11 Month Old Baby Feeding Schedule, Recipes and Tips

Young parents often wonder what to feed their baby as their little one turns eleven months old. At this stage, the child eats a variety of foods and is no longer solely dependent on milk for nutrition. However, parents can sometimes be confused about what and how much to feed their eleven-month-old. Although the young baby is almost a year old, they are still not old enough to eat everything. Introducing certain foods might not suit her, so young parents need to be careful in choosing what to feed their little ones. Ensuring she gets all the required nutrients to support her growth and development is essential. Creating a well-structured 11-month-old feeding schedule can help guide parents in offering balanced meals and snacks throughout the day.

What to Feed an 11-Month-Old?

As the little one turns eleven months old, she is already taking lots of food apart from milk for daily nutrition. She already has some favorite foods and a dislike for some foods, but for good growth, they need a wholesome and balanced diet that has all the nutrients. Young parents should take care of feeding them foods from all food groups, not just their favorite ones. To feed them the adequate quantity of minerals, proteins, vitamins, and carbohydrates, parents introducing foods at 11 months should include all the food groups.

So the menu of food ideas for 11 month baby should have the following foods:

1. Fruits /Vegetables

• All fruits and vegetables
• Daily intake of fruits and vegetables is essential for the wholesomeness of the diet.
• Introduce one fruit at a time, especially with citrus fruits, to check for allergic reaction.
• Introduce the new fruit in small quantities and wait for 3 to 5 days in between for introduction of new foods.
• Parents can feed all vegetables to eleven months old, except raw carrots, tomatoes, and celery. These vegetables should be given after the baby is one year old.

2. Non-Vegetarian

• The eleven-month-old baby can eat all types of meat, chicken, fish, and poultry as they are a good source of protein.
• Fish, meat or chicken can be made into soup or small boiled pieces for easy feeding.

3. Other Food Items

• The baby can be fed all types of grains and cereals.
• The baby can have all types of dairy products including yogurt, cheeses, etc.
• Don’t feed cow milk to the eleven-month-old baby. Wait for the kid to be a year old to feed cow milk.

How Much Milk Does an 11-Month-Old Baby Need?

An 11-month-old’s milk intake will decrease as she has now started having the same food as the whole family. You still need to encourage the young one to drink milk. The little one should consume 400 to 500 ml (13 to 17 oz) of milk daily. Parents should encourage the kid to drink milk from a cup and not from a bottle. If the baby is not interested in drinking milk, add other dairy products to her diet.

Feeding Schedule for an 11-Month-Old Baby

The growing eleven-month-old baby needs a feeding schedule made according to her eating habits. So the young parents need a diet plan according to her likes and dislikes. The parents have a schedule for most activities of the child such as sleeping and playing. So an 11-month-old eating schedule is also needed to ensure the child takes in a wholesome diet.

A sample meal planner for an eleven-month-old will be as follows:

This was a sample schedule for 11-month-old. Feel free to make changes wherever possible.

Foods to Avoid for an 11-Months-Infant

There are some foods that the parents should avoid for their eleven-month-old:

• Unpasteurized cheese or dairy products – they are harmful as they can contain listeria, bacteria.
• Cow’s milk
• Saturated fat – baby should not be given fried foods, butter, cream, baked desserts, processed meats and mayonnaise.
• Sugar – don’t add sugar to the milk or other food of your baby. Avoid sugary snack and drinks too.
• Salt – added salt to food is not good for the baby’s kidney. So avoid adding salt to food. Also avoid salty crackers, chips and salty snacks.
• Honey – honey can cause botulism because of bacteria. So avoid honey.
• Highly processed foods – baby shouldn’t consume ice-cream, chips, candy, breakfast cereal, microwave meals or any food with additives, flavourings or artificial colours.
• Whole nuts- whole nuts or seeds can cause choking in the young child, so should be avoided.
• Uncooked eggs – avoid uncooked or raw eggs to avoid salmonella infections.
• Raw seafood or fish

Nutritious Baby Food Recipes for an 11-Month Baby

The parents are always wondering what to make for their eleven-month-old child to provide highly nutritious food. So here are some food recipes for eleven months old baby which are easy to make and have all the essential nutrients.

1. Broccoli With Cottage Cheese

Ingredients

• Broccoli florets (large) – 1 cup
• Cottage cheese chunks (large) – 1 cup
• Water – 2 1/1 cup
• 100 % Rice bran oil – ½ teaspoon

How to Prepare

1. Boil the broccoli florets for approximately 8 to 10 minutes till they are tender. Remember they should be as tender as your baby is used to eating.
2. Take a pan and heat the oil in it. Add cottage cheese chunks to the pan to shallow fry till they are light brown in color.
3. Add the broccoli and shallow fry it for few minutes.
4. Cool and feed the baby.

2. Sweet Potato With Butternut Squash

Ingredients 

• Sweet potato- sliced – 1 cup
• Butternut squash- sliced – 1 cup
• Water – 1 cup

How to Prepare

1. Boil the sweet potato and squash together in a pan for 20 minutes on high flame till its tender.
2. You can also pressure cook both in a pressure cooker. Cook on high flame till one whistle comes, then cook on a medium flame for 9 minutes.
3. You can also shallow fry both sweet potato and butternut squash with 100% rice bran oil in a pan.
4. Cool and feed the baby.

