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A 8 month old baby can eat most things, but sometimes it is confusing how much, when and what - see this helpful 8 month old baby food chart, feeding schedule, feeding tips and more baby food recipes.
If you haven't already, at this age you will most likely be transitioning from purees to more textured foods or even small bite-sized pieces if your baby is starting to get a hang of pincer grasp (but this often develops from 9 months old onwards).
Jump to:
- How much should 8 month old be eating?
- 8 month baby food chart
- What to feed 8 month old?
- Foods to avoid
- How much milk should 8 month old drink?
- How much formula should an 8 month old drink?
- How much water for eight month old baby?
- Sample 8 month old feeding schedule
- Eight month old feeding tips
- Meal Planner for eight month old
- More 8 month old baby food recipes
- Finger food recipes
- Wean with Confidence eBOOK
- More baby food recipes
- Comments
How much should 8 month old be eating?
Between 750 - 900 calories where about 400-500 calories still come from breastmilk/formula.
In the below 8 month baby food chart you will see how much of each food group you should serve.
8 month baby food chart
The 8 month baby food chart shows the recommendations in servings for all the food groups.
At this age, the assumption is that the baby has already tasted a fair share of different foods and is ready to start eating some more complex meals. It is not of crucial importance that the food chart is exactly followed in terms of amounts.
It is however advisable that you can include as much as possible of different food groups within those 2 solid meals per day and in the approximate amounts as mentioned.
The sample menu below is based on theFAO/WHO/UNU Energy Requirements for anaverage8-month-old who weighs 19.6 lbs (8.9 kg).
If your baby is bigger or smaller than this that is ok. Every baby is different and this is just an average.
This isnota personalized plan, so please bear thisdisclaimerin mind.
What to feed 8 month old?
The following foods should be cooked and served appropriately (soft enough to easily mash between the forefinger and thumb).
- Fruits - apples, strawberries, bananas, peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, mango, pineapples, oranges
- Vegetables - cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, swiss chard, kale, parsnips, carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini, eggplant, butternut squash, potatoes, sweet potato, asparagus, beetroot, avocado
- Protein - beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, pork, fish, eggs, lentils, chickpeas, beans, tofu
- Grains - oats, millet, wholewheat products (bread, tortillas, pittas, pasta, couscous), quinoa, barley, bulgur, rye products (bread, tortillas, pittas), rice (once a week due to high arsenic content)
- Dairy (pasteurized, no added sugar or salt) - cheese, full-fat yogurt, kefir
- Fats - nut butters, seed butters, olive oil, avocado
Foods to avoid
- Cow’s milk – digestive system not yet adapted
- Low-fat milk and dairy products – cause excessive intake of protein and low intake of essential fats
- Honey – can cause botulism
- Salt – kidneys not sufficiently developed
- Fruit juices – high sugar content
- Unpasteurized products – can contain dangerous bacteria
- Smoked & cured meats / processed food – excessive salt intake
- High mercury fish (shark, fresh tuna, halibut, grouper) – excessive intake of mercury
- Chocolate, especially dark – high caffeine content
How much milk should 8 month old drink?
An eight month old baby should not have any cow's or goat's milk (unless used for cooking) but only breastmilk or formula.
If giving bottled breastmilk then roughly 24 ounces or 720 ml spread between 3-5 feedings per day.
If breastfeeding, continue as you were. The baby knows when they are full and when they need more.
How much formula should an 8 month old drink?
An eight month old baby should have roughly 24 ounces or 720 ml of formula spread between 3-5 feedings per day.
How much water for eight month old baby?
Ideally, you would also give your child ~3-4 oz (90-120 ml) of water during the day in addition to the below food as well.
Note that different kinds of food also contain different amounts of water so that will vary with a different menu.
Try offering 1-2 oz (30-60 ml) per solid meal per day but if they don't drink it all then don't worry.
The priority is to establish healthy eating (and drinking) habits at this stage.
For more info about water intake during the first 3 years of life,click here.
Sample 8 month old feeding schedule
Following the guidelines of theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics,American Dietetic AssociationandWorld Health Organizationwe suggest you introduce solid foodsone by oneand for at least a day at a time.
That means introducing each of the foods in the meal plan one by one before following the menu below.
Each recipecan be made as apuree,baby-led weaning optionor mashed food(if you are transitioning away from purees).
Because of physical differences, growth spurts, or teething, your child may need/want more or less food than what’s proposed. This is completely normal as every child is unique.
The idea is to offer the proposed average amount of food needed and to go from there.
Breakfast
- 8 oz breastmilk or formula
Lunch – Strawberry Oats (click here for recipe)
- 1.5 tablespoon uncooked oats
- 3 tablespoons water to cook the oats
- ½ cup strawberries
Snack
- 8 oz breastmilk or formula
Dinner – Chicken Broccoli Millet (click here for recipe)
- 1.8 oz chicken, whole, dark and white meat, without skin or bone
- ½ cup broccoli florets
- 1 tablespoon uncooked millet
- 2 tablespoons water to cook millet
- ½ teaspoon olive oil
Before bedtime
- 8 oz breastmilk or formula
Meal plans and baby food charts for other ages are available in thebaby food chartssection such as Meal plan for 6 month old baby, 7 month old baby food chart, 9 month old baby food chart, 10 month old baby food and diet chartor the 10 month old meal plan,11 month old meal planand 1 year old baby food chart.
