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Baby at 6–9 months: solids, sleep and milestones

Stage: 6–9 months

Sleep

2–3 naps

Feeding

Build towards 3 solid meals a day alongside milk: combine vegetables and fruit with iron-rich foods — fortified cereal, meat, fish, egg or beans. From around 8 months food no longer needs to be completely smooth — soft lumps and finger foods (soft fruit, cooked vegetable sticks) develop chewing skills.

Formula: 3–4 feeds a day, 6–7 oz (180–200 ml). Milk gradually provides less of the daily intake as solids take over.

Diaper size

Size 3, 16–28 lb (7–13 kg).

Development at this stage

• Sits without support
• Reaches and grasps, passes objects hand to hand
• Starts crawling or shuffling
• Understands simple words like 'no'

Care & things to watch

• First teeth often come through now: brush from the first tooth, twice a day, with a rice-grain smear of fluoride toothpaste (AAP/ADA)
• Daily vitamin D (400 IU) continues if breastfed
• Peanut and egg should be introduced by now — not started yet? Begin gently, one at a time
• Still no honey, added salt or sugar; no cow's milk as a drink before age 1 (fine in cooking)
• Avoid small hard foods (whole nuts, raw carrot chunks); always cut grapes and cherry tomatoes lengthwise — until age 4
• Cover outlets, install stair gates and pad sharp edges
• Well-child visits at 6 and 9 months; the AAP also recommends a first dental visit by the first birthday (or within 6 months of the first tooth)
• More restless nights at this age can also come from teething or early separation anxiety — usually temporary, and no reason to doubt your approach

Other ages: 0–6 weeks · 6–12 weeks · 3–4 months · 4–6 months · 9–12 months · 12–18 months · 18–24 months · 2–3 years · 3–4 years · 4–5 years