Your baby is going through a lot of changes at 5 and 6 months old, and a steady, consistent routine will help them thrive. But you'll also need flexibility as your baby grows. Big milestones for babies this age include (possibly) learning how to sleep through the night, sitting up, and starting solid foods.
It can be a big help to see how other parents navigate their babies' schedules. Below, you'll find sample feeding schedules based on those of real parents and reviewed by a pediatrician on our Medical Advisory Board.
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Most babies are ready to start solid foods when they're around 6 months old. Signs of readiness include:
- Being able to sit upright, usually with some support
- Having good head and neck control
- Showing an interest in food (i.e., they reach for your plate of food while you're eating and open their mouth when offered food)
Even after you start solid foods, though, most of your baby's nutrition will still come from breast milk or formula. At 5 and 6 months, most babies need 24 to 32 ounces of formula in a 24-hour period.
They'll drink about 6 ounces at every feeding, so that'll come out to five or six bottles per day, or a bottle every three to four hours (except at night – babies this age typically can go through the night without a feeding).
Breastfed babies will continue to nurse five or six times a day, though that may vary. You likely already have a regular routine and know when your baby is hungry, but your baby's patterns change as they grow, so keep an eye on their hunger cues. And, get specific tips on how to tell whether your baby is getting enough breast milk or formula.
Sample 5-month-old feeding schedule
6 a.m.: Nurse for 10 to 20 minutes.
7 a.m.: Playtime.
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8 a.m.: Naptime.
10 a.m.: Breakfast – 1 tablespoon of stage one fruit and 2 tablespoons of baby cereal with 1 ounce of breast milk, then nurse for five to 10 minutes.
10:30 a.m.: Playtime.
12 p.m.: Naptime.
2 p.m.: Nurse for 10 to 20 minutes.
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2:30 p.m.: Playtime.
4 p.m.: Short nap.
4:30 p.m.: Nurse for 10 to 20 minutes, then playtime.
6:30 p.m.: Playtime.
7:30 p.m.: Bedtime routine and nurse for 10 to 20 minutes.
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Sample 6-month-old feeding schedule
9 a.m.: 6-ounce bottle of formula.
10 a.m.: Playtime.
11 a.m.: Naptime.
12 p.m.: Lunch – a 5-ounce jar of fruit or veggies and a 4-ounce bottle of formula – then playtime.
2 p.m.: Naptime.
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3 p.m.: 6-ounce bottle of formula, then playtime.
4 p.m.: Naptime.
5:30 p.m.: 6-ounce bottle, then playtime or a walk.
7 p.m.: Bedtime routine and a 6- or 8-ounce bottle.
Tips for feeding 5- and 6-month-olds
Here are some tips for feeding your 5- and 6-month-old baby:
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- Don't worry if your baby isn't very interested in solid foods or only eats a little at a time. At the very start of their solid food journey, your little one will only eat 1 or 2 tablespoons of food at a time. (If you're not sure how much you're supposed to be feeding your baby at this point, check out our visual guide to baby food portions.)
- Even once your baby starts solids, keep breastfeeding or offering a bottle as usual, since most of your baby's nutrition will come from breast milk of formula until they're a year old.
- If you're worried about your breast milk supply, try breastfeeding or pumping more often to kick milk production into gear. Read more tips on increasing your milk supply.
- Consider night weaning your baby if you haven't yet. By 5 or 6 months old, they most likely can make it through the night without a feeding. If they're still waking up at night, it could be out of habit rather than because they're hungry. Sleep training can help teach them to sleep longer at night.
- If your baby is breastfed, be sure to introduce solid foods that are rich in iron or fortified with iron (like baby cereal or pureed meat) to prevent anemia. Breast milk doesn't provide much iron, and at around 6 months old, the iron in your baby's body is running low and they need other sources of this essential mineral.
- Experts recommend introducing first foods one at a time with 3 to five days between new foods. This can help you pinpoint negative reactions or allergies to a specific food.
- Some families choose baby-led weaning, a method for introducing solid foods that allows babies to feed themselves. This usually means starting off with finger foods, rather than purees.
- Store-bought baby food is a good choice for babies, but homemade baby food can be a great, budget-friendly option, too. Here are some tips and recipes for making homemade baby food.
Here are some good first foods for babies:
Learn more:
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