Sample baby schedules for 9- and 10-month-olds

By now your 9- or 10-month-old has settled into a steady routine of sleeping, playing, and eating. But it can be confusing at times to know how to organize their feeding schedule. Your baby is old enough to eat more solids and explore new finger foods, but young enough that they still need plenty of formula or breast milk.

Between the bottles and nursing and the solid food meals, it can feel like you're constantly feeding your baby. As you're sorting out your baby's feeding schedule, it can be a big help to see what other parents are doing. Below, you'll find several sample schedules modeled on those of real BabyCenter parents and reviewed by a pediatrician on our Medical Advisory Board.

As you're creating a schedule for your baby, keep in mind that at 9 and 10 months most babies need solid foods three times a day, plus a healthy snack, and about 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula in a 24-hour period.

Breastfed babies will likely nurse three or four times per day. Formula-fed babies may drink 7- to 8-ounce bottles three or four times per day. (Get specific tips on how to tell whether your baby is getting enough breast milk or formula.)

By now, your baby will likely be eating a variety of foods and taking an active role at mealtimes by self-feeding and drinking from a sippy, straw, or open cup. That means your mealtime options are expanding, since you can offer your baby more new and exciting foods to try.

You can make life simpler now and feed your baby what you're eating – just make sure it's age appropriate. Don't give your baby foods that could be choking hazards, foods with a lot of salt or added sugar, honey, or anything that's raw or unpasteurized. And if you haven't yet, be sure to introduce high-allergy foods to your baby, too.

If you're baby-led weaning, your baby has already been feeding themself finger foods. Keep giving your baby a variety of foods and expand their palate by offering new textures and flavors.

In addition to breast milk or formula, your baby may be ready to eat as much as half a cup per day of fruits, veggies, proteins, and carbohydrates. (If you're not sure how much solid food your baby needs, check out our visual guide.)

Sample 9-month-old schedule

6:30 a.m.: Wake up and drink a 7- to 8-ounce bottle of formula.

8 a.m.: Playtime.

9 a.m.: Breakfast – small pieces of cheese, ham, fresh fruit, veggies, and O-shaped cereal or eggs.

9:30 a.m.: Playtime.

10 a.m.: 7- to 8-ounce bottle, then a nap.

12 p.m.: Lunch – small pieces of cheese, meat, fresh veggies, fruit, noodles, soup, cut up veggie burger, ground meat, and so on.

12:45 p.m.: Playtime.

1:30 p.m.: Snack – Greek yogurt with fruit, pieces of cheese, and whole grain crackers with nut butter.

3 p.m.: Naptime and another 7- or 8-ounce bottle.

6 p.m.: Dinner – same as lunch.

6:30 p.m.: Playtime.

7:30 p.m.: Bedtime routine and another 7- or 8-ounce bottle of formula, then bed.

Sample 10-month-old schedule

8:30 a.m.: Wake up and nurse for 10 to 15 minutes.

8:45 a.m.: Playtime.

9:30 a.m.: Breakfast – scrambled eggs, strips of French toast, and yogurt.

10 a.m.: Naptime.

12 p.m.: Lunch – baked sweet potato fries, shredded chicken, hummus, and mashed avocado – followed by a short nursing session.

1 p.m.: Playtime.

2 p.m.: Snack – O-shaped cereal, yogurt, whole grain crackers, piece of whole wheat toast with nut butter, fruit.

3:30 p.m.: Nurse for 10 to 15 minutes, then naptime.

5 p.m.: Dinner – steamed broccoli, leftover chicken from lunch, baked apple slices, and spiral pasta.

6 p.m.: Playtime.

7 p.m.: Nurse for 10 to 15 minutes, then bedtime routine and bed.

Meal ideas for 9- and 10-month-olds

As your 9- or 10-month-old starts eating regular, small meals and even a snack or two throughout the day, you might be wondering how to keep their menu interesting and their diet full of nutritious foods.

Some yummy (and age-appropriate) foods to try serving your baby at 9 and 10 months include small bits of tofu and cheese, soft spiral pasta, shreds of chicken and turkey, soft beans, and cubes of roasted peaches or squash.

Aim for a protein, carbohydrate, fruit and veggie serving at each meal to help you put together a simple breakfast, lunch, or dinner for your baby. Here are some options to get you started.

Breakfast:

• Pieces of scrambled egg
• O-shaped cereal
• Mashed or pureed pears and squash
• Oatmeal with mashed banana
• Roasted sweet potato
• Greek yogurt with fruit

Lunch:

• Steamed peas
• Pieces of whole-grain toast
• Applesauce
• Smashed pinto beans
• Strips of ripe avocado
• Whole grain crackers
• Steamed carrots
• Pasta
• Chicken noodle soup

Dinner:

• Ground beef, chicken, or turkey
• Roasted sweet potatoes
• Pieces of whole grain bread with nut butter
• Tofu
• Soft spiral pasta
• Yogurt with peach puree

Snacks:

• Pieces of fruit
• Cereal
• Smashed avocado
• Yogurt
• Homemade muffin
• Whole grain crackers with hummus

Learn more:

• Your 9-month-old's growth and development
• Your 10-month-old's growth and development
• Recipes for babies 6 to 12 months old