgery till she is over a year old. I’m want to best support her for baby led weaning, but Im not sure how. I would appreciate some advice on how to help her with introducing her to solid foods and be as independent as possible given her abilities. She can grasp some small thin plastic toys like an oball. Thank you!
I love how proactive you’re being Kait, such a great way to be thinking. You know I’d just give her opportunities to try and in a few months I’d give her a loaded fork to bring to her mouth, which will be much easier for her. I’d check with your doctor, but when I’m working directly with a client or my own kids I will place food directly onto their molars.
Hi, my son is 7 months old, we started solid at 4 months and we were doing great with 2 to 3 meals per day and 25 oz of formula untill 3 weeks ago, milk droped to max 15 if we are lucky and only while he’s sleeping no milk when his eyes are open and solid dropped to 1 or no meal per day, tried all veggies, fruits, finger foods, messy time,…. He refuse to open his mouth, his weight still ok, but worried as he’s not feeding milk or solid, please help
Hi Joelle, I’m questioning reflux or a viral illness? I’d definitely check with your pediatrician 🙂
Hi my wee man is 6 mouths old been eat solid since 3 mouths just now can’t get him eat his dinner if it’s sweet he’ll eat it help
IF he’s eating a couple of times a day I wouldn’t worry to much about it. It might be too much food for him. I’d check with your doctor and have them look at his schedule to see if he might just be full:)
How do you get your 6mo to nap? Our schedule is very similar, but baby won’t nap for over 10 minutes and still wakes up constantly during the night. Pediatrician says everything is fine, it just seems he needs me to nurse him to sleep. Any advice?
It can be tricky at this age! I definitely use room darkening blinds, keep the house quiet, put on music or white noise. That all seems to help. Check out this article on sleep though too!
Hi,
Thanks. Very helpful. Does your baby sleep until 2, and then you feed (BF/ bottle) him? Or, Does he sleep until 4 and then you feed him (BF/Bottle)? I’m a bit confused. It seems that he didn’t really eat since eleven, and then again at 4:30. Thanks.
He ate again at 2:)
Hi!
I have a question. I have a 6 month going to 7 this month. For. 6 month old going to 7 how many ounces per feeding shall he doing During the day? Im a first time mom and im learning how to feed him in appropriate times. I usually breastfeed him forst then an hour later give puree food. Sometimes he’ll eat good and other times hell take less bites. What would be the appropriate amount for his age?
Hey Andrea,
Sounds what he is doing is completely normal. There will be times when they eat more than others and are more interested, and that’s okay. As long as he is doing well with managing the food and swallowing, that is great! He’s getting everything he needs from your milk as well as working toward the mealtime foods with the purees!
Best,
Desiree
This is sooo true!! As a first time mom with my now 2 yr old, I was constantly wiping her face, hands, chair etc, I hated a mess!! And guess what, she’s such a picky eater now, whines when her hands get dirty..the list goes on! Oops! I had no idea..now w/ my 7 month, he makes a “mess” says my 2 yr old lol..he loves food & I let him have fun! Can’t have another picky eater on my hands..u live & learn lol..thank u for the info!
Thanks for sharing that perspective Leslie, so helpful!
So i have a 6 month old son he has been breastfeed this hole time, my milk supply has ran out and he is refusing to take the bottle of formula im very frustrated i need help
Hey Mackenzie,
So sorry you are having trouble with the transitioning to a bottle. We do have an article on this to help with suggestions and strategies! You can check it out HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hi there! Is the 4-430 breast feeding time usually right after the second nap? Thank you for all your tips.
You’re welcome and yes that’s exactly right!
Your baby didn’t need a night feeding after the 7-730 feeding and could last 10 hours?
Yes, all three, but all babies are different and at this age you have decide what you’re the most comfortable with:)
Why do you recommend a straw cup rather than teaching your child to use a regular cup? Also, what do you recommend as an alternative to the store bought meltable crunchies? Thanks!
Well, an open cup is wonderful and definitely work on that. Many parents have a hard time with all the mess and inevitable spills from an open cup, and there are times when they just can’t be used (i.e. when a child is in a stroller, on a walk, etc.) Also, drinking from a straw is a valuable skill as well and addresses other muscles.
I just want to say that you are NOT supposed to give babies water at all until they’re past one year old, and even then only up to 3 oz a day. And babies are never supposed to be introduced to solids until they are older than 6 months. I can’t believe what I’m reading. -.-
I’m not sure where you are receiving your information but these recommendations are what are widely used by various physicians and various developmental therapists like myself (OT’s and SLP’s). It is also the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics. I prefer for babies to not be fed until 6 months old, but in some cases a little earlier is appropriate. Also, MANY doc’s and the AAP still site 4 months as appropriate, while it is not best there is no research to indicate it is harmful.
