Quick Answers
Most 8-month-old babies need around 800 to 1,000 calories per day from breast milk or formula. They should be eating 3-4 meals of solid foods per day, in addition to breast milk or formula. Here are some quick tips:
– Offer a variety of soft, mashed, chopped foods like fruits, vegetables, cereals, meats, eggs and yogurt.
– Let baby explore different textures and flavors.
– Start with 1-2 tablespoons per meal and let baby indicate if they want more.
– Avoid added sugars, salt and unhealthy fats. Focus on healthy, nutrient-dense foods.
– Keep mealtimes relaxed and fun. Don’t force baby to eat.
– Watch for signs that baby is full, like sealing lips together or turning head away.
– Babies at this age still need 4-6 oz breast milk or formula per feeding, about 3 times per day on average.
How Many Calories Does an 8-Month-Old Need?
At 8 months old, babies need around 800 to 1,000 calories per day. This helps them grow and thrive during a period of rapid development.
Calorie needs are based on age, size and activity level. On average, an 8-month old weighs around 16 to 24 pounds and is about 26 to 29 inches long. Very active babies may need more calories while less active babies may need slightly less.
Most calories should still come from breast milk or infant formula at this age. Breastfed babies will nurse around 25 ounces per day on average. Formula fed babies need about 32 ounces or 4 six-ounce bottles daily.
In addition to breast milk or formula, calories will start coming from solid foods. At first these make up just a small portion of baby’s diet. By 8 months, solid foods might provide up to 200 calories per day.
Calorie Recommendations
Here are some general guidelines for calorie needs at 8 months old:
– Breastfed babies need around 25 ounces of breastmilk providing 600-700 calories.
– Formula fed babies need about 32 ounces of standard infant formula providing 700-800 calories.
– Solid foods can provide around 100-200 calories.
– Total estimated needs are 800-1,000 calories daily.
Of course, every baby is different. It’s best to look for signs that your baby is getting enough to eat rather than focusing too much on numbers. Signs baby is well-fed include:
– Steady weight gain.
– Meeting developmental milestones.
– Seems satisfied and content after eating.
– Good energy levels during play.
– Plenty of wet and dirty diapers.
If your baby seems hungry, overtired or isn’t gaining weight well, they may need more calories. Check with your pediatrician if you have any concerns.
How Often Should an 8-Month-Old Eat?
At 8 months, babies start transitioning to more of a routine eating schedule. Here are some general guidelines for feeding frequency at this age:
– Breast milk or formula: 3-4 feedings spread throughout the day. Breastfed babies may nurse more frequently.
– Solids: 3-4 meals per day plus 1-2 snacks.
Feeding frequency depends on appetite, activity level and if you’re breast or formula feeding. By 8 months, there is typically less need for nighttime feedings.
Here is what a sample daily schedule might look like:
Upon Waking
– Breast milk or formula feeding
Breakfast
– Breast milk or formula
– Solid foods like cereal, fruit or vegetable
Lunch
– Breast milk or formula
– Solids like purees, mashed foods or finger foods
Snack
– Finger foods or puréed snacks
Dinner
– Breast milk or formula
– Solids
Before Bed
– Breast milk or formula
This schedule may vary. For example, some babies might eat 4 solid meals and drop the morning snack. Watch your baby for cues that they are hungry or full to guide timing.
The key is ensuring baby gets enough breastmilk or formula in addition to experimenting with solid foods. Keep offering new flavors, textures and finger foods while allowing baby to control intake.
How Much Should Baby Eat at Each Feeding?
At 8 months, babies are exploring a wide variety of solid foods in addition to breast milk or formula. How much baby eats at each meal or snack can vary quite a bit. Here are some general guidelines:
– Breast milk or formula: 4-6 ounces per feeding, about 3 times daily. Offer when baby seems hungry.
– Cereal: Start with 1-2 tablespoons mixed with breast milk or formula and gradually increase to 3-4 tablespoons.
– Fruits and vegetables: Start with 1-2 tablespoons working up to 1/4 cup or more if desired.
– Finger foods: Let baby grasp small pieces to start with more as coordination improves.
– Meats and eggs: Begin with 1-2 tablespoons pureed or mashed.
– Yogurt: Start with 1-2 tablespoons plain whole milk yogurt.
– Snacks: Bite sized pieces of soft finger foods are good for starting snacks.
Keep in mind babies have small stomachs so they don’t need large portions. Let your baby show signs of hunger and fullness to guide how much to offer. It may take 10 or more exposures to a new food before baby accepts it so keep trying new things.
Also, remember feeding times are about more than just eating: they are a time for bonding, exploring and making a mess! Don’t worry about getting a certain amount of food in. Your baby knows best when they are full.
