Leena Watts
When it comes to feeding an 8-month-old baby, it's important to remember that they are growing quickly and need a lot of energy and nutrients. While breast milk or formula should still be their main source of nutrition, solid foods should now be introduced gradually. This is a great time to encourage your baby to explore different table foods and get them interested in new tastes and textures.
Diet for an 8-month-old baby
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency of meals | 4 times a day |
| Amount of food | Half a cup of soft food |
| Snacks | Healthy snacks like mashed fruit |
| Breastfeeding | Continue breastfeeding whenever the baby is hungry |
| Solid foods | Grains, tubers, fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds, meat, fish, eggs, dairy, etc. |
| Texture | Soft, easy to swallow, and cut into small pieces |
| Variety | Introduce new foods one at a time and gradually |
| Allergies | Be aware of any food allergies and avoid accordingly |
| Choking hazards | Avoid foods that the baby could choke on |
| Milk | Breast milk or formula; cow's milk can be used in cooking |
| Iron | Include iron-rich foods or iron-fortified formula /cereal |
| Drinking | Encourage drinking from a cup |
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What You'll Learn
Soft, mashed, and pureed foods
From 6 to 8 months old, babies can eat half a cup of soft food four times a day, plus a healthy snack. From 9 to 11 months old, this can increase to half a cup of food four to five times a day, plus two healthy snacks.
Breast milk or formula continues to be an important source of nutrition for 8-month-olds, but solid foods should now be introduced gradually. Start with small amounts of soft foods, and don't be discouraged if your baby rejects new tastes and textures. It can take 8-10 tries before a baby accepts a new food.
As your baby gets used to solid foods, you can start to fork-mash, cut up, blend, or grind the foods that the rest of the family eats. Just make sure to cook them a little longer to prevent choking, and cut or shred them into small pieces that your baby can handle safely. Some soft foods that your baby can gum include ripe banana, well-cooked pasta, cottage cheese, and shredded cheese.
Around 9 months old, infants usually can pick food up between their finger and thumb, so they can try feeding themselves. You can also introduce finger foods like arrowroot cookies, dry cereals, light and flaky crackers, and canned fruits and vegetables (without added sugar or salt).
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Breast milk and formula
From 6 to 8 months old, your baby should be drinking breast milk or formula alongside their solid foods. Breast milk and formula continue to provide important nutrients for growing infants, but babies will start to drink less as they eat more solid food.
At 6 months old, your baby is growing quickly and needs more energy and nutrients than at any other time in their life. Breast milk is still their main source of energy and nutrients, but solid foods should now be introduced. Your baby has a small stomach and needs to eat small amounts of soft, nutritious food frequently throughout the day. This can include grains and tubers, as well as animal foods (dairy, eggs, meat, fish, and poultry), fruits, and vegetables.
From 6 to 8 months old, feed your baby half a cup of soft food two to four times a day, plus a healthy snack, such as mashed fruit. You can start to add finger foods at this age, but be sure to cut them into small pieces to prevent choking. Foods such as well-cooked vegetables, canned fruits and vegetables (without added sugar or salt), cottage cheese, shredded cheese, tofu, ripe bananas, and well-cooked pasta are all suitable for babies learning to feed themselves.
Cereals can be mixed with breast milk or formula, or with pasteurized whole (full-fat) cow's milk if your baby is over 6 months old. Cow's milk is not recommended as a drink until your baby is 12 months old but can be used in cooking or mixed with food from 6 months of age.
Breastfeeding can continue beyond 1 year if desired. If you decide to stop breastfeeding before your baby's first birthday, give iron-fortified formula.
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Solid foods
By the time your child is 8 months old, they can eat a variety of solid foods from different food groups. It is important to introduce solid foods at the right time, as your child's digestive tract is still developing. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing solid foods when your child is around 6 months old. However, every child is different, and you should look for signs that your child is developmentally ready to begin eating solid foods. These signs include:
- Sitting up alone or with support
- Controlling their head and neck
- Opening their mouth when offered food
- Swallowing food instead of pushing it out
- Bringing objects to their mouth
- Trying to grasp small objects
- Transferring food from the front to the back of their tongue to swallow
When introducing solid foods, start with a very small amount (a teaspoon or two) of one single-ingredient food at a time to allow your baby to get used to new flavors and textures. This will also help you identify any food allergies your child may have. Wait 3 to 5 days between each new food.