You can also find our list of easy homemade baby food recipes here.
Eight month old feeding tips
- offer foods one by one to control for allergies
- start moving from purees to textured/mashed food (or continue with BLW)
- always be present when baby is eating
- avoid salt and sugar
- no honey before 1 year oold
- no cow's milk or goat's milk unless cooking
- don't worry about how much they are eating - breastmilk/formula is still the main source of nutrition and they are exploring new foods
- offer mashed foods on a preloaded spoon (have a few spoons on hand)
- have a great bib to minimize cleaning
- serve food in a suction bowl so baby can scoop food out themselves
- teach them to drink little sips from an open cup from the beginning
- notice when baby is full because they will start turning their head away, clamp lips, throw food on the floor, spit food out, push food away
Meal Planner for eight month old
Download, print, and stick to your fridge this easy-to-use meal planner for your baby. Click here to download the PDF Meal Planner for Baby.
More 8 month old baby food recipes
This is a mixture of textured / mashed puree recipes.
Chicken Butternut Squash Baby Food Recipe
Almost entirely hands-off, easy method to make the nutritious protein rich Chicken Butternut Squash Baby food recipe. Can be served to babies from 6 months old either as a stage 1 baby food puree combination, stage 2, stage 3 or as baby-led weaning.
Check out this recipe
Easy Red Lentil Soup Recipe for Baby
10 min prep, 30 min to cook this nutritious, tasty and easy Red Lentil baby soup recipe is perfect for a 6 month old baby and older. Can be given if you are doing baby-led weaning, for toddlers, kids and it is so delicious adults will love it. Make a big batch and freeze it for days you don't want to cook. It's naturally vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Check out this recipe
Strawberry Oatmeal
Strawberry Oatmeal – a perfect healthy recipe for your baby. Loaded with healthy carbs and antioxidants your baby will enjoy.
Check out this recipe
Baked Sweet Potato for Baby (BLW, Puree, Mashed)
One method of preparing sweet potato but you can serve it as baby-led weaning, mashed or sweet potato puree.
Check out this recipe
Cottage Cheese Blackberry Millet
Cottage Cheese Blackberry Millet - perfect healthy baby recipe full of protein, calcium and antioxidants for healthy growth and development.
Check out this recipe
Chicken-Carrot Mash
Chicken Carrot Mash is a quick and nutritious recipe for a 6 month old baby that is simple and can be either BLW or pureed.
Check out this recipe
Blueberry Oatmeal with Kefir and Almond Butter
Easy, 5 min blueberry oatmeal is a great breakfast oatmeal recipe for babies 6 months old +. Creamy with probiotic-rich kefir, and healthy fats from almond butter, this quick
Check out this recipe
Blueberry Avocado Oats
Blueberry Avocado Oatmeal - quick, easy, simple - full of antioxidants, good fats and carbs for baby's healthy growth and development.
Check out this recipe
Chicken Broccoli Millet
Chicken Broccoli Millet – a healthy recipe for an 8-month-old, loaded with protein, anti-inflammatory nutrients and healthy carbohydrates to keep your baby full.
Check out this recipe
Finger food recipes
Easy Red Pancakes
Antioxidant-rich, healthy, easy to make, and delicious! These beautiful pink pancakes or beet pancakes are a great healthy pancake for adults, kids, baby and toddler. Made with just 4 ingredients and sweetened with banana and beetroot.
Check out this recipe
Zucchini Cake
Add more vegetables to your child's diet with this simple yet delicious zucchini cake – a perfect healthy snack to take with you while you're out and about!
Check out this recipe
Broccoli Cheese Cakes
Broccoli Cheese Cakes - easy, quick and a perfect meal to take to the park or make a large batch and freeze for those days you don't wanna cook
Check out this recipe
Sweet Potato Pancakes for Baby
The BEST, super easy, and nutritious sweet potato pancakes – perfect for baby-led weaning, finger food and to take on-the-go.
Check out this recipe
Banana Spinach Pancakes Baby Recipe
A great way to add nutritious spinach to a baby recipes. These healthy spinach pancakes are made with just 4 ingredients - banana, oats, egg and spinach and in 10 minutes. Perfect for6 month old baby-led weaning, toddlers, kidsand even adults love them.
Check out this recipe
Mini Zucchini Pizza Bites
This easy, healthy Mini Zucchini Pizza Bites recipe is a perfect appetizer, snack, or even lunch and dinner for baby, toddlers, kids and the whole family. Made in 4 easy steps they will become a part of your family menu.
Check out this recipe
A Healthy French Toast
A healthier version of the traditional French toast, low in saturated fat but high on flavor. Perfect for a weekend breakfast for the whole family and one your toddler will love.
Check out this recipe
Oven-baked Spanish Tortilla (Spanish Omelette)
A healthy and filling meal you can prepare in no time to feed the whole family. A twist on the classic Spanish tortilla that takes 10 min of prep and 45 min in the oven. Easy, delicious oven-baked Spanish tortilla.
Check out this recipe
Wean with Confidence eBOOK
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- Wean With Confidence eBOOK
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More baby food recipes
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- Baby Mango Puree
- Baked Apples for Baby-led Weaning
More Baby Food Charts
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