9 Month Old Baby Sleep and Feeding Schedule With Milk, Solids, Naps, and Nighttime Sleep

9 month old babies need an average of 11-12 hours of sleep at night and 2-3 hours of sleep during the day at nap time. Most 9 month olds are sleeping through the night but if your baby is not, we provide tips below. This article outlines sample 9-month-old baby sleep and feeding schedules, including milk feedings (for breastfeeding and formula-feeding babies!) solids, naps, and nighttime sleep. As a sleep consultant of over 10 years, I’m also sharing typical sleep habits to expect. Or, you can skip to the schedule if you prefer.

9 Month Old’s Sleep Habits and Development

At this age, most 9-month-olds are sleeping through the night without a feeding and take two naps during the day.

However, some babies, in my experience, do better with one feeding after 4 or 5 a.m., and will then sleep longer than if they don’t eat. Otherwise, babies are more often going to wake up too early for the day.

I would need to know your specific situation to make a recommendation, as all babies are unique, but by this age, I would not expect more than one feeding, typically, if any at all.

Your 9-month-old should be taking 2 naps per day for a total of about 2-3 hours per day plus 11-12 hours at night. If you’re having trouble with naps, you might be interested in helping your baby nap.

How Many Naps for an 9 Month Old?

Most 9 month old babies take 2 naps each day that total 2 to 3 hours. Each nap is typically at least an hour long. Babies this age stay awake and have wake windows between 2 and 3 hours at a time, on average, but up to 4 hours before bedtime. Most babies drop the third nap by 9 months old.

If your 9-month-old is still taking three naps and sleeping well then you probably don’t have to worry. But, if you are having sleep problems such as isomnia or split night, you may want to simply transition to two naps. Even when babies happily take three naps, this is a sign they are napping for too many sleep periods during the day even if the total sleep isn’t “too much.”

9 Month Old Feeding

All babies vary, but here are a couple of sample sleep and feeding schedules you can use to make your own for your unique 9 month old baby. Be aware that breast milk and/or formula should be the primary nutrition for the first year, and solids come second.

Below are the average amounts we expect at this age but keep in mind that all babies have a unique appetite.

Average Milk and Solid Amounts Per Day for a 9 Month Old:

• At least 3-4 nursing sessions per day or 26-32 ounces formula or combination of both
• 2 servings (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons dry) baby cereal
• 1-2 servings grain (1 serving = 1/2 slice bread, 2 crackers, 1/2 cup Cheerios, or 1/2 cup whole grain pasta)
• 2 servings (1 serving = 2-4 Tablespoons) fruit
• 2 servings (1 serving = 2-4 Tablespoons) vegetable
• 2-3 servings (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons) protein
• 1 serving Dairy (1 serving = 1/2 cup yogurt, 1/3 cup cottage cheese or 1 oz grated cheese)
• You can also offer cooked egg yolk (but possibly no egg whites until 12 months old due to allergens — check with your doctor)

For more information on starting your baby on solid food, we have a series of blog posts dedicated to the subject. We include recommendations about how and when to start solids, as well as helpful information on food allergies, recommended products, baby-friendly recipes, and more.

You May Also Be Interested In…

• Baby Food Recipes for 9 Month Olds
• Baby Feeding Chart: How Many Ounces By Age
• Baby Night Feedings: How To Know When Necessary

Sample 9 Month Old Schedules With Feedings

This first sample schedule is what I call a “staggered” approach. My first son did better nursing fully and then had solids a bit in between nursing sessions. He was a little hungry but not famished. He just didn’t do well with stopping nursing mid-way to eat solids.

Sample 9 Month Old Schedule — Staggered Approach

If your baby doesn’t mind a more “consolidated” approach to eating, like my second son, here is another type of schedule:

Sample 9 Month Old Schedule — Consolidated Feeding Approach

Notes: If your baby is uninterested in the second half of the milk feeding, consider decreasing the amount of solid food. In addition, when giving any feedings during your bedtime routine, be careful not to create sleep associations.

Want more information about how to help your 9 month old sleep well? Check out our detailed case study about Carrie, Ben, Elliot, and Andrew.

Read how Carrie and Ben helped 8-month-old Elliot learn to sleep longer stretches at night (and, eventually, to sleep through the night completely!) and take better naps – and how they helped to change those sleep associations that were keeping Elliot awake!

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Looking for more sample 9-month schedules?

We have over 40 sample schedules for all ages in our e-Book, Mastering Naps and Schedules. Banish naptime battles and regain control of your day (and your sanity) starting today!

You Might Also Like:

• The 8/9/10 Month Sleep Regression Explained
• The 8-10 Month Sleep Regression Survival Guide: EXPANDED EDITION (Members Area article)
• Custom Schedule Maker (for members only)
• Mastering Naps and Schedules (Members Area digital e-Book)
• Chat Live with a Sleep Consultant (for members only)
• 3 Signs It May Be Time For Night Weaning Your Baby
• Night Weaning Quiz: Is Your Baby Ready To Night Wean?
• 8 Month Baby Sleep Coaching Case Study (Members Area case study)
• How To Put Your Baby On A Schedule (Members Area audio tele-seminar recording with founder)
• How to Nap Train (chapter in Mastering Naps & Schedules)
• Day-by-Day Nap Training Plan (Members Area article)

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For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.

If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, I encourage you to explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 45 sample sleep schedules and planning worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.

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