8 Month Baby Food – What to Give, What Not to Give and Sample Schedule

During their 8th month, babies should have at least 4 servings of milk of 150 ml each and at least 3 solid meals comprising one breakfast and two snacks. With every new food that you introduce remember to follow the three-day rule to ensure that your baby is not allergic to that food. Also, continue giving foods that you have introduced earlier periodically to ensure continuity.

Top Six Best Foods For Your 8 Month Old Baby

The growth and development of the baby depend on the nutrition they get. In the first few years, more emphasis must be given to the foods they consume. Once the baby starts eating proper food at around eight months, foods of different tastes, shapes and textures should be given. Some great food options that are ideal for an 8 month old baby are given in the table below:

1. Fruits

Fruits are a powerhouse of micro-nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. It is usually seen that the first choice of parents is apples and bananas but it is also advisable to add berries, kiwi, papaya, cantaloupes, mangoes and cherries to the diet as well. Fruits can also be given as finger food to some 8 month old babies if your baby is showing readiness and you have your pediatrician’s approval to go ahead.

2. Vegetables

Vegetables are another good source that add nutrition to the baby’s diet. It can be pureed, mashed etc. Vegetable khichdi and Dalia can even be given to the baby by adding all sorts of vegetables broccoli, cabbage, brinjal, zucchini, ash gourd, sweet corn etc

3. Eggs

Eggs add a generous dose of healthy protein and fat to the baby’s diet. This is a good age to add boiled eggs to a baby’s diet. However, be mindful of any allergic reactions since eggs are known allergens.] already expalined in previous month

4. Chicken

It is introduced after seven months and is a healthy option for babies. The chicken soup and broth are full of nutrition and offer immense strength as well. Nothing beats the goodness of chicken soup when your baby is down with cold.

5. Tofu/Paneer

Tofu is made from soy protein whereas paneer is made from cow/buffalo milk. Both are excellent sources of protein and fat for a baby. In addition, both are nutritional powerhouses. You can add both tofu and paneer as a snack item to your baby’s diet.

6. Cheese

It is a great source of calcium and important for the growth and development of babies. Cheese should also be given to the babies gradually in small amounts as it is difficult to digest.

Food Chart For an 8 Month Old Baby

As your baby continues to grow in height and weight and reach new milestones, it becomes more important to introduce a wide range of foods to help meet their nutritional needs. Babies who are exposed to a lot of textures and flavors will be good eaters later in life. This is also one of the reasons why it is vital that you introduce your 8 month old baby to as many foods as possible, especially till they are a year old.

• Fruits: Coconut, Blueberry, Cantaloupe, Kiwi, Papaya, Mango, Cherry, Strawberry
• Vegetables: Onion, Cauliflower, Eggplant, corn, broccoli, cabbage, zucchini, ash gourd, Peas
• Grains/ Lentils: Poha, Quinoa, Dalia, Beans, Chia seeds, Chickpea, Masoor dal (Red lentils), Urad dal
• Dairy Products: Egg, Cheese, Tofu, Paneer, peanut butter
• Non-Veg: Chicken
• Spices, Nuts And Seeds: Raisins

Other foods that you can add to your baby’s diet at this stage include peanut butter and pasta.

[Read : Pasta For Babies]

List of Top 5 Foods to Avoid For an 8 Month Old Baby

It is no doubt important to offer proper nutrition to the baby. At the same time, it is also important to avoid certain foods as they are difficult to digest and can result in infections, choking hazards etc.

1. Unpasteurized foods

It is not advisable to give unpasteurized foods to babies as there is a high chance that it might have harmful bacteria that could lead to severe consequences.

2. Raw Vegetables

Always give properly cooked veggies and not raw ones to the baby. Raw vegetables carry the risk of contamination. Also, it is important to wash all raw vegetables well before cooking.

3. Soft Drinks and Beverages

Drinks like soda, juices and sports drinks are not good for babies who are less than a year old. The tetra juice packs have added sugar content as well as high calories that result in excessive weight gain or tooth decaying as well.

