At 8 months old, babies are typically eating solid foods in addition to breast milk or formula. They need between 750 and 900 calories each day, of which about 400 to 500 should come from breast milk or formula. Here are some guidelines for what an 8-month-old should be eating:

• Breast milk or formula: 24 to 32 ounces per day.
• Solid foods: Three meals and two snacks per day. Offer a variety of tastes and textures from all food groups. Start any new food with a trial run (a few days to a week) to look for any allergic reactions. Babies younger than 12 months old should not have honey until after their first birthday, and should not have unpasteurized juice, milk, yogurt, or cheese. Good foods for an 8-month-old baby may include apples, avocado, barley, carrot, cheddar cheese, eggs, quinoa, mango, pasta, pumpkin, rice, sweet potatoes, tofu, turkey, and zucchini.
• Water: 2 to 4 ounces per day.

Around 8 months old, babies may start to explore table foods and can try feeding themselves. To prevent choking, cook table foods until very soft and cut or shred them into small pieces that your baby can handle safely. Finger foods are appropriate for this age group, and it’s common for families to offer a combination of purees and finger foods. Keep in mind that it can take 8-10 tries before a baby accepts a new food, so dont give up if your baby rejects new tastes and textures.