9 Month Old Baby Feeding and Sleep Schedule: With Milk, Solid Food, 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 15+ 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 sleep schedules include 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 insomnia 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.”

Wake Windows for 9 Month Olds

Most 9 month old babies do best with wake windows of about 2.5 to 3.5 hours between sleep periods. By this age, most babies have transitioned to a 2-nap schedule, with the shortest wake window often happening in the morning and the longest before bedtime. However, every baby is different, and factors like short naps, developmental milestones, and the 9-month sleep regression can all affect how long your baby can comfortably stay awake. For a more detailed breakdown of wake windows, sample timing, and troubleshooting tips, read our complete guide to 9 Month Old Wake Windows.

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
• 9 Month Sleep Regression – How to Avoid it or Fix it
• 5 Benefits of Pumpkins for Babies

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

9 Month Old Sleep Schedule With Feedings
Time	Activity
7:00 AM	Wake and Milk
9:00 AM	Breakfast
9:30/10:00 AM	Morning Nap (at least one hour long)
11:00 AM	Milk (upon waking)
1:00 PM	Lunch
2:00 PM	Afternoon Nap (at least one hour long)
3:00 PM	Milk + Snack (possibly)
5:00 PM	Dinner
6:30 PM	Begin your bedtime routine
7:00 PM	Milk and Bedtime (goal to be asleep by this time)

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

9 Month Old Sleep Schedule With Feedings
Time	Activity
7:00 AM	Wake
7:30 AM	1/2 Milk Feeding, then Breakfast, then offer the other 1/2 Milk
9:30/10:00 AM	Morning Nap (at least one hour long)
11:30 AM	1/2 Milk Feeding, then Lunch, then offer the other 1/2 Milk
2:00 PM	Afternoon Nap (at least one hour long)
3:00 PM	Milk + Snack (possibly)
5:00 PM	Dinner + 1/2 Milk Feeding
6:30 PM	Begin your bedtime routine
7:00 PM	Milk and Bedtime (goal to be asleep by this time)

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.

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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!

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You Might Also Like:

• The 8/9/10 Month Sleep Regression Explained
• Can Down Time in the Crib be Bad for Your Baby’s Sleep?
• Baby’s Sleep and the Moon
• 3 Signs It May Be Time to Night Wean Your Baby