I agree. Especially breastfed babies. My little boy is seven months & has only ever had water from my finger a few times. Breastmilk is perfect & made perfectly for each baby & his/her needs at the time as it is a living thing, unlike formula. Water is not needed. But my baby BF on demand so he’s not on a schedule like this & goes to bed around 9-10 pm. He nurses whenever he wants so it could be six times a day, could be 12. Babies nurse for comfort too — boobs aren’t just for food. I’m weary of schedules.
My son will be 9 months on 11/27 but was 6 weeks premature. He still gets up for a bottle at 3 or 4am. He literally inhales it (4-6oz) and goes right back to sleep. Is this bad?
Based on his adjusted age I am checking out this schedule and the 8-10 month schedule. He LOVES food so getting him to eat isn’t a problem. I just want to be sure he is getting all the nutrients he needs from his formula but also don’t want to give him too much formula. This feeding thing is just so confusing for me!
His weight gain is fine, and he’s close to caught up for his birthday but I’m pretty sure he gets more than 32 oz of formula in 24 hours which I understand is no-no. I work full time and he is watched by family so I don’t always know exactly how much formula (to the oz) that he is getting.
Sorry for the rambling!
It sounds like you guys are doing great. I would run the rough estimate of formula by your pediatrician and see what they recommend because he was a preemie. I’m not so concerned as long he eats he food still and isn’t putting on excessive weight. Remember, this is just a guide, you can adjust for what makes the most sense for you. Let me know if you have any other questions!
thank you for the information. its very helpful.
we are on a similar “schedule” but I am not sure how much formula vs solid/puree to give my little guy.
he is 6.5 months old and isnt really interested in either the solids or the bottle at the moment. he will take some of both, but rarely finishes anything- he was taking 5 7-8oz bottles a day when we started purees at 26weeks, now he finishes anywhere between 5-7 oz per bottle, usually loosing interest at about 5oz, I am worried about overfeeding or underfeeding him. I try to let him guide us to what he wants and stop offering either the bottle or the solids when he starts to turn away or get frustrated.
how do you know when they are ready to decrease the volume of formula? he doesnt take a whole lot of solids (maybe a tbs of cereal and an oz or so of puree, he just plays with/gums any table food) is that usual? wouldnt he need enough solids to make up for the caloris in the formula he isnt drinking?
sorry I know this isn’t exactly your area of expertise, but the just go with it method is making me a little nervous….so I thought I would ask
Is the doctor concerned about his weight or growth at all? If the answer is no then I would continue to follow his lead. What he is eating IS totally normal. He is really little and the important thing is to not pressure. Try to have him eat at mealtime with you so he is part of that experience and observes what you are doing. You may want to try shifting the schedule a bit and giving him a bit of a longer interval before giving the bottle. Make sure he is not distracted. Find a quiet environment whenever possible. Hope that helps, let me know if you need anything else.
Thank you so much, the reassurance is really appreciated.
The doctor isn’t worried about his weight (he’s 20lbs). Its just me being really unsure about this whole food thing….it would be so much easier if they came with instructions lol. His appetite for food seems to have picked up a bit, we spaced out the bottles a bit more too so I’m hoping that helps with his intake
Thanks again
Is the doctor concerned about his weight or growth at all? If the answer is no then I would continue to follow his lead. What he is eating IS totally normal. He is really little and the important thing is to not pressure. Try to have him eat at mealtime with you so he is part of that experience and observes what you are doing. You may want to try shifting the schedule a bit and giving him a bit of a longer interval before giving the bottle. Make sure he is not distracted. Find a quiet environment whenever possible. Hope that helps, let me know if you need anything else.
Thank you for your blog! I am a bit worried because my DD won’t eat her purees no matter what I do. However, if I give her a couple of chunks she will eat it most of the times. One thing you mention is the relation between tiredness and appetite…could my 7 month LO be too tired to eat and instead prefer the bottle? THANK YOU
Yes, Isabel, that could be a factor. I would look at the schedule you have going and see if you can experiment with some different times for meals. Also, encourage her to play with and touch the purees. Once she has it on her hands try to guide it to her mouth and encourage her by clapping and giving praise. If she is ready to start eating chunks that is great. See my posts How to transition to table foods part one and two in the article index for specifics on foods.
What impact does the number of teeth your baby has have on your suggested eating schedule? ?
None at all! Babies don’t need teeth to eat, they use their gums where their molars should be to chew. If your baby isn’t chewing much yet, that is okay! Keep trying and follow with baby foods.