Starting Solids - 8 months

Your baby is getting older and is able to digest new foods. You still need to make sure that you stick to the four day rule meaning, you wait every four days to introduce new foods to your baby.

Your baby should be able to grip most finger foods and should be able to gum most foods that you feed them. The food still needs to be soft to his/her mouth and a texture that can be mashed by their teethless mouths. Some babys have their front teeth but most don't have their molars. So becareful on the textures.

In the next couple of months to a year, your baby will probably want to attempt to feed themselves. So don't worry about the mess and let them learn. Remember that they will learn the more they practice.

Here is a list of the new foods to add:
Apricot
Apples
Cantaloupe
Honeydew Melon
Grapes (peeled and quartered, no choking)
Kiwi Fruit
Plums
Watermelon
Broccoli
Okra
Cooked Parsley
Tahini
Finely Ground Nuts
Finely Ground Seeds

You should still puree' your babies foods. You can gradually add less water to make the consistency thicker, but watch how your baby reacts. If your baby gags, chokes or spits the food out then it is still to thick. At about 8-9 months your baby will be able to eat the consistency of the 6-8oz store baby food. So you may want to compare the amount and the thickness when you are at the store.

Your baby should be eating about 4-5 servings of Fruits/Veggies everyday. They should be eating about 2-3 servings of grains/cereals and any proteins (tofu, nuts, tahini) that you want to add to their diet. Remember that breastmilk should still be their main source of food and make sure they are getting atleast 29-32oz of breastmilk a day (nursing 5 times a day). Make sure that you are adding water in with meals and in between with snacks. You could start trying a cup on your baby, but you can still use a sippy cup also.

Here is the feeding schedule to follow at 8 months:
Breastfeed upon awakening. Then you can nursing and feed solids for breakfast. Then nurse and feed solids for lunch. Then nurse and feed solids for dinner. Then nurse and put to bed. If you would like to you can add any snacks throughout the day. Add water in between feedings, especailly if it is a hot day.

I hope that your baby is accepting the solid foods and enjoying the variety that you are giving them. I hope that you are not struggling with the solids. It personally is not my favorite time. It is a real adjustment for me and another stage I have to get use to. So try to enjoy it and don't give up on your baby and solids.