[Read : Soft Drinks For Baby – Is it Safe?]

4. Artificial Sweeteners

It is important not just to avoid sugar and salt but also artificial sweeteners since they can affect your baby’s health and usually contain chemicals.

5. Sticky Foods

Chewing gums, jellies, candies, all are sticky and can get stuck to the throat of the baby which can result in choking.

Thus, the eight months old babies must be dealt with a lot of care. They are very active and inquisitive, so they need proper nutrition and lots of energy. It is thus the parents’ prerogative to decide what is best for them and offer them foods that give them strength, nutrition, and energy.

8 Months Old Baby Food Schedule

The food chart for an 8 month old baby should have a balanced food diet. As the baby is very active it is important that the baby gets adequate nutrition, which is important for their growth and development. Here is a 8 months old baby food schedule each parent can follow:

• Morning – Wake up and nurse on breastmilk or formula about 150 ml
• Breakfast – Mashed fruit or porridge – 1 cup
• Mid-morning – breastmilk or formula 150 ml
• Lunch – kichadi with veggies and yogurt or rice with lentils and vegetables 1 cup
• Evening Snack – breastmilk or formula 150 ml
• Dinner – Mashed vegetables or diced chicken with dalia and yogurt
• Bed time – breastmilk or formula 150 ml

Sample Feeding Schedule For an 8 Month Old Baby

A eight-month-old is extremely active and needs a good amount of energy. For the baby to not get tired easily, it is important to offer him highly nutritious food. It is mandatory to include a lot of fruits and vegetables in the diet chart so that they eat healthy and get adequate nutrition.

Baby Meal Plan For Eight Month Week 1

Your baby is not so tiny anymore and they have already tasted a wide variety of foods by now. You can start combining different vegetables, fruits and other food groups in their meal to ensure they receive maximum nutrition. Remember that their stomachs are still tiny. Whatever you offer them must be nutrient-dense and provide lots of energy.

Week 1, Day 1 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Mango Puree With Cereal
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Broken Wheat/ Wheat Upma
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Rice With Egg Plant And Yogurt
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 1 Day 2 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Mixed Berries With Oatmeal
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Masoor Dal Khichdi With Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Ash Gourd Dal With Rice
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 1 Day 3 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Poha With Potato and Peas
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Quinoa With Potato and Green Peas
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Broccoli Ashgourd Mash With Yogurt
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 1 Day 4 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Boiled Egg Mash or Mashed Chicken
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Dalia With Chickpea Mash And Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Khichdi With Masoor Dal and Veggies
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 1 Day 5 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Cauliflower Potato Soup
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Rice with Udad Dal, Ashgourd And Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Apple Ragi Porridge
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 1 Day 6 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Suji Upma With Coconut Water
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Quinoa With Potato And Green Peas
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Cauliflower Sweet Corn Soup
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 1 Day 7 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Chicken Soup/Moong Dal Soup
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Masoor Dal Khichdi with veggies
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Ashgourd and Broccoli Mash
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Baby Meal Plan For Eight Month Week 2

Consistency is the key when it comes to ensuring that a baby eats healthy. There may be days when a baby will refuse to eat. The reasons can be many, ranging from teething to illness or even regression. In such cases, it is important to keep offering the baby something without fail. They may eat a spoon or two or refuse to even touch. in such cases, you can try offering the food again after some time.

Week 2, Day 1 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Cantaloupe Puree With Oatmeal
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Rice With Moong Dal, Mashed Egg Plant And Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Dal Khichdi with Raitha
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 2 Day 2 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Poha With Potatoes And Peas
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Broken Wheat with Mixed Veggies
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Masoor And Moong Dal Soup
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 2 Day 3 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Chicken Mash or Egg Mash With Coconut Water
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Masoor Dal Khichdi With Potatoes
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Paneer and Cauliflower Mash
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 2 Day 4 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Cantaloupe and Berry Mash
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Rice With Dal and Mashed Potatoes and Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Suji Upma
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 2 Day 5 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Cream of Broccoli and Corn Soup
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Quinoa With Potatoes And Green Peas
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Mango Ragi Porridge
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 2 Day 6 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Bean Mash With Coconut Water
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Rice With Potato And Ashgourd And Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Cauliflower Sweet Corn Soup
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 2 Day 7 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Oatmeal With  Papaya Puree
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Quinoa With Mixed Veggies and Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Broccoli Ashgourd Mash
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Baby Meal Plan For Eight Month Week 3

