Foods to Feed an Eight-Month-Old Baby

Most babies have been eating solid foods for several months by the time they reach 8 months, as parents often begin introducing food to their babies between 4 and 6 months. Whether you are introducing your baby to her first foods or ready to let her explore some new tastes or finger foods, there are a variety of meal choices to try.

  1. First Foods

    • Continue feeding your 8-month-old the first foods that he has already been introduced to, such as rice cereal and pureed fruits and vegetables. Offer a wider selection of foods that he has not tried yet, introducing a new food every couple of days. Start feeding your baby a mixture of one part rice cereal and five parts breast milk or formula before introducing popular fruit and vegetable options, such as applesauce, avocado, bananas, carrots, peaches and sweet potatoes, if you have not yet started solid foods.

    New Foods

    • Once your child reaches 8 months, she is likely ready to try eating a greater variety of foods. Give your child the chance to explore new textures by feeding her small amounts of dairy products, such as cottage cheese, pasteurized soft cheeses and yogurt, using caution not to feed her any cow's milk just yet, as she is not old enough to digest it properly. Prepare protein-rich foods for your baby by pureeing fish and meat products and mashing tofu or beans for her to sample.

    Finger Foods

    • Some 8-month-olds who are able to pick up small items with their thumb and forefinger and can transfer these items between their hands are ready to try finger foods. Cut foods into tiny pieces, about the size of a pea. Offer your baby small banana chunks, sections of a lightly toasted bagel, cooked pasta products, such as spirals or bow ties, cereal or specially marketed finger foods. Give your baby a spoon when you feed him pureed items and invite him to explore using the spoon to feed himself.

    Considerations

    • Offer new foods to your baby more than one time, as it often takes young children several attempts to get accustomed to a new taste. Avoid feeding your baby foods that could be dangerous, such as honey and peanut butter. Items such as marshmallows and jelly candies pose a choking risk because they may get caught in your child's throat, as do small and hard food items like hard candies, nuts, popcorn and raisins. Use caution when introducing new foods to your child if your family has a history of food allergies and work with your pediatrician to develop a safe schedule for introducing new items.

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