Around 9 months, many babies start using a pincer grasp, picking food up between thumb and finger. That is the cue to move from big strips to small, soft, bite-size pieces. Every recipe below has no added salt and works for the whole family. Not sure how small to go? See our guide to cutting food by age.
Moist little meatballs with grated zucchini mixed in, so they stay soft enough to squish.
Ingredients and stepsIngredients
1 lb ground turkey (or chicken)
1 small zucchini, finely grated and squeezed dry
1/3 cup rolled oats, blended into a coarse flour
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (no salt)
Steps
Heat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
Mix everything in a bowl with clean hands.
Roll into 1-inch balls and space them out on the sheet.
Bake 15 to 18 minutes, until cooked through (165°F inside).
Cool before serving. Fridge up to 3 days, freezer about 2 months.
How to serve at 9 to 12 months
Cut each meatball into quarters. A piece should squish easily between your fingers. Serve with soft-cooked carrot sticks, not raw.
ContainsEggOats (check label)
02
Iron-rich · one pot sauce
Red lentil tomato pasta
A mild lentil sauce that thickens into a smooth coating, so every shell carries plant-based iron.
Ingredients and stepsIngredients
1/2 cup dried red lentils, rinsed
1 can (14 oz) no-salt-added crushed tomatoes
1 cup water
1/2 small onion, finely diced
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup small pasta shells
Steps
Soften the onion in the oil over medium heat, about 5 minutes.
Add the lentils, tomatoes, and water. Simmer 20 minutes, stirring, until the lentils fall apart.
Blend smooth if your baby prefers it.
Cook the pasta 2 minutes past the package time so it is very soft, then toss with some sauce.
Freeze extra sauce in portions for up to 3 months.
How to serve at 9 to 12 months
Let baby pick up shells by hand, or offer a preloaded spoon. Shells should be soft enough to mash with your tongue on the roof of your mouth.
ContainsWheat
03
5 minutes · lunch
Black bean and sweet potato quesadilla strips
Mashed beans and sweet potato make a soft filling that holds the tortilla together.
Ingredients and stepsIngredients
1 whole wheat tortilla
1/3 cup no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and mashed well
1/3 cup mashed roasted sweet potato
2 tablespoons shredded mild cheese, such as mozzarella
Steps
Mash the beans with a fork until no whole beans are left, then mix with the sweet potato.
Spread on half the tortilla, add the cheese, and fold.
Cook in a dry pan over medium-low heat, 2 to 3 minutes per side, until the cheese melts.
Cool, then cut into thin strips.
How to serve at 9 to 12 months
Thin strips about the width of two fingers. Always mash or flatten beans, never serve them whole. Skip crispy, hard edges.
ContainsWheatMilk
04
Veggie · make ahead
Broccoli cheddar fritters
Soft, savory bites that turn broccoli into something easy to pick up.
Ingredients and stepsIngredients
1 cup broccoli florets, steamed very soft and finely chopped
1 large egg
1/4 cup shredded mild cheddar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour or oat flour
A little oil for the pan
Steps
Mix the broccoli, egg, cheese, and flour into a thick batter.
Heat a lightly oiled pan over medium-low heat.
Drop in tablespoons of batter and flatten slightly.
Cook about 3 minutes per side, until set all the way through.
Cool before serving. Fridge up to 3 days.
How to serve at 9 to 12 months
Cut into strips or small squares. Keep them soft and lightly golden, not crisp.
ContainsEggMilkWheat, if using flour
05
3 ingredients · breakfast
Banana oat pancakes
Sweet from ripe banana alone, with no added sugar. Full recipe →
Ingredients and stepsIngredients
1 ripe banana (spotty is best)
1 large egg
1/3 cup rolled oats, blended into a coarse flour
Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
Steps
Mash the banana, whisk in the egg, then stir in the oats.
Cook 2 tablespoons of batter per pancake on a greased pan over medium-low heat.
Cook 2 to 3 minutes, flip, and cook 2 minutes more, until set with no wet center.
How to serve at 9 to 12 months
Cut into small squares or thin strips. They should squish easily.
ContainsEggOats (check label)
06
Make ahead · freezer friendly
Veggie egg muffins
Mini muffins you can bake on Sunday and grab all week. Full recipe →
Ingredients and stepsIngredients
4 large eggs
1/4 cup whole milk, breast milk, or formula
1/2 cup spinach, finely chopped
1/4 cup shredded low-sodium cheese, such as mozzarella
Steps
Heat the oven to 350°F and grease a mini muffin tin well.
Whisk the eggs and milk, then stir in the spinach and cheese.
Fill each cup three-quarters full and bake 12 to 15 minutes, until fully set in the center.
How to serve at 9 to 12 months
Cut each muffin into quarters or small pieces.
ContainsEggMilk
07
Omega-3 · baked
Salmon sweet potato cakes
An easy way to offer fish, baked instead of fried. Full recipe →
Ingredients and stepsIngredients
1 can (about 6 oz) boneless, skinless salmon, no salt added, drained
1/2 cup cooked, mashed sweet potato
1 large egg
1/4 cup rolled oats, blended, or plain breadcrumbs
Steps
Heat the oven to 400°F. Flake the salmon and check carefully for bones.
