18 Month Food Intake

sounds ok to me. remember their stomach is only the size of their fist, so we can't expect them to eat more than that. you are doing a great job.

Sounds fine to me! As long as she's growing and healthy and you keep offering her a variety of food/drinks, then don't worry about it. She'll eat more when she needs to.

What is your daughter drinking if she is allergic to milk, a rice or soy based "milk"? Remember that at a year, drinks become a beverage so 3 dairy servings a day are enough and this doesn't have to be milk that they drink. At 18 months, they don't get milk feedings anymore. I'm wondering why so much baby food? She should be able to eat cold cereals, whole wheat bagel, pancakes, french toast for breakfast. Why the cereal at lunch and dinner? At her age, she can eat whatever you would eat at meals.
What is it that MIL objects to? Why does she think that your child isn't getting enough to eat? If your daughter isn't expressing hunger, then she isn't likely hungry - babies and children don't need to be told that they are hungry, they know their bodies best and can be in charge of their own food intake. Food shouldn't be forced on children and a fat baby isn't a sign of a healthy baby anymore.
Good luck

Hi. I would ignore your mother in law. Just smile when she comments, but know that no matter what you do, she's going to have an opinion.

Consistent with what others have already said, your child knows if she's hungry or not. Some days my 16 month old daughter eats like there's no tomorrow, others she barely has anything. As for others comments about jarred baby food, yes your daughter is old enough to eat regular food, but if she likes the jarred food, then it's an easy way to get her fruits and veggies in her. I wouldn't worry about it.

And most importantly, your pediatrician would tell you if you were starving your child. If she's growing just fine, then you have nothing to worry about. Don't second guess yourself based on what your mother in law says. You're the mother, you know what's best for your child. And just because you do things differently than your mother in law would, doesn't make them wrong.

Why do you keep giving your child jarred fruit? I would just give her regular fruit. My boys have been eating fruit since they were 10 months old. The jarred fruit may not be filling. It also sound like you're giving her a lot of liquids. That may be filling her up so much that she's not eating a lot. Talk to your pediatrician and ask how much milk she should be getting throughout the day. At 16 months, my son is taking in 18 ounces.
I would just feed her the same foods you eat. It will make life much easier for you. But, if she is thriving, then I wouldn't really worry about it.
Hope this helps.

My doctor said not to worry about food intake. The child knows best. So long as they haven't had their taste buds destroyed with fake foods and chemicals they know intuitively how much to eat. Most people are obese and we have completely lost our sense of what a normal person should like like. There are some pretty skinny babies but that doesn't mean they're sick or underfed!

Your baby will be healthier without milk anyway. Most children who drink pasteurized milk end up with many health problems with ear infections being the most typical. You can use nut milks or rice milk if you feel it's needed.

I agree with the Mom who said use fresh fruits rather than jarred. My daughter loved finely grated apple, carrot and orange juice for dressing. The fresher your food, the better since most nutrients are destroyed with cooking. I'd be giving her a supplement too but really research those. There's a lot of junk out there. A whole food supplement is best. If you have trouble finding one you can message me and I'll give you some suggestions.

Make sure she's getting all the vitamins like her protean and most of all ask your pediatrician what she recommends for the baby.I don't think giving her all those fluids is good my youngest son was like that and his family members did that then it becomes difficult to get them to eat right when they get older.

Dear Alison,

Unless your MIL is a pediatrician, I think you can take her advice with about a canister of salt :)

Just to reassure yourself, though, I would take a look at where she falls on the charts. If she's below the 30th percentile on weight or height,* you might talk to your pediatrician about her caloric intake; otherwise, what you're giving her sounds like an eminently sound and balanced diet.

The one other thing you might look at is giving her calcium from some source other than rice milk, soy milk, etc., which are very processed and aren't optimally healthy. I give my milk-allergic son "green smoothies" made with mangoes, bananas, orange juice, and spinach -- the calcium in spinach is better for children than the additives in milk substitutes.

But you sound like you're doing a fantastic job as a mom; remember that the next time you see your MIL.

All the best,

Mira

* When looking at your daughter's charts, keep in mind that these percentiles don't take ethnic differences into account. People of, say, Southeast Asian origin have a genetic predisposition to be smaller than, say, people of Scandinavian origin. Be sure to think that through before you worry.

If your doc isn't worried, and she's not losing weight, then I'm sure she's fine! MIL's are notorious judgers, even when they mean well. :)

My son is a very picky eater, and I've found that I can get him to eat more by limiting his milk/juice. I now only give him milk or juice at the three meals. The rest of the time it's usually water. That has really helped him eat more!

But honestly, it sounds like you're not worried at all. Mama knows best!

PS Have you tried coconut milk yogurt? I found it at Whole Foods, and my son LOVES it!

Alison,

Your baby will not starve herself, and you are not starving her.

The only thing I don't see is Fats. Do you put margarine or olive oil on her veggies? Avocado is a good fat to add - and it is in the FRUIT category. Most babies love it - bc it hs a buttery texture and it tastes good. How much fat is in her diet? It is important especially now that her brain is developing.

Also - is she self-feeding on some foods? Do you cut up fruit? Veggies (to a point - some still have to be pureed)?

Milk is mostly for the fat and calcium and water. replace those and you're set - and so is she.

What I am amazed at is that you have not one but TWO naps in your day (do you just put her down at 8 or does she nod off?)

I'm surprised you have so much juice in her diet, but I guess that's me - our pediatricians don't stress juice as much as water, since it's mostly sugar.

The only thing I can suggest is that you take your DMIL with a grain of salt (thankfully both Mom and DMIL are over 400 miles away and they don't get involved with DS's eating habits or pediatrician visits! they just see a happy guy!) and try to be patient and not mollify so much as defer.

Look at it this way: Your child is herself. She eats what she wants, and you round out with stuff she needs. Ask your DMIL if she eats as balanced a diet as your daughter!

Milk and egg allergies shouldn't have so much of an effect but these days those are the items that are depended on by pediatricians - and it may be a GOOD thing for her that she is not receiving so many extra hormones in her diet (unless you can afford organic!)

Good work being vigilant about getting her a diet balanced - but free of her allergens! That is a task and a half in itself, and you are doing a great job!

You might bend your DMIL's ear about how hard it is to make sure that prepared foods don't have milk or eggs in them - even under OTHER NAMES. Also letting her know that her pediatrician thinks she is on the right track would be a good thing, if you haven't already.

Happiness, and a curve on HER chart (not the CDC's) is what is most important. She may be in the 3rd or 2nd percentile and THAT is OKAY - as long as you are feeding her a balanced diet.

Good luck, and I know your woes! Patience isn't just a virtue, it's a life-saver!
M.

That sounds like enough. If you give her milk when she wakes up and before bed I would try to stick to water in the sippy during the day unless you want her two front teeth to rot out of her head before she enjoys her second birthday. It even sound like it would be annoying to feed her as much as you do in the morning. I stick to just a the milk and then the cereal or vice versa depending what time she wakes up. I don't give snacks in the morning.
And never listen to a MIL.

Many folks have advice on how much your child should eat and drink, or what your child should eat or drink, but you are the one who knows your child and her eating habits. Children let you know when their tummies are full, too, keep that in mind. It sounds like your daughter is getting nutrition...just keep on introducing new things to her that don't contain milk or eggs and check with her pediatrician if you have other concerns. For years my in laws were always critical about everything I did with my children, but I've learned to follow my own instincts and do what I needed to do without their input. Maybe she might like Yo Soy baby yogurt, or the drinkable soy drink boxes, since she has allergies, that way she can get the calcium. Hope that this is a bit helpful.