How Much Food Should an 8 Month Old Eat?

July 18, 2025

Table of Content

An 8 month old baby should consume 3 regular meals and 2 to 3 breast milk or formula consumptions daily. Every meal item can be 2–4 tablespoons of food per item, fruits, vegetables, grains, or proteins.

Babies are having a variety of experiences with textures at this age and so you have an option of providing soft finger foods along with purees or mashed foods.

Also, whereas milk remains an important means of nutrition, solids are gaining prominence and one should be interested in providing a balanced diet but not making your baby finish it up - feed on appetite.

Understanding Your 8 Month Old's Nutritional Needs

At eight months, your infant continues to go on receiving a major percentage of their food in the form of breast milk or formula feeding but solids are gradually becoming part of the diet and hence a significant source of nutrition. It is not only calories it is also about introducing textures and flavors and nutrients.

According to the World Health Organization, breast milk remains a key source of nutrition even as solids are introduced.

Key Nutrients Your Baby Needs:

Iron: for brain development
Zinc: for immune health
Healthy fats: for energy and growth
Vitamin C: to help absorb iron
Protein: for tissue growth

How Many Meals Should an 8 Month Old Eat?

By this age, babies typically eat:

3 solid meals per day
1–2 small snacks (optional)
24–32 oz of breast milk or formula

An eating schedule aids in building healthy eating in your baby, and it is fine that the baby does not have an appetite on one day.

Recommended Foods for an 8 Month Old

Differentiation is the most important! Give varieties of food groups per day and give a balanced diet.

Best Solid Foods for an 8 Month Old

Add tender dishes that were weakly softened or ground:

Fruits: avocado, pear, papaya, banana, apple
Fruits and vegetables: sweet potato, pumpkin, carrot, peas
Grains: oat, millet porridge, rice cereal, soft idli
Proteins: lentils, blunted paneer, tofu, un-hardened egg yolk
Diary: low fat yogurts, grated cheese (on little amounts)

Looking for ready-to-serve baby foods made with wholesome ingredients?

Check out our 8+ Month Baby Food Range – designed to match your baby’s growing nutritional needs with organic fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Can My 8 Month Old Eat Yogurt?

Yes! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing plain, full-fat yogurt around 6–8 months. Plain yogurt is an amazing probiotic and quite rich in calcium levels in its full fat form. Do not take sweetened yogurts or flavored yogurts. Begin by using 2-4 tablespoons of serving, once in a day.

8 Month Old Feeding Schedule

Here’s a sample feeding routine for an 8-month-old:

Time	Meal
7:00 AM	Breast milk/formula
8:30 AM	Breakfast (e.g., oats + mashed banana)
11:30 AM	Breast milk/formula
1:00 PM	Lunch (e.g., khichdi + mashed carrot)
3:30 PM	Breast milk/formula
5:00 PM	Light snack (fruit puree or soft steamed veg)
6:30 PM	Dinner (e.g., soft idli + curd)
8:00 PM	Breast milk/formula

Note: change timings, and portion size as your baby reacts to hunger.

Transitioning to Solids: Tips and Guidelines

Moving from purees to more textured foods is exciting but takes time and patience.

What Should My 8-Month-Old Be Eating?

By now your baby should be curious:

Soft finger foods like steamed vegetables, soft fruits and little pieces of bread
Mashed mixtures such as dal + rice, vegetables khichdi or oats with fruits
Babies who are spoon fed with mashed food

Give water in a sippy cup at meal time.