You can offer your 8-month-old baby a variety of tastes and textures from all food groups. Some specific examples of solid foods that are suitable for 8-month-olds include:
- Pureed or mashed fruits and vegetables, such as apples and carrots
- Fortified infant cereals like oats and barley, instead of only rice cereal
- Small pieces of soft, bite-sized bread and crackers
- Legumes, such as black beans, chickpeas, and lentils
- Meat, fish, eggs, and pulses, which provide protein and important nutrients like iron and zinc
- Pasteurized dairy foods, such as full-fat, plain yogurt and cheese
- Small pieces of finger foods to help your baby learn to feed themselves and develop hand-eye coordination
It is important to avoid giving your 8-month-old baby certain foods that may pose a choking hazard, such as raw vegetables, grapes, nuts, and popcorn. Also, do not give honey to babies younger than 12 months old, as it can cause botulism. Cow's milk is not recommended as a drink until after your baby's first birthday, but it can be used in cooking or mixed with food from 6 months of age.
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Finger foods
At eight months old, babies are likely to show more interest in table foods. You can fork-mash, cut up, blend, or grind whatever foods the rest of the family eats. However, it's important to cook these foods longer to ensure they are very soft, and cut or shred them into small pieces to prevent choking.
- Well-cooked vegetables, such as asparagus spears
- Soft fruits, like ripe bananas and well-cooked mashed legumes (black beans, chickpeas, edamame, etc.)
- Small pieces of bread and crackers
- Arrowroot cookies
- Cottage cheese, shredded cheese, and small pieces of tofu
- Well-cooked pasta
- Meat, such as lamb chops (make sure to shred the meat into small pieces)
- Fish
- Eggs (for UK-based sources, ensure eggs have the British Lion stamp)
- Dry infant cereal mixed with breast milk, formula, or cow's milk (if your baby is over six months old)
It's important to always supervise your baby when they are eating and ensure they are sitting upright in a high chair or another safe space.
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Allergies and adverse reactions
When introducing new foods to your baby's diet, it's important to be mindful of potential allergies and adverse reactions. Food allergies occur when the immune system reacts to a certain food protein. Common allergens include eggs, milk, wheat, soy, sesame, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, and shellfish. Reactions to these foods can range from mild to severe and can sometimes lead to a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock, characterised by swelling of the lips and face, and breathing difficulties.
To reduce the risk of allergies, it's recommended that babies be introduced to common allergens early on, ideally before they turn one. This includes foods such as eggs, peanuts, and other common allergens that the rest of the family eats. It's important to introduce new foods one at a time and in small amounts, allowing for a few days in between to watch for any reactions. Hives and vomiting are the most common symptoms of food allergies in infants, but other signs may include a rash, shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing.
If you suspect your baby is having an adverse reaction to a particular food, it's crucial to consult a healthcare professional. They can advise you on the next steps and recommend allergy testing or food challenges to ensure reactions do not occur. There are also two FDA-approved food allergy medications: Omalizumab, which helps reduce allergic reactions if your child is accidentally exposed to allergens; and Palforzia peanut oral immunotherapy, which reduces the risk of allergic reactions in children with confirmed peanut allergies.
Additionally, it's important to be cautious when it comes to store-bought baby foods, as they may contain unsafe levels of toxic heavy metals like arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. Preparing your baby's food at home using fresh, whole foods is a good way to ensure you know exactly what they are consuming. Always consult your paediatrician or a healthcare provider if you have concerns about your baby's diet or potential allergies.
Breast milk or formula should still be a significant part of your 8-month-old's diet, providing essential nutrients for their growth and development. However, as they start eating more solid foods, their milk intake will gradually decrease. It is important to introduce a variety of soft, mashed, or pureed foods to your baby's diet, such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, and protein-rich options. Always ensure your baby is in a safe position while eating, and be mindful of potential choking hazards.
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Frequently asked questions
From 6 to 8 months old, feed your baby half a cup of soft food four times a day, plus a healthy snack, such as mashed fruit. Feed your baby when you see them signal that they're hungry, such as putting their hands to their mouth. At this age, they are just learning to chew, so the first foods need to be soft and easy to swallow, such as porridge or well-mashed fruits and vegetables.
Cows' milk is not suitable as a drink until your baby is 12 months old, but it can be used in cooking or mixed with food from 6 months of age. Honey should also be avoided until your baby reaches 12 months old.
Arrowroot cookies are one of the first suggested snacks for babies, and most baby snacks will have a recommended age on the label. From 6 to 8 months old, a healthy snack such as mashed fruit is a good option.
Yes, babies this age are likely to show more interest in table foods. You can fork-mash, cut up, blend, or grind whatever foods the rest of the family eats. To prevent choking, cook table foods a little longer, until very soft, and cut or shred them into small pieces that your baby can handle safely.