What Should 8 Month Old Babies Eat?
At 8 months, babies can eat a wide variety of healthy solid foods in addition to breast milk or formula. Here are some great options:
Grains
– Iron fortified rice cereal
– Oatmeal
– Mixed grain cereals
– Teething biscuits or crackers
– Pasta
Fruits
– Bananas
– Apples or pears (cooked)
– Avocado
– Peaches
– Plums
– Apricots
– Mango
– Papaya
– Berries
– Melon
Vegetables
– Sweet potatoes
– Winter squash
– Green beans
– Carrots
– Peas
– Broccoli (florets)
– Cauliflower
– Zucchini
– Bell peppers
Meats and Eggs
– Ground beef
– Ground turkey
– Chicken
– Tofu
– Cottage cheese
– Eggs
– Beans/lentils
Dairy
– Full fat yogurt
– Cheese
Avoid added sugars, salt, and unhealthy fats. Also skipraw honey, whole grapes or hot dogs as choking hazards.
Offer single ingredient foods at first to check for intolerances. Mix textures like smooth yogurt with chopped fruit or add purees to cereal. Let baby play, mush and feed themselves too! This stage is about exploration.
Sample Menu for an 8 Month Old
Here is a sample menu showing what solid foods an 8 month old might eat in a day along with breastmilk or formula.
Breakfast:
– 4-6 oz breastmilk or formula
– 1-2 tbsp iron fortified cereal mixed with breastmilk or formula
– 1-2 tbsp mashed banana
Lunch:
– 4-6 oz breastmilk or formula
– 2-3 tbsp avocado pieces
– 2-3 tbsp steamed and mashed carrots
Snack:
– Teething crackers
– 2-3 oz yogurt
Dinner:
– 4-6 oz breastmilk or formula
– 1-2 tbsp ground beef or turkey
– 2-3 tbsp sweet potato puree
– 1-2 tbsp peas
This is just a sample to provide ideas for first foods to introduce. Let your baby’s preferences and cues about hunger/fullness guide what and how much they eat.
Offer new foods one at a time to check for allergies. Combine smooth or mashed foods with some soft finger foods at each meal. And remember to be patient – it can take over 10 tries before baby accepts a new food!
How to Know if Your 8 Month Old is Eating Enough
It’s normal to worry about whether your 8 month old is eating enough solid foods along with breastmilk or formula. Here are some signs that your baby is getting enough to eat:
– They seem satisfied and content after eating
– They are gaining weight appropriately and meeting physical milestones
– They have regular wet and soiled diapers
– They have good energy for playing and exploring
Conversely, the following may be signs your baby needs more nourishment:
– Not gaining weight or dropping percentiles on growth charts
– Doesn’t seem interested in solids or eating enough volume
– Seems hungry soon after eating
– Not meeting physical milestones
– Fatigue, lethargy or lack of energy
Trust your instincts – you know your baby best. If you have any concerns about nutrition or growth, talk to your pediatrician. They can help assess if your baby is getting enough calories and nutrients.
Some common reasons babies struggle with solids:
– Still adjusting to different textures
– Distracted during mealtimes
– Difficulty coordinating swallowing
– Reflux or upset stomach
– Food intolerances or allergies
For most babies, starting solids is a learning process. Have patience, offer a variety of healthy foods and let your baby warm up at their own pace. With time and exposure, they will become pros at eating solid foods!
Tips for Feeding an 8 Month Old
Here are some helpful tips for introducing solids and feeding an 8 month old:
– Vary textures from smooth, mashed foods to soft finger foods.
– Introduce one new food at a time to check for allergies.
– Offer open cup sips of water with meals.
– Make eye contact and talk with baby during mealtimes.
– Don’t force food – let baby indicate if they want more.
– End the meal when baby seems disinterested.
– Offer food on more than one occasion if rejected at first.
– Avoid distractions like TV during meals.
– Make eating fun with baby-led exploration and messy play.
– Focus on nutrition not getting a certain amount of food in.
– Watch for choking hazards like whole grapes, hot dogs.
– Don’t worry if most nutrition still comes from breast milk or formula.
– Look for signs baby is still hungry like opening mouth for more.
– Let baby self feed with fingers or grip-easy utensils.
Eating solid foods is a whole new experience for your baby involving their senses, development and emotions. Keeping mealtimes relaxed, pressure-free and fun creates lifelong healthy eating habits.
When to See a Doctor
It’s normal for introducing solid foods to come with some bumps in the road. But if you have ongoing concerns about your baby’s eating habits, growth or development, check in with the doctor to rule out any medical issues.
