Reference eating and sleeping schedule for 7-8 months old baby

The article was professionally consulted by Resident Doctor Ho Thi Hong Tho - Neonatologist - Pediatrics - Neonatology Department - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital

Establishing routines for your baby is not an easy task and varies from child to child. Parents will gradually recognize the signs that suggest the baby wants to eat, sleep, and play. From there, build a schedule of activities that suit the needs of the baby and the existing living habits of the family. Some advice suggests that you should reference what other parents are doing. We asked parents of 7 and 8 month olds about their baby's daily schedule.

When you want to develop a schedule for your baby, keep in mind that at 7 and 8 months of age most babies need:
Solid foods two to three times a day, along with about 700 ml – 1000 ml of breast milk or formula in a 24-hour period. Parents should learn about specific tips to know if their baby is getting enough breast milk or formula and important criteria when choosing formula for babies between 7 and 8 months old. Now is the time to start increasing the amount and variety of foods.
Approximately 14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, including nighttime sleep and daytime naps. Two naps during the day usually take place in the morning and afternoon. Therefore, parents should learn more about the need for sleep at this age. Time to play, practice new skills and interact with your surroundings.

This timetable is built based on the child's habits and is for reference only. In fact, parents can vary according to each family's individual circumstances.
8 a.m.: baby wakes up and feeds on breast milk. 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.: it's time for your baby to play on his own while mom prepares breakfast, reads books, and prepares everything. From 9:30 to about 11 a.m.: give your baby the first nap of the day, usually about 45 minutes. 11 a.m.: Breastfeeding, playing, rolling around, trying to crawl around the blanket with his toys. 11:45 am to 12:30 am: Take a nap. 12:30pm: it's time for lunch - 3 tablespoons of cereal mixed with about 60 ml of breast milk, a jar of fruit (baby food) and water in a small cup. After lunch, parents can read a story to the baby, or let the baby dance and sing along to the music, go out with friends. 2 p.m. to about 3 p.m.: give baby the next nap. 3 p.m.: baby wakes up and gets breast milk 3:15 to 5 p.m.: playtime, while mom can do household chores and ride the stroller. 5 p.m.: Baby's dinner with 3 tablespoons of cereal mixed with 60 ml of milk, a jar of vegetables (baby food) and water in a small cup. 5:30 p.m.: give your baby a nap if possible. During this time, mom can prepare a simple dinner for the family. 6:30 to 7 p.m.: Baby bath time. 7:15 p.m.: breastfeed your baby. 7:30 pm: Go to bed. 10 p.m.: breastfeeding 3:30 a.m.: baby wakes up for a feed during the night. 8 am: Wake up, and repeat for the next day. Some babies can sleep continuously throughout the night. However, the rest often wake up to eat at night and these can be the most productive meals because they are not distracting. Parents should not be too worried if their child wakes up in the middle of the night. Mothers who spend all their time caring for their babies can feel comfortable with this. Besides, 7-month-old babies often get their first teeth and this also affects their feeding schedule.

The timetable for taking care of an 8-month-old baby below is based on parents' habits and is for reference only.
7 a.m.: Wake up and feed your baby for about 20 minutes. 7:30 a.m.: Let your baby play on the floor or outside with other siblings if available. 8 a.m.: Time for breakfast, usually rice cereal or oatmeal and fruit (baby food). 8:30 a.m.: Let your baby play more on his own. From 9am to 9:30am: Breastfeed for about 15 minutes, then put your baby to sleep. 11 am: Baby wakes up and plays. 12 noon: Lunch. Leftovers include baby food - fruits and vegetables. 12:30 pm: Baby plays for a while after lunch. 1:30 pm: Breastfeed for about 20 minutes, then nap. 3:30 pm: Wake up and play. 4 p.m.: Continue to breastfeed for about 20 minutes. 5 p.m.: It's baby food dinner time. 5:30 pm: Time to play, maybe take the baby for a walk. 6:30 pm: Baby bath. 7 p.m.: Baby breastfeeds for about 20 minutes and then goes to sleep. 1:30 a.m.: Baby can wake up to breastfeed within 20 minutes.

Refer to the schedule below if you are having an 8 month old baby who is being fed solids with formula. The timelines should be changed to better fit the parent's schedule and the baby's habits.
8 a.m.: Baby wakes up and takes about 250 ml of formula. 8:30 a.m.: Time for breakfast. Babies are often introduced to solid foods such as fruit. 9 a.m.: Let your baby play on the floor. This will become more interesting if you have a sibling to play with. 10 a.m.: Continue to feed your baby about 200ml of formula before a nap. 12 noon: Baby wakes up. 12:30pm: Time for lunch. Feed your baby solids with baby food, for example a bowl of meat with vegetables. 1pm: Baby playtime. 2pm: feed baby 200ml milk and nap time. 4 p.m.: Baby takes about 120 ml of extra milk after waking up. Mom can read the story and play with the baby afterwards. 5:30 p.m.: Put baby on a high chair and watch mom cook dinner. 6 p.m.: Time for dinner. It is possible to repeat the use of baby-specific foods during this weaning period. 6:30 pm: Baby plays on the floor or in the playroom. 7:15 pm: Baby bath time. 7:45 p.m.: Feed on an extra 250ml bottle of milk before putting your baby to bed overnight. Many 8-month-old babies can sleep in a continuous sleep until morning and the schedule for tomorrow repeats at 8 am.

Applying a scientific eating and sleeping schedule for children not only cultivates good habits for children, but also helps them be active and absorb from a nutritious diet to ensure comprehensive development.
7 - 8 months old children need 5mg of elemental zinc/day to eat well, reach the correct height and weight and exceed the standard. Zinc plays a role in affecting most biological processes taking place in the body, especially the breakdown of nucleic acids, proteins... Organs in the body when zinc deficiency can lead to a There are a number of diseases such as neurological disorders, irritability, etc. Therefore, parents need to learn about the role of zinc and guide them to appropriate zinc supplements for their children.
In addition to zinc, parents also need to supplement their children with other important vitamins and minerals such as lysine, chromium, B vitamins,... errands.
Please regularly visit Vinmec.com website and update useful information to take care of your baby and family.

Reference source: babycenter.com