Sample 11-Month-Old Feeding Schedule

What should I feed my 11-month-old? When should I start offering cow’s milk? How do I know my 11-month-old is eating enough and the right foods?

All great and valid questions. This post will answer these specifics and provide you with a sample feeding schedule for your 11-month-old. As always, I encourage you to receive this as gentle guidance and not a prescription for your child. All babies have very different nutrient needs and you know your baby best! I hope this helps!

How Much Should My 11-Month-Old Be Eating?

Around 10 – 12 months, you should begin offering your infant about 2-3 meals per day + 1-2 snacks. You should offer at least 3-4 milk feedings (7-8 oz/feeding) OR 24-32 oz/day. Or, continue to nurse on demand.

A “meal” for an infant should be composed of about 3 oz of carbohydrates, 2 oz of protein, 1 oz of fruit, and 1 oz of vegetables. This is called the 3-2-1-1 rule. You want to offer enough food so your baby is not bored, but not too much that they are overwhelmed.

Using the Ezpz Mini Plate (Amazon) is a great way to keep your baby’s plate suctioned to the high chair and separate the carbohydrate, protein, fruit, and vegetable foods!

By 11 months your infant will likely begin taking more interest in food as she discovers and becomes familiar with the new tastes, and textures, AND that the food you offer her fills her belly! If your infant is not interested in food by 11 months, I would recommend meeting with a registered dietitian to discuss how to move forward.

Do not be worried, this is not unusual! But you do want to make sure they don’t have any issues such as gastrointestinal issues, food sensitivities or allergies, or sensory obstacles, while also ensuring that they receive adequate nutrition.

What Nutrients Should I Focus on For My 11-Month-Old?

Offer your 11-month-old 4 servings of iron-rich foods/day, 4 servings of fruit/vegetables/day, and 1-2 oz of protein-rich foods per day.

Infants need 50mg/day of vitamin C (which is comparable to the adult female recommendation of 75mg/day). So, be sure to encourage those fruits and vegetables to continue supporting your little one’s immune system to grow and develop!

It is recommended to supplement exclusively breastfed infants with 400 IU of vitamin D, as breastmilk may be low in this fat-soluble vitamin around 6 months. Always speak to your healthcare provider about offering infant supplements. Formula-fed infants do not need supplemental vitamin D if their formula is fortified.

I recommend this brand of vitamin D drops: Nordic Vitamin D3 Drops (Amazon)

When Should I Start Introducing Cow’s Milk to My Baby?

Luckily at this age, your infant is still receiving a good amount of nutrients from their breastmilk or formula which will help fill any nutritional gaps.

Cow’s milk may be offered right around your child’s first birthday. Whole milk will become your child’s primary source of fluid along with water from year 1-2. Milk provides children with fat, vitamin D, protein, calcium, phosphorous, riboflavin, and many other nutrients that are essential to your child’s growth and development.

Many infants do not accept milk right away and need a gradual transition from breastmilk or formula to cow’s milk. One way to do this is to offer 1-2 oz of whole milk with breastmilk or formula in a bottle or sippy cup.

The Honey Bear Cup (Amazon) is a great way to introduce drinking from a straw to infants around this age.

For formula-fed babies, I recommend starting this around 11 months as it is a great way to save money. There is no nutritional benefit to offering cow’s milk before 12 months and make sure to speak with your pediatrician first.

Okay, now we know how much to offer, what nutrients to offer, and that cow’s milk may be introduced at this time! Now let’s check out a sample 11-month-old Feeding schedule

Let this be a tool for you to base your feeding off of, but by no means should your infant’s schedule or food look exactly like this. They WILL eat more or less. At different times and different types of foods.