How to Feed a 9 Month Old

Hailey at 9 months was always hungry or thirsty

Feeding a 9-month-old is all about getting the food inside rather than all over. Delicious and nutritious food is easy to provide for your baby, and if it tastes good, you'll have no trouble getting them to eat.

Things You'll Need

• Food processor
• Vegetable of choice
• Jars of baby food (fruit only)
• Rice cereal
• Small containers
• Small plastic baby spoon

Instructions

1. 

   If you do not already have one, buy a small food processor just for grinding up food for the baby. You can get these at a local retail store for less than $10. You can even go to a thrift store and probably find one there for under $5.

2. Purchase some jars of fruit-only baby food. Try not to get the fruit that you think will be tart. Babies are very sensitive to tart fruits and have no problem showing it.

3. 

   While you're at the grocery store, pick up some fresh vegetables or even canned, whichever you prefer. When you get home, portion out the vegetables into small containers to span a few days.

4. Once you have bought and portioned out the vegetables, you can now start to feed your baby on a daily basis. Remember that once you start, be consistent as babies become accustomed to eating very quickly.

5. If you're using the fresh vegetables, be sure you season and cook them before grinding them up. Once cooked, take a portion out and place inside the food processor. Grind until it is mashed up. Be sure to taste the food before you feed it to the baby.

6. When it comes time to feed your baby, set them inside the highchair or on your lap, whichever is more comfortable for you. Begin to feed them half spoonfuls from the baby spoon until they are use to eating. Do not worry about overfeeding them as they will tell you exactly when they are finished.

Tips & Warnings

• Start out small at first, then gradually increase the amount given to the baby.

• Try different vegetables, do not just stick to one.

• Add some low-salt butter to add taste.

• Always taste the baby food before you feed them, if you do not like it, they will not either.

• Mashed potatoes are also a very good thing to feed your baby. It gets them full quickly and they love it.

• Be sure that all the baby food is mushed up until it is baby food consistency.

• Do not feed the baby meat just yet, their digestive systems cannot handle it and will cause their stool to be to hard.

• Do not give excess sugar and don't feed them honey at all before they are one year old.

• Do not leave the baby alone in high chair when feeding him/her.