As your baby is learning to have new solids every day, it is important to note that distraction feeding, a practice normally followed in most Indian households may not be beneficial in the long run. It is good to avoid screen time and playtime during meals. Try to make meals a fun time for both the mother and the baby instead of making it a stressful time.

Week 3 Day 1 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Oatmeal With Mango Puree
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Masoor Dal Khichdi With Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Paneer and Cauliflower Mash
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 3 Day 2 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Poha With Potatoes And Peas
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Broken Wheat with Mixed Veggies And Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Zucchini and Ash gourd Mash Or Potato and Ash gourd Mash
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 3 Day 3 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Cantaloupe Puree With Oatmeal
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Rice With Egg Plant And Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Paneer and Cauliflower Soup
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 3 Day 4 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Chicken Mash or Egg Mash With Coconut Water
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Dalia With Broccoli Mash And Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Masoor Dal Khichdi or Dal Soup
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 3 Day 5 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Cantaloupe And Berry Mash
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Ashgourd Dal With Rice And Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Mango Dalia Porridge
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 3 Day 6 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Chick Pea Mash With Coconut Water
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Rice With Udad Dal, Cabbage And Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Cauliflower Potato Sweet Corn Soup
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 3 Day 7 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Suji Upma
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Moong Dal Khichdi With Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Broccoli Green Peas Potato Mash
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Baby Meal Plan For Eight Month Week 4

At this point, some baby may show an early interest in finger foods or chewing and eating. Especially for parents who are following Baby Led Weaning, it is important to identify early bloomers who are ready to chew and eat. Having said that, most babies may need a month more before they can start holding, chewing, and eating finger foods. Parents must carefully identify their baby’s cues and understand what their baby is interested in.

Week 4 Day 1 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Oatmeal With Mixed Fruit Mash and Mashed Raisins
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Quinoa With Potato And Peas And Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Paneer and Cauliflower Mash
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 4 Day 2 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Tofu Mash With Coconut Water
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Broken Wheat with Mixed Veggies And Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Ashgourd Dal With Rice
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 4 Day 3 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Chicken Mash or Egg Mash With Coconut Water
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Rice With Dal And Steamed Veggies and Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Paneer and Cauliflower Soup
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 4 Day 4 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Poha With Potato And Onion
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Quinoa With Mixed Veggies and Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Masoor And Moong Dal Soup or Khichdi
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 4 Day 5 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Cereal With Berry And Kiwi
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Dal Khichdi With Veggies and Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Ashgourd and Dal With Rice
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 4 Day 6 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Bean Mash With Coconut Water
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Rice With Ashgourd, Egg Plant Mash and Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Potato Sweet Corn Soup
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

Week 2 Day 7 – Eight Months Baby Meal Plan

Feeding Time	Sample Meal Idea
After Waking Up	Breast Milk or Formula
Breakfast	Suji Upma with Coconut Water
Mid-Morning	Breast Milk or Formula
Lunch	Urad Dal Khichdi With Yogurt
Evening Snack	Breast Milk or Formula
Dinner	Broccoli Peas Potato Mash
Bedtime	Breast Milk or Formula

List of Top 9 Easy Homemade Baby Food Ideas For an 8 Months Old Baby

This is an ideal time to experiment with more combination foods for your baby. The digestive system is now developing quickly and some babies can also start eating finger foods  at this stage. Here are some recipe ideas you can experiment with for your baby at this stage.

1. Potato Porridge

Potato is full of nutrition, and good for immunity, eyes, and brain. Porridge made from this is good for the growth and development of the baby.