See a pediatrician if your 8 month old shows any of the following:
– Significant decrease in weight percentile or growth curve
– Refusal to eat solids or difficulty swallowing/choking
– No interest in self-feeding
– Does not seem satisfied by feeding amounts
– Excessive spitting up or vomiting
– Diarrhea or constipation
– Excessive crying or fatigue during/after meals
– Signs of food allergy like rash, vomiting or wheezing
– Not reaching physical milestones
Don’t feel like you need to get a certain amount of food into your baby or pressure them to eat. Trust your instincts – you know your child best. If concerns arise, your pediatrician can help get to the bottom of feeding issues.
When to Start Feeding from a Cup
Around 6 to 8 months is a great time to introduce sippy cup drinking. Look for these signs your baby may be ready:
– Good head and neck control
– Interest in your cup when drinking
– Ability to swallow thicker liquids
– Developing pincer grasp
Here are some tips for introducing a cup:
– Offer water or breastmilk/formula in a free-flowing sippy cup.
– Have baby practice during mealtimes then work up to other times.
– Hold cup together at first providing support.
– Expect spills! Practice over a sink or outside.
– Offer lots of praise for attempts.
– Introduce straw cups after sippy cups are mastered.
– Wean from bottle by 12-14 months old.
Don’t be discouraged by spills or refusal at first – cup drinking is a process. With patience and consistency, your baby will soon master this important milestone. Check with your pediatrician if you have concerns about your baby’s ability to swallow from a cup.
Foods to Avoid for 8 Month Olds
While a variety of foods can be safely introduced around 8 months, there are some important items to avoid:
– Honey – risk of infant botulism before 12 months old
– Cow’s milk – can cause intestinal bleeding and iron deficiency
– Unpasteurized juice or dairy – may contain harmful bacteria
– Certain raw sprouts – risk of foodborne illnesses
– Choking hazards like whole grapes, hot dogs, nuts, popcorn, raw veggies
– Heavily processed foods high in sugar, salt or unhealthy fats
Wait to introduce potential allergens like peanuts, fish and eggs until baby is eating solids regularly. Then introduce one at a time and watch for reactions.
Avoid adding any salt, sugar or sweeteners to foods or beverages. Baby’s developing taste buds are sensitive to strong flavors. Focus on naturally sweet foods like fruits and veggies.
If family has a history of food allergies, talk to your pediatrician about when and how to introduce higher risk foods. They can help come up with a plan that’s right for your child.
How to Handle Food Refusal
It’s common around 8 months for babies to start developing likes, dislikes and even food refusals. Here are some tips for handling picky eating:
– Offer refused foods again a few days later – it can take over 10 exposures.
– Try pairing refused foods with something they like.
– Model enjoyment of foods – baby sees you liking it!
– Make eating fun and involve all baby’s senses.
– Don’t force or bribe with dessert – this increases refusals.
– Relax and don’t cater to pickiness too much.
– Focus on nutrients not just calories.
– Offer water if refusing a meal.
– Check for signs of reflux or food intolerance.
– Consider texture issues – mash or cut foods.
– Stick to a routine – end meals if refused after a reasonable time.
– Praise for even licking or tasting a new food!
Remember that eating habits are still developing at this age. Refusals are part of the process as baby exerts preferences and control. Keep exposing baby to healthy foods and stay positive at mealtimes. With patience, most babies will outgrow extreme pickiness given time.
Signs Baby is Ready for Solid Foods
Starting solids is an exciting milestone! Here are some signs your baby may be ready around 6-8 months:
– Good head and neck control
– Sits supported or with little help
– Interest in food when others are eating
– Ability to swallow thicker liquids
– Opens mouth when food is offered
– Developing pincer grasp to pick up items
Until these signs emerge, breast milk or formula provide complete nutrition. There is no rush to start solids – follow your baby’s lead.
When introducing first foods, go slowly with single ingredients. Watch for signs of allergy or intolerance. Mealtimes will be messy as baby learns how to swallow solids and feed themselves. Offer lots of praise and avoid distractions.
Starting solids is a gradual process. Let your baby set the pace so it stays fun! With time and exposure, they will continue expanding their palate and eating skills.
Conclusion
Starting solids is an exciting time of exploration and development! Around 8 months, babies are ready for eating soft, mashed and finger foods along with breast milk or formula. Pay attention to your baby’s hunger and fullness cues to guide how much to offer at meals and snacks. Focus on exposing baby to a variety of textures and healthy foods in a relaxed way. With patience and consistency, your little one will become an adept eater in no time. Don’t hesitate to check with your pediatrician if you have any concerns about nutrition, growth or feeding refusal. Trust your instincts – you know your baby best!
