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Home » Baby Food Chart » 8 Month Old Baby Food Chart, Recipes, Food Ideas and Schedule

8 Month Old Baby Food Chart, Recipes, Food Ideas and Schedule

Published: Oct 27, 2022 by Dora · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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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.

cute baby chewing blanket with teether

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

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.

8 month baby food chart

The sample menu below is based on the FAO/WHO/UNU Energy Requirements for an average 8-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 is not a personalized plan, so please bear this disclaimer in mind.

What to feed 8 month old?

baby on floor with lots of fresh food

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?

Mother holding baby with bottle of formula in the foreground

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 the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dietetic Association and World Health Organization we suggest you introduce solid foods one by one and 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 recipe can be made as a puree, baby-led weaning option or 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.

pictures of the food from the meal plan

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 plan infographic

Meal plans and baby food charts for other ages are available in the baby food charts section 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 chart or the 10 month old meal plan, 11 month old meal plan and 1 year old baby food chart.

Eight month old feeding tips

Carrot baby food options - puree, mashed, baby-led weaning
  • 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.

Free printable meal planner for baby 6,7,8,9,10,11 and 12 months old

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
CHICKEN BUTTERNUT SQUASH FEATURED IMAGE
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
red lentil soup for baby in a silicone baby bowl with spoon
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
8 month old recipe Strawberry Oatmeal
Baked Sweet Potato
Baked Sweet Potato is such an easy, nutritious and healthy food to offer your baby when starting solid foods for the first time.
Check out this recipe
6 month old recipe baked sweet potato different stages of baby food
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
7 month old recipe Cottage Cheese Blackberry Millet
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
6 month old recipe Chicken Carrot Mash
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 Oatmeal with Kefir and Almond Butter in a silicone bowl with a spoon dipped in
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
11 month old blueberry avocado
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
8 month old recipe Chicken Broccoli Millet

Finger food recipes

Easy Red Pancakes
Antioxidant-rich, healthy, easy to make, and delicious! These beautiful red pancakes are perfect for your baby and toddler breakfasts, snacks, and baby-led weaning.
Check out this recipe
easy red pancakes
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
Zucchini Cake
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
10 month old recipes broccoli cheese cakes
Sweet Potato Pancakes
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
sweet potato pancakes
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 for 6 month old baby-led weaning, toddlers, kids and even adults love them. 
Check out this recipe
banana spinach pancakes stacked for baby 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
Mini Zucchini Pizza Bites
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
Healthy french toast sticks for baby-led weaning
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
Oven Baked Spanish Tortilla in glass dish

Wean with Confidence eBOOK

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More baby food recipes

  • Easy & Healthy Red Lentil Baby Soup
  • Easy Hazelnut Butter Recipe
  • Pea puree (for baby & side dish)
  • Chicken Butternut Squash Baby Food Recipe

 

« 7 Month Old Baby Food - Food Chart, Meal, Plan, Meal Ideas
1 Year Old Baby Food, Food Chart, Menu, Meal Planner and Recipes »

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