When first starting solids, breast/human milk or formula should still be baby’s primary source of nutrition. Your baby should not decrease the number of bottles they are taking yet, even with the new addition of a solid food meal. If your baby is taking more or less than this number of bottles and is growing well, peeing and pooping as expected, and overall thriving, then you are likely feeding just the right amount for your baby. Describe the foods you are preparing so baby hears descriptive words about food (hot, cold, sour, sweet, salty).Įxpressed breast/human milk or formula: 24 to 32 fluid ounces (710 to 946 milliliters) per day 3īaby is likely bottle-feeding six to eight times per day, with most still taking one or more bottles during the night. Let baby watch, smell, and hear food preparation in a safe infant seat, carrier, or on the kitchen floor.Encourage reaching and grasping activities by hanging toys above baby’s head this lets them practice using their arms and hands in preparation for grabbing food. Allow baby the opportunity to play on their back, side, and tummy. Floor play: It’s important at this age to give baby lots of floor time to strengthen their core in preparation for sitting.

Avoid chunks of food or food bites that need chewing-at these young ages, opt for small tastes that are easily swallowed with saliva. If your baby’s doctor has given you the green light, you might consider sharing small tastes of fresh foods for baby to lick. Baby may show some interest in tasting what you’re eating. Let them smell the food and drinks, watch you bring food to your mouth, and talk about the meal. Bring baby near the table while you eat, and if you like, sit baby on your lap during the meal. Bring baby to the table while you eat.As long as baby is growing appropriately, there is no need to worry about volume. Note: Some infants may drink more than the range shown above, especially during growth spurts. Baby is likely awake for about 1.5 hours at a time and many babies will nap three or four times a day. There is no need to implement a firm schedule however, a flexible but consistent daily routine is helpful for both baby and parents.

Structure the day with baby to introduce the idea of food, eating, and family mealtimes-even before starting solids.

Solid meals: None until showing all signs of readiness.īaby is likely bottle-feeding six to eight times per day, with most still taking one or more bottles during the night. Bottle-Feeding & Starting Solids 3 to 5 Months Old Feeding Schedule: Pre-SolidsĮxpressed breast/human milk or formula: ~24 to 32 fluid ounces (710 to 946 milliliters) per day on average 1 2 Doing a combination of breastfeeding and bottle-feeding? We suggest following the bottle-feeding schedule as a rough guide.

Looking for information about starting solids and breastfeeding on demand? Visit our Breastfeeding on Demand schedules. Note: This section is specific to bottle-feeding with expressed breast/human milk or formula. Please keep in mind, if your baby is growing well, peeing and pooping as expected, and overall thriving, then you are likely feeding just the right amount for your baby, even if it is less or more than what is listed below. This may also change from day to day, and it’s okay to follow your baby’s lead. This will also vary depending on the volume per bottle (some babies take more volume less frequently others take less volume more frequently). The literature shows a huge spread of what is considered “normal” in terms of how many bottles a baby takes per day.

9 month old daily schedule