3. Blueberry Yogurt

Ingredients 

• Blueberries -1 cup
• Plain yoghurt – 1 cup

How to Prepare 

1. Add yoghurt and blueberries to a blender.
2. Blend till both mix well.
3. Feed the yoghurt to the baby.

4. Avocado and Green Bean Mash

Ingredients 

• Avocado – 1
• Green beans- chopped – 1 cup
• Water – 2 to 3 cups

How to Prepare 

1. Take a vessel and add green beans and water and boil for 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Add the tender green beans to a blender.
3. Scoop the pulp of avocado and add it to the green beans.
4. Blend well and feed the baby.

Feeding Tips for 11-Months-Old

Most parents always ask what can an 11-month-old eat. So when feeding the eleven-month-old kid, parents need to remember these feeding tips:

• Feed an assortment of recipes – parents should alternate the recipes so that the baby gets all types of essential nutrients for healthy growth.
• No salt – remember not to add salt to the recipes. An eleven-month-old baby needs only 0.4 g of sodium. So they can easily get that from the mother’s milk or formula milk. So no extra salt needed.
• No fruit juices – The fruit juices have more calories and less nutrition. So avoid giving them to the baby.

Common Challenges in Feeding 11-month-old Baby With Solutions

Feeding an 11-month-old baby can present several challenges as they transition to more solid foods. Understanding these challenges and knowing how to address them can make mealtimes more enjoyable for both parents and babies.

1. Refusal to Eat New Foods

Babies at this age can be hesitant to try new foods. Introducing new items slowly and repeatedly can help. Offer new foods alongside familiar favorites and make mealtime a positive experience without forcing the baby to eat.

2. Picky Eating

It’s common for 11-month-olds to show preferences for certain foods. To combat picky eating, continue to offer a variety of foods in different forms and textures. Be patient and consistent, as it may take several tries before they accept a new food.

3. Limited Appetite

Sometimes, babies may not seem interested in eating much. Ensure that they have regular meals and snacks, and avoid offering too many drinks or snacks close to mealtimes. This can help stimulate their appetite for solid foods.

4. Difficulty Chewing

Babies are still developing their chewing skills at this age. Offer soft, bite-sized pieces that are easy to chew and swallow. Foods like cooked vegetables, small pieces of fruit, and soft meats are good options.

5. Feeding Schedule Confusion

Parents may struggle to establish a consistent feeding schedule for 11-month-olds. A well-structured 11-month-old feeding schedule can help. Aim for three main meals and two snacks a day, incorporating a balance of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy.

6. Allergies and Food Sensitivities

Introducing new foods can sometimes lead to allergic reactions. Introduce potential allergens one at a time and monitor for any adverse reactions. Consult with a pediatrician if you suspect any food allergies.

7. Transition From Milk to Solids

Balancing milk and solid food intake is crucial. Gradually reduce the amount of milk and increase solid foods. Ensure the baby still receives adequate nutrition from both sources during this transition period.

FAQs

1. How much should an 11-month-old eat daily?

At 11 months old, your baby should be eating a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy. Typically, they will have three main meals and two snacks each day. Portions can vary, but a good guideline is to offer 1/4 to 1/2 cups of grains, 1/4 to 1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables, and 1/8 to 1/4 cups of proteins per meal.

2. How much formula should an 11-month-old baby have?

An 11-month-old baby typically needs about 16-24 ounces of formula per day. This amount can be spread over 3-4 feedings. As they transition to more solid foods, the amount of formula may gradually decrease. It’s important to ensure they are also getting enough nutrients from their solid foods.

3. How can I encourage my 11-month-old to self-feed?

Encouraging self-feeding can be beneficial for your baby’s development. Provide a variety of finger foods that are easy to grasp and eat, such as soft fruits, small pieces of cooked vegetables, and small bits of cheese or bread. Allow them to explore and play with their food, even if it gets messy, to build their confidence and motor skills.

Know what to feed and when to feed your eleven-month-old. These tips and feeding ideas will help you make an appropriate eleven-month-old feeding schedule and understand what your little baby can eat. It will help you know how to feed your little one with a wholesome diet for healthy growth.

References/Resources:

1. Sample Menu for a Baby 8 to 12 Months Old; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/pages/Sample-One-Day-Menu-for-an-8-to-12-Month-Old.aspx

2. Feeding & Nutrition Tips: Your 1-Year-Old; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/pages/Feeding-and-Nutrition-Your-One-Year-Old.aspx

3. Feeding Guide for the First Year; Stanford Medicine; https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=feeding-guide-for-the-first-year-90-P02209

4. Self-Feeding; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/pages/Self-Feeding.aspx

5. 10 Tips for Parents of Picky Eaters; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/Pages/Picky-Eaters.aspx

6. Why Do Infants Need Baby Formula Instead of Cow’s Milk?; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/formula-feeding/Pages/Why-Formula-Instead-of-Cows-Milk.aspx

7. Feeding Your 1- to 2-Year-Old; Nemours Kids Health; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/feed12yr.html

Also Read:

11 Months Old Baby Milestones
11 Month Old Sleep Schedule
Best Activities For 11 Month Old Baby
Your 11-Month-Old Baby’s Growth and Development
1 Year Old Baby Feeding Schedule, Recipes And Tips

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