Your 7 and 8-month-old baby is rapidly developing new skills, and their daily routine plays a crucial role in supporting this growth. Routines are essential to ensure that your baby does not get overtired, too hungry, or over-excited, which can then translate into angry outbursts, tantrums, and rebelliousness. Establishing a consistent 7 and 8-month-old baby’s daily schedule helps provide the structure they need to thrive while allowing flexibility for their developmental milestones. This will also mean less stress and anxiety for you. As you spend time with your baby, you will get an inkling of your baby’s eating, sleeping, and playing preferences. Based on this, you can arrive at a suitable schedule for both of you.
Needs of Seven and Eight Month Old Babies
Around this age, babies get curious about things and people around them. They will most likely be testing their motor skills and getting mobile. Picking up things, crawling or rolling, and babbling are just some things babies experiment with at this age. Seven and eight-month-old babies look forward to playtime and enjoy playing with you. They are also able to show their emotions and may also show signs of separation anxiety or stranger anxiety (4). So, you must arrive at a schedule that will encourage your baby’s development throughout the year. Here are some of your baby’s needs and requirements at this age.
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- Naps – Naps might be more predictable than when your baby was a newborn, but they will still be pretty erratic. Cues to look out for include rubbing the eyes, yawning, and slowing activities. Try associating certain activities with nap time, like changing diapers or reading a story. This will help your baby understand that it’s time to sleep. Be sure not to skip nap time because babies are in a phase of fast growth and can need up to 2 to 3 naps a day (2).
- Meals – A baby must be fed several times daily – maybe every two to three hours. Once your baby starts solid foods, after six months, you might be able to co-ordinate your mealtimes. However, apart from meals, your baby will still need to be fed formula or breastmilk around five to seven times daily. Again, making a small ritual can help your baby know when it is time to eat .
- Play – It will take some effort to understand the best time for active or quiet play. Some children enjoy playtime soon after they wake up from a nap. Learn to identify cues that indicate that your baby is bored, such as turning fussy or expressing frustration with the toys in hand or at you in general.
- A Good Night’s Sleep – A bedtime routine is crucial because you need it to ensure your child sleeps at a decent hour when they are older and at school. Babies of this age need 12-14 hours of sleep in 24 hours, including nighttime sleep and naps to ensure they grow well and stay healthy (1).
Sample Baby Schedule of Breastfeeding Mother of 7 to 8-month-old baby
When drafting a schedule for babies this age, remember that they will need solid food at least two to three times each day and breast milk or formula at least five to seven times per day.
Here are some typical schedule samples that can give you ideas about coming up with your own based on your schedule and baby’s needs:
Schedule 1 – Stay-at-Home Mom
7 a.m.: The baby wakes up and nurses for about 20 minutes.
7:30 a.m.: Plays with toys for a while mom prepares breakfast.
8 a.m.: Baby has breakfast, often rice cereal or oatmeal and fruit mashed or pureed.
8:30 a.m.: Another round of playtime.
Between 9 and 9:30 a.m.: Baby again nurses for around 15 minutes before taking a nap.
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11 a.m.: Baby wakes up and gets more playtime.
Noon: At lunchtime, the baby eats some mashed veggies and fruit.
12:30 p.m.: Time to play outdoors.
1:30 p.m.: Baby nurses for 15 minutes and then takes a nap.
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3:30 p.m.: Baby wakes up, and it is playtime outside.
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4 p.m.: Another round of nursing.
5 p.m.: Time for dinner with some mashed food.
5:30 p.m.: Playtime or a stroll in the park.
6:30 p.m.: Baby gets a bath.
7 p.m.: Baby nurses for a few minutes before turning in for the night.
Baby might wake up around midnight for about 15 minutes of nursing before returning to sleep. Some children might wake up more frequently at night.
Schedule 2 – Breast Pumping Working Mom
5 a.m.: Nurse, change baby’s clothes and diaper, and let baby down for some more time while you get ready for work.
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6:45 a.m.: Nurse again and take baby to daycare.
7:30 a.m.: Baby has breakfast at daycare with some cereal and mashed or pureed vegetables and fruit.
9 to 10 a.m.: Baby takes a refreshing nap.
11 a.m.: Baby has lunch which includes pumped breast milk and baby food
1 to 2:30 p.m.: Time for baby’s afternoon nap.
3 p.m.: A healthy snack with finger food and some fruit.
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3:30 p.m.: You go to pick up baby and after nursing, head home for some play time.
5:45 p.m.: Enjoy dinner with baby. Baby eats cereal, pureed vegetables, and fruit.
7 p.m.: Start the bedtime routine with a massage, followed by bath and a story. Baby then nurses and sleeps off.
Baby might wake up once during the night for a short feed before going back to sleep. Some children might need more breastfeeding at night.
Sample Baby Schedule of Formula Feeding Mother of 7 to 8-Month-Old Baby
The appetites of different babies can vary, and since they are still too young to communicate their needs accurately, it is best to have an idea of how much formula your baby needs in a day. Babies over six months are estimated to require about 75 ml of formula each day for 453 gm of body weight. It is important to know that babies should not drink more than 960 ml of formula in 24 hours (5). Here are some sample schedules for a formula-fed baby.