Mix in the sweet potato, egg, and oats, then shape small patties.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway, until firm and cooked through.
How to serve at 9 to 12 months
Break into small soft pieces. Check again for bones as you go.
ContainsFishEgg
08
2 ingredients · side
Roasted sweet potato bites
The easiest side there is, and it pairs with almost everything here. Full recipe →
Ingredients and stepsIngredients
1 medium sweet potato, peeled
1 teaspoon olive oil or avocado oil
Pinch of cinnamon or mild paprika (optional, no salt)
Steps
Heat the oven to 425°F. Cut into fingers, toss with the oil and spice.
Roast 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway, until very soft.
How to serve at 9 to 12 months
At this age, cut the soft fingers into small bite-size pieces for pincer practice.
No top allergens
09
5 minutes · any meal
Spinach scrambled egg
Quick protein for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Full recipe →
Ingredients and stepsIngredients
2 large eggs
Small handful of spinach, very finely chopped
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
Steps
Whisk the eggs with the spinach.
Cook in the butter over medium-low heat, stirring, until fully set with no runny parts.
How to serve at 9 to 12 months
Break into small soft pieces. If egg is new, make it the only new food for 3 to 5 days.
ContainsEggMilk (butter)
10
Make ahead · breakfast
Baked oatmeal fingers
A soft bar you can cut to any size, sweetened only with fruit. Full recipe →
Ingredients and stepsIngredients
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
2 ripe bananas, mashed (or 1 cup unsweetened applesauce)
1 large egg
3/4 cup whole milk, breast milk, or formula
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Steps
Heat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8x8 pan.
Mix everything and press into the pan.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until set but still soft inside. Cool fully before cutting.
How to serve at 9 to 12 months
Cut into fingers or small squares. No added sugar and no honey before 12 months.
ContainsEggMilkOats (check label)
11
No cooking · snack
Yogurt with mashed berries
A no-cook snack that also works as a dip for pancakes or fritters.
Ingredients and stepsIngredients
1/3 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
2 strawberries, mashed
A few blueberries, pressed flat
Very ripe pear, cut small (optional)
Steps
Mash the strawberries with a fork and swirl into the yogurt.
Press each blueberry flat between your fingers before adding.
How to serve at 9 to 12 months
Offer on a preloaded spoon. Strawberries mashed or in thin slices, blueberries flattened or quartered, never whole or halved.
ContainsMilk
12
Early allergen · breakfast
Peanut butter toast strips
A simple way to keep peanut in your baby's diet once it is introduced.
Ingredients and stepsIngredients
1 slice soft whole wheat bread, lightly toasted
1 teaspoon smooth peanut butter
A little water, yogurt, or breast milk to thin it
Steps
Stir the peanut butter with a little liquid until smooth and runny.
Spread a very thin layer on the toast and cut into strips.
How to serve at 9 to 12 months
Spread thin. Never globs, chunks, or whole peanuts. If your baby has severe eczema or an egg allergy, ask your pediatrician before introducing peanut.
ContainsPeanutWheat
Quick safety reminders
Always
✓Keep baby seated upright, supervise every bite, and offer one new food at a time, 3 to 5 days apart
Avoid before 12 months
✕No honey in any form, and no added salt or sugar
✕No whole nuts, globs of nut butter, or whole or halved grapes, blueberries, or cherry tomatoes
✕No hard raw vegetables, coin-shaped slices, or crispy hard edges
Baby-led weaning at 9 months: FAQ
What can a 9 month old eat with baby-led weaning?
Most 9 month olds can eat soft versions of family foods: meatballs, pasta, eggs, beans, fish, cooked vegetables, soft fruit, yogurt, and toast. Cut food into small, soft, bite-size pieces as the pincer grasp develops, and skip honey, whole nuts, and whole grapes or berries until at least 12 months.
How should I cut food for a 9 month old?
Around 9 months, many babies start picking up food with their thumb and finger. Switch from large strips to small soft pieces. Quarter grapes lengthwise, flatten or quarter blueberries, mash or thinly slice strawberries, and flatten beans. Each piece should squish between your fingers.
How many meals a day should a 9 month old have?
Many babies eat about 3 meals a day by 9 to 12 months, plus breast milk or formula, which is still their main drink. Follow your baby's hunger cues and ask your pediatrician about your baby's needs.
Can I add salt to recipes for a 9 month old?
No. Babies under 12 months need very little salt, so skip added salt and choose no-salt-added canned beans, tomatoes, and fish. Herbs and mild spices like cinnamon or garlic powder are fine.
How fast can I add new foods?
The AAP suggests offering one new food at a time and waiting 3 to 5 days before the next, so you can spot any reaction. Common allergens like egg, peanut, fish, milk, and wheat should be introduced one at a time.
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