I am wondering how much my 6 month old should be eating. He breast feeds until he falls back to sleep when he wakes up at 5 am (this is before I go to work). Between 7 - 8 am he has 1 tablespoon of cereal (all his cereal is made with breast milk) and 1 tablespoon of applesauce or bananas (all food is homemade & organic) followed by a few ounces of formula fed to him by his dad. Between 11-12 pm and 2-3 pm he has 2 feedings of 5-6 ounces of formula at day care. Around 6 pm I feed him dinner of 1 tablespoon of cereal and 1 tablespoon of applesauce or bananas (whichever he didn't have in the morning). At 8 pm he has 6 ounces of breast milk.
He seems to be gaining weight well. He doesn't seem to show signs of crying to be fed. He sleeps through the night with a few awakenings because he rolls over and scares himself. But he goes back to sleep as soon as we roll him to his original position.
Does this seem like enough food vs. milk?
How will I know to increase the solids & milk or increase one but decrease another as he grows? What kind of cues will he give?
How do I rotate new foods into this schedule and at what amounts?
When should he start drinking water or juice?
Any examples of feeding schedules and appropriate amounts would be really helpful.
www.askdrsears.com has great feeding info or get their book The Baby Book.
Hold off on juice as long as possible - he doesn't need it. Water can be given now, if you want. Up until 1, babies can get all/most of their food from breastmilk or formula. Introduction to solids is just that; trying new foods, learning to hold a spoon & feeding self, having fun, etc..
Enjoy!
M.
I looked and looked for approx. amounts baby should be eating...not much out there! My son is now 9months old, and we started solids at 5 months..I also have made 100% of his baby food. I, honestly think my son was eating more than yours by 6 months. I froze my purees into ice cube trays (which are approx. 1 oz each). I think I would be doing 2-3 cubes (ozs.) plus some cereal to thicken my purees. We only did two meals- lunch and dinner. Every 4 days or so we introduced new foods. I noticed you didn't mention veges...we started with veges. Try some peas, green beans, carrots- or avocado (actally a fruit...but oh so good for baby!). My boy loved avocado- I actually cut it up into peas size pieces- and it was one of his first finger foods....I, personally think finger foods are important for motor development. I have read that you are to feed them as much as they want.
I do think every baby is different. My DD is 7 months old and has been on solids for 2 months now. We started gradually and slowly added new foods every week until now she is eating bananas, canteloupe, pears, apples, potatoes (sweet are her favorite), cheerios (we soak them in a little water first), avacado, mashed peas and grains (rice and oatmeal). I think because you are making your own baby food, he will be used to the chunkier textures which for us made finger food transition really easy.
I still do 5 bottles a day with my little one 3 hours apart. I give her 6 oz at a time, but sometimes she will only drink 4. At this age, they still need at least 24 oz of formula a day which should be their main form of nutrience...with solids just supplementing more for practice with chewing/swallowing, textures and flavors.
I would say in a few weeks, start cutting up small pieces of food that can melt in his mouth. Avacados and bananas are great to start with. Let him start playing with his food...its a huge mess, but really fun.
If the baby is happy and doesn't seem hungry, I am sure he is getting enough. I worked up to about 3 tbsp cereal and 1 tbsp fruit (along with some finger foods for practice) in the morning and at night we do some finger foods and about 3 tbsp veggies. She also will snack on cheerios or avacado for lunch while I eat. Let your baby lead the way...if he is grabbing for your food and seems interested, he is probably ready for feeding himself. Just be careful to always wait a week between new foods to see if there is a reaction. Also, make sure all foods are really mashable and easy to chew or gum to minimize choking danger.
In regard to water...I put it in a sippy cup at around 6 months for practice. I find if I add a tiny bit of pear juice to it, she seems to love it. Again, I don't think it is necessary in her diet at this point (they say babies don't need water until after a year) but it is more for practice with a cup. I have her hold onto her cup while we go on walks so she feels like a big girl. Whenever mom takes a sip of bottled water, she copies me.
Good luck!
He seems fine. Each baby is different in amounts they eat.
Don't give him juice... especially anything "citrus"... until AFTER 1 years old. It's allergenic. Introducing it too early may trigger allergies. Same for other "off limit" foods at this age.
You should also really check with your Pediatrician.
They don't "need" juice yet.. it is just sugar.
If you want to introduce another "liquid", then do water.
Water and/or breastmilk/his formula is MORE than enough.
Remember that breastmilk/formula is the PRIMARY source of nutrition for a baby in their first year of life. Baby should not be "weaned" from either one yet.
My Pediatrician said, give breastmilk/formula FIRST...BEFORE solids. But, if you are wanting to "wean" the baby, THEN you give solids first. It's a priority that you "choose." Some Moms like to concentrate on giving solids... and lessening the breast/formula intake....other's dont. Me, I always nursed/gave a bottle to my kids first... then, solids. And nursed before each nap and sleep time, and after they woke up, and on demand at other times.
You rotate foods according to "introducing" them, one at a time. THEN if you know there is no allergenic reaction to it after a few days, THEN you can "introduce" another food.
At 6 months of age, you are acclimating the baby to gradually working up to 3 meals per day. There is no rush. At this age anyway, they still need their breast/formula intake.
As for amounts eaten... every baby will eat varying amounts, and like an adult, their appetites vary too. I REALLY recommend that you not "compare" how much your son eats to others... he does NOT have to eat the same amounts. Each baby is different. I have seen some Moms trying to get their baby to eat an entire jar of food... and clearly the baby didn't want too. But the Mom "thought" they "had to" eat the whole jar because of the erroneous idea that a "jar" was a "serving" and then they wondered "why" their baby was hard to feed.
As for how much your baby should be eating and "cues"... a baby will keep opening their mouth if they are still hungry... if they turn away or clamp their mouth shut, or push your hand away...then they don't want anymore and are full.
At this age, "serving amounts" ARE in terms of tablespoons. Your son seems to be doing fine. There is NO RUSH to get the baby to eat a "buffet" of food all day. They can have little snacks here and there...but again, not so it interferes with the breastmilk intake etc. Some babies eat all at one sitting.. and others are "grazers." Meaning, they eat small amounts throughout the day. Each baby is different. My eldest for example, ate tons at each sitting. Then she was fine. My youngest on the other hand.. is a grazer...he eats LITTLE amounts per sitting... then he's satisfied...they he grazes here and there during the day only if he is hungry.
As for "schedules" this is what I did: I nursed before each naptime/sleep time & after each time they woke up. I also nursed before any "solids" meal. And on demand other than that.
There are so many different "schedules." Just see what works out best for baby and you. But, regularity is best, to get them on a routine.
Good luck,
S.
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