Our balanced meal ideas for an 8-month-old baby

Nos idées de menus équilibrés pour un bébé de 8 mois

Purées, mashed fruits or vegetables, small pieces: at 8 months, your little taste adventurers have already tried quite a lot, but they're still far from having seen (and eaten!) everything. Ideal menu, original recipes, foods to avoid, good habits to establish: we'll guide you through this new chapter, as fabulous as it is delicious!

Finding the right rhythm

Before heading out to shop and donning your best apron, the first question to ask yourself is about feeding schedule and portion sizes. At 8 months, your child's daily routine is structured around four proper meals : breakfast, lunch, an afternoon snack, and dinner. So, no room for snacking! Keep in mind that your baby's appetite can vary from meal to meal and from day to day. Don't force them if they eat a little less, and don't offer them a snack to compensate between the four scheduled meals. Your child is perfectly capable of regulating themselves and finding their balance throughout the day.

What foods should I give to an 8-month-old baby?

At 8 months, babies can eat almost anything (see below for a list of foods to avoid or limit). As for texture, all babies develop at their own pace, so it's important to offer them appropriate foods: start with mashed foods (less smooth than a puree) and then move on to small pieces. Ideally, introduce only one new texture per meal to avoid overwhelming your baby.

As for the menu, you'll be spoiled for choice! Every day, your baby will be able to eat:

Fruits and vegetables, preferably organic

Starchy foods (it is advisable to compose your plates with half vegetables and half starchy foods and a touch of vegetable oil for a source of fat).

Dried vegetables (once a week)

Milk*, dairy products and cheese

A portion of approximately 20g of meat, fish (ideally twice a week, including one serving of oily fish) or a third of an egg

8 months is also the age around which children will be able to experiment with new ways of eating: spoon, cup and soon fork… not forgetting to eat with their fingers!

The guide to good practices

And what about the milk in all of this!?

At 8 months, milk* is still essential! Until your child's first birthday, we recommend giving them at least 500 ml of breast milk* every day . In addition, you can also offer pasteurized, unsweetened dairy products such as yogurt, fromage blanc, or stirred yogurt . Babies can also eat cheese several times a week, but be careful, not just any kind! Avoid processed cheeses before age 3 and raw milk cheeses before age 5. For more information on this topic, see our article here: Can My Baby Eat Cheese? – Biostime Our Brands .

Does an 8-month-old baby drink water?

Yes! And we'll go even further: water should never be an option or a plan B. As soon as your child is thirsty, or if temperatures rise, don't hesitate to offer them water. Fruit juices, syrups, sodas, or sugary drinks (even sweetened water) are a no-go!

Are there certain foods that should definitely be avoided?

Yes, indeed! A number of foods should be avoided until the age of 3. These include:

Small, hard, or rounded foods such as nuts, grapes, cherry tomatoes, or pieces of cheese can be difficult for little ones to swallow whole.

Foods containing caffeine (coffee, tea, sodas, energy drinks)

Sweeteners

Soybeans

Honey (up to one year old)

Raw or undercooked eggs

Raw or undercooked meat

Shellfish and raw fish

Salt

Is fat life or not?

Yes, infants have a higher need for lipids than adults because fats are essential for their proper development. It is therefore advisable to add fat to your child's diet: of vegetable origin (olive oil, rapeseed oil, etc.) or a small knob of fresh, uncooked butter .

And what about allergens in all of this?

The introduction of allergens can begin as early as the start of weaning, between 4 and 6 months. To help you through this stage of weaning, we've created some specially designed recipes.

Can you learn to chew properly?

Chewing is, so to speak, innate, but that doesn't mean it can't be trained. For example, you can offer a crust of bread to chew from time to time to stimulate chewing and strengthen the jaw . <sup> 4 </sup>

Good food doesn't necessarily mean brushing your teeth!

Absolutely! And just because they're baby teeth doesn't mean you should skip brushing. To prevent cavities and ensure the best possible development of permanent teeth, it's best to start the teeth-brushing routine as early as possible (in other words, as soon as your baby has teeth!) .