Your eight-month-old baby is at a stage where it is curious about everything. With a tooth or two, your baby should be showing signs of being a toddler. By the age of eight months, babies have mastered the art of swallowing crushed food and even gradually begin to chew solid foods. Your baby is currently in the growing phase, so you need to make sure that the food you give it meets its nutritional needs as well as helping it develop its chewing skills.

BEST FOODS FOR AN 8-MONTH OLD BABY

1. Fruits: Add new fruit options proper to the month. Fruits cut into long cubes make excellent snacks for babies. Thus, cut different fruits in different shapes and give them to your baby. This visual feast will turn into a feast of taste for your baby`s palate. You can include grape, cherry, plum, watermelon, melon and cherry in the list.

1. Vegetables: At eight month old, your baby can start shifting from pureed vegetables to steamed vegetables in small cubes. You can include black-eyed peas, peppers, asparagus and cucumbers in the list.

1. Fish: As it contains Omega-3 fatty acids, high protein and is a source of essential amino acids, fish should be included in the 8-month-old baby`s nutrition menu.

1. Chicken: It is given in the form of puree or soup. The broth in which the chicken is cooked is also nutritious for babies. However, make sure that the chicken you buy is reliable in terms of the conditions in which it grows and the feed it eats. If you cannot find a chicken meat that you trust, it will be healthier not to consume chicken.

1. Cereals; Bulgur and brown rice can be added to the list.

1. We recommend that yoghurt, eggs and cheese be primary food items on your baby`s menu.

1. Butter and walnuts are new foods that you can add to your baby`s diet.

1. 8 month old baby meals also include pasta! You can choose pasta made from whole wheat flour or whole grains. Pasta will be a very suitable finger food, especially if you are using the BLW method for your baby.

1. Meatball is one of the foods that you can include in the nutrition list of your 8-month-old baby.

1. Lentils are dry legumes that should be included in baby nutrition starting from the 8th month.

1. In this month, you can roast small shallots very well and add them to your baby`s food.

HOW MUCH SOULD IT EAT?

Most of the time, eight-month-old babies feed actively, but sometimes they can throw a temper tantrum while eating and may turn away from food because of their newfound activity. Babies who start to crawl at this age often feed on the move as they show more interest in exploring things around them. A typical eight-month-old baby should eat three solid meals and two snacks along with at least two sessions of breastfeeding or formula feeding.

An 8-month-old baby can be fed 4-6 times a day, 3 main meals and 1-3 snacks, approximately every 3-3.5 hours.

8-MONTH OLD BABY DAILY NUTRITION TABLE

1. ½ egg yolk

1. 2-3 cupes of breast milk and follow-on formula

1. 1 matchbox of cheese

1. 1 cup of yogurt

1. 1 cup of pudding

1. 1 cup of fruit puree

1. 1 cup of vegetable puree

1. 1 slice of baby bread or 2-3 baby biscuits

1. 1 medium meatball/fish/chicken or 2 tablespoons of green lentil

Sample nutrition list-1:

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Sample nutrition list-2:

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Sample nutrition list-3:

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NUTRITIONAL TIPS

1. Remember that breast milk or formula milk should remain the primary source of nutrition for an eight-month-old baby.

1. When your baby switches to complementary foods, it should also start using glasses. Especially the 8th month, when gross motor skills increase, will be the right time to practice using glasses. In order for your baby to get into the habit of using glasses, you can first use non-tipping exercise glasses with handles on both sides, with straws or mouthpieces. The baby may spill and scatter in its first attempts and mistake the glass for a toy. But you have to make sure it keeps trying regardless.

1. Your 8-month-old baby no longer needs to be fed at night, but if it wakes up hungry, you can breastfeed at night.

1. Avoid giving your baby cow`s milk until 1 year old.

1. With the BLW method, you can ensure that your baby is fed on its own.

1. If there is any family history of food allergies, pay attention to your baby`s allergy symptoms, especially to dairy products. Also, talk to your doctor about the possibilities your baby may inherit these types of allergies.

1. Avoid giving deep-fried foods to your baby. It is recommended to choose the method of steaming or boiling in water.

1. Feed your baby in a specific position and place every day. This creates a strong connection between the food in their heads and where it is fed.

1. Keep the consistency of the food slightly lumpy and do not crush it completely. It will help your eight-month-old baby transition from crushed food to solid food.

1. Avoid adding salt and sugar to foods if your baby is under one year old. Many doctors do not recommend the use of either, as it puts unnecessary pressure on the kidneys.

1. Eight-month-old babies are often easily distracted when feeding, as their mobility is developed and they are curious about the things around them. When your baby refuses to eat, try feeding small amounts at different times.

1. Babies tend to gasp and choke when chewing finger food. They may also accidentally bite off a large piece of food. Parental supervision is very important when your baby is chewing solid food.

1. Prepare and store baby food in steel or glass containers. Avoid using plastic as it contains harmful chemicals that could potentially enter food.

Eight month old babies move a lot and spend most of their time and energy for exploring the things around them. To make sure your baby stays active and does not become sluggish, you must ensure that it eats healthy.

Cautıon

1. Every baby is different, thus use these meal plans at your own discretion as a reliable guide, you can make specific revisions for your baby.

1. Never force-feed a baby.

1. When preparing the formula, follow the instructions on the box and use the measuring spoon supplied.

1. Some babies may eat less on certain days and this is absolutely not a problem. However, if a baby eats less for more than 3-4 days, please see a doctor for guidance.

1. A baby may eat less if it is teething or not feeling well. On those days, you can increase the breast milk / formula feeds. Do not stop feeding if your baby has diarrhea.

1. If your baby initially does not accept the food, you can change the taste of the food by adding a small amount of natural flavors such as cinnamon, lemon juice, curry leaves.

1. If your baby is allergic to nuts, gluten or eggs, please consult your doctor before feeding it with foods containing them.