Most 8-month-olds need about 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula per day, spread across four to five feedings. That total is lower than what your baby was drinking a couple of months ago, and that’s normal. At this age, solid foods are starting to take up more space in your baby’s diet, so milk intake naturally decreases a bit.
Daily Milk Totals at 8 Months
Breast milk or formula remains the primary source of nutrition at 8 months, even though your baby is eating solid foods. A typical range is 24 to 32 ounces over the course of 24 hours. Most babies take this in four to five bottles or nursing sessions, which works out to roughly 6 to 8 ounces per feeding.
If your baby is breastfed, you obviously can’t measure ounces the same way. A good rule of thumb is that each nursing session replaces about one bottle feeding. If your baby nurses four to five times a day, seems satisfied after feeds, is gaining weight steadily, and has plenty of wet diapers (at least six per day), they’re almost certainly getting enough.
How Solid Foods Change the Picture
At 8 months, your baby should be eating solid foods about three times a day, with milk or formula offered at separate times or alongside meals. The CDC recommends feeding your baby something to eat or drink every 2 to 3 hours, which works out to roughly three meals and two to three snacks daily. Those “snacks” are often nursing sessions or bottles.
As your baby eats more solids, they’ll naturally drink slightly less milk. This is expected and healthy. The shift happens gradually. At 6 months, most of your baby’s calories still came from milk. By 8 months, solids might account for about 20 to 30 percent of total intake. By 12 months, that balance will flip. The key is not to force the transition. Let your baby’s appetite guide how much milk they want at each feeding, and keep offering a variety of solid foods.
One common mistake is offering solids and milk at the same time in a way that causes your baby to fill up on one and skip the other. A practical approach is to nurse or offer a bottle about 30 minutes before a solid food meal. That way your baby isn’t too hungry to sit patiently with food, but still has room to explore new tastes and textures.
Water at 8 Months
Your baby can have small amounts of water at this age, but it shouldn’t replace breast milk or formula. The CDC recommends 4 to 8 ounces of water per day for babies between 6 and 12 months. Offer it in a cup during meals. There’s no need to push water between feedings since breast milk and formula already provide plenty of hydration.
Juice and Other Drinks
Juice is not recommended before 12 months. It adds sugar without meaningful nutrition and can interfere with your baby’s appetite for milk and solids. Cow’s milk, plant-based milks, and sweetened drinks should also wait until after the first birthday. Stick with breast milk, formula, and small amounts of plain water.
Signs Your Baby Is Getting Enough
Tracking ounces is helpful, but your baby’s overall patterns tell you more than any single number. Signs that your 8-month-old is well-fed include steady weight gain (your pediatrician tracks this at well-child visits), six or more wet diapers per day, contentment between feedings, and active, alert behavior during wake times.
Some babies consistently drink on the lower end of the range and thrive. Others want closer to 32 ounces and eat smaller amounts of solid food. Both patterns are normal. What matters most is the overall trend: your baby is growing, developing on track, and not showing signs of dehydration like dark urine, dry lips, or unusual fussiness.
When Intake Drops Suddenly
Teething is the most common reason an 8-month-old temporarily refuses bottles or nurses less enthusiastically. Many babies cut their top front teeth around this age, and sore gums can make sucking uncomfortable. Illness, especially ear infections and sore throats, can also cause a temporary dip. In most cases, intake bounces back within a few days.
If your baby refuses milk for more than a day or two, shows signs of dehydration, or seems unusually lethargic, that warrants a call to your pediatrician. A short dip in intake during teething or a mild cold is routine. A prolonged drop paired with other symptoms is worth checking out.