2. Cauliflower Sweet Corn Soup

Babies loves the sweetness of sweet corn while cauliflower provides a host of nutrients. Together this combination provides a healthy and tasty meal for growing babies.

3. Broken Wheat With Mixed Veggies

Another dish that can be a powerhouse of nutrition is mixed veg dalia. Broken wheat of dalia is rich in carbs, protein and fiber. Combine this with your baby’s favourite veggies and you have a complete and nourishing meal.

4. Apple Ragi Porridge

Nachni, finger millet or popularly known as ragi has good protein, iron, and calcium in it. This helps in proper weight gain and apples are one of the fruits that are full of nutrition. The apple and ragi porridge is hence a good option to be given to babies.

5. Suji Upma Recipe

Upma is one of the healthy breakfasts and enjoyed by all, especially babies due to its texture and mild flavor.

6. Masoor Dal Khichdi

Khichadi is the easier way to introduce a multitude of nutrients to your baby’s diet. You can experiment with different lentils and vegetables with each recipe, like in this case, khichdi made with masoor dal or red lentils.

7. Paneer and Cauliflower Mash

Babies may not like the flavor of cauliflower. Combining it with a crowd favorite like paneer can make it more edible for your baby. Season this recipe with spices such as dried dil, oregano and pepper and you have a yummy snack for your baby.

8. Berry Oatmeal

Berries are rich in many of the vital vitamins and nutrients and are an excellent source of fiber too. Combining berries with oatmeal makes a well-rounded breakfast that will keep your baby energetic and healthy till they are ready for lunch.

9. Chicken Soup

Chicken soup is an age-old favorite to build immunity and provides many of the basic nutrients that a baby needs. If your munchkin doesn’t like drinking water, soups are an excellent way to keep them hydrated. Chicken broth is an essential source of many vitamins and minerals and also an ideal way of introducing chicken to your baby for the first time.

[Read : The 3-Day Wait Rule For Babies To Introduce Solids]

Tips and Precautions For Feeding an 8 Months Old Baby

Feeding an eight month old is not very difficult but needs some precautions which are important to avoid choking hazards and ruling out any infections. Few tips that must be followed while feeding is given below.

• Never give cow milk to a baby until they celebrate their first birthday.
• It is always advisable to give milk, either formula or mothers’ milk as the prime source of nutrition as it is very important for babies even with solid foods.
• Giving deep-fried food to the baby is not healthy and should be replaced with steamed vegetables or fruits.
• There are strong chances for a baby to be allergic to dairy products especially if it runs in the family history. It is thus prudent to watch out for any signs and consult a doctor for the same.
• The baby should be given food that is partially grainy so that they start chewing as well as earlier they were eating mashed foods.
• It is not advisable to add sugar or salt till the baby is a year old.
• Babies of eight months are very active and inquisitive, so it is important to feed them in small amounts rather than in one go in case they are reluctant.
• Parents need to be prudent while feeding as it is normal for babies of eight-year-old to choke while they nibble chunks of food or nibble on fruits or any solid food item.
• It is advisable to serve the baby in glass or steel. It is better to avoid plastics since it is not good for the health of the baby.
• Always follow a 3-day rule. When introducing any new food, it is advisable to check for allergies for three days and then increase the quantity. Also do not introduce any other food in the meanwhile.
• It is natural for babies to not like or accept something they have never tried before so it is important to be patient and keep trying new ones.
• A few foods might have digestion issues, so it is ideal to not start with very oily or spicy foods to avoid irritation in the digestive tract.
• In case the baby is continuously vomiting after introducing a new food or shows allergic reactions like rashes or boils, it is best to stop the food immediately and consult a pediatrician.

Feeding an 8 month old baby can be a challenge. It is important to devise methods that can make meals a fun time for babies. If your baby is going through a period of regression, i.e., they do not suddenly seem to want to eat, understand that this is normal. Do check if there are any underlying causes such as teething, mouth sores, or any other illnesses. Do offer food at their meal times regularly every day even if they seem to reject it. You will see that they will get back to their normal in no time.