There your little one lies, crying in your arms. They want to eat, but what? In the first three months of life, that question is easy to answer: milk. After that, it becomes more complicated. Thanks to our feeding schedule for your baby, you can easily see what your little one will be eating each new month and which exciting flavors and textures you can gradually introduce. And when your little one turns 1 year old, they can eat from the family pot. Below, you will find a feeding schedule for a 6-month-old baby, as well as how the schedule looks after 1 year. We also provide answers to the question of how much food you can give your baby.

Milk, milk, and more milk

During the first three months your baby has milk only on the menu. That’s quite simple in itself, but it can still raise questions. How much should you feed your baby at first? Does your baby drink from a bottle, and how much formula should you offer? And is it advisable to wake your baby for a feeding?

There is no fixed amount that a baby should consume in the first weeks and months after birth. A regular routine is also still a long way off. So don’t worry about creating a feeding schedule for a 1-month-old baby. It’s smarter to feed on demand . Your little one will let you know when they’re hungry. Be sure to pay close attention to the signals, such as searching for the nipple or sucking on their own hand. Usually, you will eventually end up with a feeding every 2 to 3 hours .

And at night? Your baby’s stomach is not much larger than a grape, so sleeping through the entire night without feeding is often impossible. Therefore, your little one will also regularly need something to drink at night . You don’t necessarily have to wake your baby; some children can find the nipple quite well even in the transition between being awake and asleep. And if your baby does wake up briefly, that’s perfectly fine too. Your baby will probably fall back asleep quickly during or after feeding, with a nice full tummy.

How much formula do you usually give a baby? Typically, six to eight bottles per day . In the womb, your baby received all nutrition through the umbilical cord. Learning to do the same through the mouth takes some practice, so gradually increase the amounts per bottle.

Your little one can’t do much during the first months, but they know very well when their tummy is full. Do you still feel unsure whether your little explorer has had enough to drink ? Then the following signals are key:

• Per day, you change about six wet diapers and two to five soiled diapers.

• The growth and weight of your baby are normal.

• Your baby is usually cheerful and lively.

Baby 3 months old feeding schedule

Your 3-month-old baby has gained a significant amount of weight, and their hunger doesn’t seem to be satisfied. The more your child weighs, the more milk they need.

• For children who weigh less than 3 kg , you give 65 ml of milk 7 times per day .

• Does the give a reading show 4 to 6 kg ? Then you give a portion of 120 - 180 ml five times every 24 hours .

• Little ones who weigh more than 6 kg may drink 200 - 225 ml 4 times a day .

Note: these values are guidelines and may vary between individuals. Generally, you can assume 150 ml per kilogram of body weight per 24 hours .

Approximately every 3 months, your little one can make a little jump (usually a growth spurt, but sometimes also a developmental leap). During that period, your little one may need extra nutrition , sometimes even every hour or more often.

In these first months of feeding, a few things are important. For example, do not force your little one to drink more when they stop. Your baby is perfectly capable of recognizing a full tummy. If you feel that your little one is not getting enough nourishment, contact the health visitor. They often know what to do. Lastly, it is good to know that babies often lose weight after birth. That is completely normal. After about two weeks, your little one will be back to their birth weight, and then they will probably start to gain baby fat diligently.

Baby nutrition plan at 4 months

That goes quickly: from the fourth month onwards, you may occasionally offer a ‘practice bite’ for your little one . Eating isn’t necessary yet, but this way your little one can reach for it if they’re interested, explore it, and maybe even put it in their mouth and chew on it. Does your little one remain a big fan of breast milk or formula? Chances are high; up to the sixth month, your baby still needs nothing other than milk.

An introductory bite is not called that for nothing. Learning to eat is quite complicated. Your little one is doing it for the first time, and the tongue movements, the unfamiliar taste, smell, and texture, and then swallowing are all new.

Would you like to create a feeding schedule for your 4-month-old baby? Good idea—the drinking chaos of the first three months is finally over. Consider five feedings per day, each with 150 - 180 ml of milk . A good interval is every four hours starting from 07:00 in the morning . Some babies happily sleep through the night around the fourth month with an empty stomach, but most still need to be fed a little longer. Note: your feeding schedule for a 4-month-old baby is not set in stone, and if your little one clearly shows signs of hunger, don’t wait too long to feed them.

Baby feeding schedule at 5 months

A feeding schedule for a 5-month-old baby is essentially not very different from a feeding schedule for a 4-month-old baby. Reduce the number of feedings per day to four , but increase the portion to 180 - 200 ml . The good news: your baby may already be sleeping through the night, or at least for longer stretches. If you want to introduce some flavors to your little one, you can safely give a few teaspoons of pureed vegetables or fruit (without salt).

