At 8.5 months, your baby is ready for exciting new textures and flavors, but breastmilk or formula (like NAN, Lactogen, Similac, or Aptamil) remains the primary source of nutrition. Solids are for exploration and learning at this stage - don't stress if baby eats less some days! This 30-day meal plan includes Indian-friendly foods and recipes to help you navigate this exciting milestone with confidence.
Watch: Iron is most important fuel for 🧠 growth. You need to include iron rich food in your babies diet.
| Nutrition Source | Amount | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Breastmilk/Formula | 600-700ml | 3-4 feeds daily |
| Solids | 2-3 meals | Morning, afternoon, evening |
| Water | Small sips | With meals |
Move from smooth purees to:
Baby should be able to:
| Day | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ragi porridge with mashed banana | Dal-rice khichdi with ghee | Suji halwa |
| 2 | Oats porridge with apple | Moong dal khichdi + carrot mash | Banana mash |
| 3 | Rice cereal with pear | Mixed vegetable khichdi | Ragi porridge |
| 4 | Suji upma (soft) | Dal-rice + palak puree | Sweet potato mash |
| 5 | Ragi dosa (soft pieces) | Masoor dal khichdi | Papaya mash |
| 6 | Banana oats pancake | Vegetable khichdi | Rice cereal with banana |
| 7 | Idli (mashed/soft) | Dal-rice with lauki | Ragi porridge with dates puree |
| Day | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Ragi porridge with dates | Khichdi + mashed paneer | Suji kheer |
| 9 | Moong dal cheela (soft) | Rice + dal + vegetable mash | Apple puree with cinnamon |
| 10 | Oats with chiku | Khichdi with pumpkin | Dahi rice (soft) |
| 11 | Poha (soft, mashed) | Dal-rice + beetroot mash | Ragi with banana |
| 12 | Ragi dosa with sambar (mashed) | Vegetable khichdi + egg yolk* | Sweet potato with ghee |
| 13 | Rice porridge with pear | Khichdi + paneer mash | Suji halwa with dry fruits powder |
| 14 | Idli with dal | Mixed dal khichdi | Banana dahi |
*Egg yolk for non-vegetarian families; skip for vegetarian
| Day | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Jowar porridge with banana | Rice + sambar (mashed) | Mashed avocado |
| 16 | Ragi pancake | Khichdi + spinach paneer | Papaya mash |
| 17 | Oats uttapam (soft) | Dal-rice + carrot-beans mash | Apple-pear puree |
| 18 | Suji upma with vegetables | Vegetable pulao (soft, mashed) | Ragi porridge with jaggery |
| 19 | Banana oats porridge | Khichdi + chicken puree* | Steamed apple |
| 20 | Ragi idli | Mixed vegetable khichdi | Sweet potato-carrot mash |
| 21 | Rice flakes with fruit | Dal-rice + lauki-moong | Suji with banana |
| Day | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Ragi dosa with coconut chutney | Sambar rice (mashed) | Papaya with dahi |
| 23 | Oats pancake with banana | Khichdi + palak paneer | Chiku mash |
| 24 | Idli with tomato sambar | Vegetable pulao + raita | Ragi with dates |
| 25 | Suji cheela | Dal-rice + pumpkin | Banana custard (no sugar) |
| 26 | Jowar roti (soft) with dal | Mixed dal khichdi + vegetables | Sweet potato halwa |
| 27 | Ragi porridge with almonds powder | Khichdi + egg scramble* | Apple-banana mash |
| 28 | Poha with vegetables | Rice + dal + carrot mash | Suji kheer |
| 29 | Banana pancake | Vegetable khichdi | Ragi with banana-dates |
| 30 | Idli with sambar | Pulao with paneer | Fruit yogurt |
Great for self-feeding practice:
| Food | Preparation | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Steamed carrot | Very soft, finger-length sticks | Baby fist-sized |
| Sweet potato | Soft cubes or sticks | 2-3 inch pieces |
| Banana | Sliced into strips | Easy to hold |
| Soft roti | Small pieces | 1-inch squares |
| Paneer | Lightly fried, soft cubes | Pea-sized |
| Idli | Cut into strips | Finger-length |
| Avocado | Sliced strips | Easy grip size |
Ingredients:
Method:
Ingredients:
Method:
Ingredients:
Method:
| Time | Feed |
|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | Breastfeed/Formula (180-200ml) |
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast (solids) |
| 10:30 AM | Breastfeed/Formula (150ml) |
| 12:30 PM | Lunch (solids) |
| 3:00 PM | Breastfeed/Formula (150ml) |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner (solids) |
| 8:00 PM | Breastfeed/Formula (180-200ml) - before bed |
Mixed Feeding Note: If you're combination feeding (breastmilk + formula), continue both as per your routine. Solid meals come in addition to milk feeds.
| Formula | Type | Price (400g) |
|---|---|---|
| NAN Pro 2 | Follow-up (6+ months) | Rs. 650-750 |
| Lactogen 2 | Follow-up (6+ months) | Rs. 400-450 |
| Similac Advance 2 | Follow-up (6+ months) | Rs. 700-800 |
| Aptamil 2 | Follow-up (6+ months) | Rs. 750-850 |
Continue Stage 2 (follow-up) formula until 12 months
See your pediatrician if:
Expert Insight: As Dr. Sumitra says, 'Fed is best. Formula is a completely valid choice and provides excellent nutrition.'
A: This is very common at 8.5 months! Keep offering solids without pressure. Try different textures, temperatures, and times. Some babies prefer finger foods over spoon-feeding. Most importantly, continue breastfeeding - it's still their main nutrition. If refusal continues beyond 2-3 weeks, consult your pediatrician.
A: No, cow's milk is not recommended before 12 months as the main drink. It's hard to digest and can cause intestinal bleeding. However, you can use small amounts of dahi, paneer, or butter made from cow's milk in baby's food. Continue breastmilk or formula (NAN, Lactogen, Similac, Aptamil) as the primary milk source.
A: At this age, quantity matters less than exposure. Start with 2-3 tablespoons per meal and increase based on baby's interest. Some days baby will eat more, some days less - this is normal. Breastmilk/formula remains the main source of calories and nutrition.
A: Yes, one or two milk feeds at night are normal at 8.5 months. As solid intake increases, some babies naturally reduce night feeds. Don't rush to drop night feeds - let baby guide you.
A: Yes, but variety is better for nutrition and developing taste preferences. Try to rotate foods and offer different combinations. If baby loves something, you can repeat it while introducing other foods alongside.
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This article was reviewed by a pediatrician. Last updated: January 2025
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