Sample baby schedules for 7- and 8-month-olds

At 7 and 8 months old, your baby is focused on moving more, playing more, and learning more about the world around them. Also big on their to-do list is experiencing new solid foods. Now that they've got the basics of eating down, it's time to start expanding their palate and introducing them to new flavors and textures.

It can be a big help to see what other parents are doing. Below, you'll find several sample schedules modeled on those of real BabyCenter parents and reviewed by a pediatrician on our Medical Advisory Board.

As you're creating a schedule for your baby, here are some things to keep in mind:

• At 7 and 8 months old, babies need solid foods two to three times a day.
• They're still getting most of their nutrients from breast milk or formula, though. A formula-fed baby will drink about 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula in a 24-hour period.
• At 7 months old, your formula-fed baby will most likely drink 6- to 8-ounce bottles three to five times a day. By the time they're 8 months old, they'll have three or four bottles per day. (Here's how to tell whether your baby is getting enough formula.)
• Breastfed babies also need about 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk daily, though it'll likely be on the lower end of that range. Your baby will most likely nurse three to five times a day at 7 and 8 months old. (Here's how to tell whether your baby is getting enough breast milk.)

Now's the time to start increasing the amount and variety of your baby's foods and to introduce finger foods and perhaps a sippy cup. If you're baby-led weaning, your baby is already familiar with finger foods but may be ready for you to expand their menu.

If you started with easy-to-eat foods like avocado, banana, and applesauce, you can start encouraging your baby to get a bit more adventurous. In fact, you can work on incorporating foods from the major food groups, offering bits of shredded chicken or fish, yogurt and pieces of cheese, soft fruits and veggies, and whole grains in the form of hot or cold cereal.

Also, talk to your pediatrician about the best way to introduce high-allergy foods such as peanuts, tree nuts, egg, wheat, soy, dairy, fish, shellfish, and sesame.

Keep in mind, though, that your baby's tummy is still on the small side, so they'll only eat a little bit of food at each meal. You can aim for 1 to 3 tablespoons of grains, fruits, veggies, and proteins per meal, and slowly increase that amount over the next few months.

Sample 7-month-old feeding schedule

7 a.m.: Nurses.

8 a.m.: Breakfast – 3 tablespoons of baby cereal mixed with 2 ounces of breast milk, plus some pureed fruit.

8:45 a.m.: Playtime.

9:30 a.m.: Naptime.

11 a.m.: Nurses, then playtime.

11:45 a.m.: Naptime again.

12:30 p.m.: Lunch – 3 tablespoons of baby cereal mixed with 2 ounces of breast milk, some pureed fruit, and water in a sippy cup.

2 p.m.: Naptime.

3 p.m.: Nurses.

3:15 p.m.: Playtime.

5 p.m.: Dinner – 3 tablespoons of cereal mixed with 2 ounces of breast milk, some pureed veggies, and water in a sippy cup.

6:30 p.m.: Bath time.

7:15 p.m.: Nurses.

7:30 p.m.: Bedtime.

Sample 8-month-old feeding schedule

7 a.m.:  8-ounce bottle, then playtime.

8 a.m.: Breakfast – a pouch or jar of fruit.

9 a.m.: Playtime.

10 a.m.: 6-ounce bottle and nap time.

12:30 p.m.: Lunch – a pouch of meat and veggies.

1 p.m.: Playtime outside.

2 p.m.: 6-ounce bottle and naptime.

5 p.m.: 4-ounce bottle, then playtime.

6 p.m.: Dinner – half a jar of veggies and a half jar of fruit.

6:30 p.m.: Playtime.

7:15 p.m.: Bedtime routine, 8-ounce bottle, then bedtime.

Meal ideas for 7- and 8-month-olds

Not sure how to get started planning nutritious meals for your baby? You can follow the rule of four: give your baby one serving each of protein, carbohydrates, fruits, and veggies. If you're not sure how much to feed your baby, check out our visual guide.

Here are some simple things you can serve your 7- to 8-month-old.

Breakfast:

• Yogurt with pureed fruit
• Mashed sweet potatoes
• O-shaped cereal
• Baby oatmeal
• Cottage cheese with pureed fruit
• Scrambled eggs

Lunch:

• Mashed black beans
• Pureed chicken
• Ground beef and pureed veggies
• Lentils
• Turkey and zucchini puree
• Whole-grain crackers with a thin smear of peanut butter
• Mashed banana with Greek yogurt

Dinner:

• Pureed beef with steamed peas
• Small pieces of whole grain bread with mashed avocado
• Shredded turkey
• Whole-grain pasta with tomato sauce

Learn more:

• Your 7-month-old's growth and development
• Your 8-month-old's growth and development
• Recipes for babies 6 to 12 months old
• Age-by-age guide to feeding your baby