Baby 6 months nutrition plan

In a feeding schedule for a 6-month-old baby, you may include a fixed snack . Also, from the sixth month onwards, the first little teeth usually come through. Give your child a nice piece of bread in the morning and a small evening meal in the evening—for example, 100 grams of vegetables, 80 grams of carbohydrates (such as pasta, potatoes, or rice), and 20 grams of proteins (meat, fish, or eggs). Mashed broccoli will probably also go down well, with a spoonful of peanut butter or scrambled eggs for the necessary proteins.

The total number of eating occasions per day is again five , including solid food.

Feeding schedule for 7-month-old, 8-month-old, and 9-month-old babies

That’s heading in the right direction. Is your baby getting used to solid foods and craving more? Then more and more breast milk or formula is replaced by the Five Food Groups . Give your little one time to get used to new flavors and textures, and keep introducing something new. There is so much to discover!

Little explorers between 7 and 9 months enjoy eating porridge. Serve them tasty oatmeal or rice pudding for breakfast, or give them some cereal porridge. Bread and fruit are also likely to go down well as sweet treats. Speaking of sweet treats... you can also give your little one a treat from time to time. Offer a healthy snack —how about a tasty rice cake or a breadstick?

How much milk does a 7-, 8-, or 9-month-old baby drink on average? Over the course of the day, that is about 600 ml .

Baby nutrition plan for 10 and 11 months

A feeding schedule for a 10-month-old baby includes approximately five feedings per day (including solid foods). Over the course of the day, you give your child about 500 ml of milk to drink.

Eat what is served? That’s allowed from 10 months. Your little one can join the regular meals, as long as the salt content stays within limits and the food is well overcooked (and therefore soft enough).

Nutrition plan for 1 year

Congratulations, your little one has turned 1 year old and is now a toddler. The feeding schedule for a 1-year-old is no longer so complicated. They can simply eat with you, but keep in mind: the less salt, the better . Let your little one eat by themselves too. It might be a mess at first, but it develops hand-eye coordination . If you still give your child breast milk or formula, this now counts as an extra meal in addition to the regular ones.

Delicious meals for your little one? You can now choose from a wide variety. For breakfast, consider whole grain bread and a cup of semi-skimmed milk. During the day, your child will enjoy fruit segments (possibly in a cup of yogurt), halved snack tomatoes, or small slices of cucumber. In the evening, you can confidently serve your little explorer a piece of meat (pork, chicken), fish, or a tasty vegetarian meal, elegantly accompanied by a cup of water.

Breast milk or formula can be replaced with cow's milk or a plant-based alternative. Drink it from a regular cup. (and not in a feeding bottle or cup with a spout). That is better for the development of the mouth.

What would you prefer to leave for now?

Are there things you would prefer to wait on until your child is a bit older? Yes—we’ll list them below:

• Saturated fat and salty products : until your little one is 4 years old, young kidneys are not yet very good at handling salt. Also avoid saturated fats (maybe a good reason to cut back a bit yourself too? :)).

• Raw meat and fish : There may be bacteria present that could make your child sick. So no filet americain, but also no smoked fish and no products with raw eggs or raw milk.

• Grades : The mouth and esophagus are not fully developed yet. Therefore, your little one could choke on nuts. Also be careful with bread containing large nuts or seeds.

• Lever : In liver, such as liverwurst, there is a lot of vitamin A. In large quantities, your child can develop symptoms of poisoning from it.

Vitamins for your little one

In a healthy nutrition plan for your child, vitamins also have their place. Focus especially on vitamin D and K . Vitamin D is necessary for healthy bone development and promotes growth; vitamin K helps initiate blood clotting.

Adults produce vitamin D under the influence of sunlight. We also obtain it from food. Your little explorer is not yet able to produce enough vitamin D, and therefore you might consider giving your child 10 mg of vitamin D per day .

Vitamin K is provided to your baby through formula feeding, but the vitamin is not present in breast milk. During the first 12 weeks after birth, your baby may benefit from a small amount of vitamin K . Begin administration after the eighth day after birth.

Baby nutrition plan: enjoyment in eating

The most important thing in a feeding schedule for a baby? Make mealtimes a cozy moment and set a good example. Show that you enjoy eating, and turn on some music or sing a song together (before the meal, of course). Your little explorer has so much more deliciousness to discover, so make eating something fun, cozy, and something to really look forward to! Bon appétit.

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