IS It to Much?

Your baby's stomach is about the size of your fist. So, yes, if you're feeding her 5 full containers of baby food, it's likely that you're overfeeding her and stretching out her stomach.

Now, don't panic and be concerned that you're harming your baby. You're not. But consider that the reason she's not feeling full is not due to how much she's eating, but the quality of what she's eating.

You see, jarred babyfood really isn't all that nutritious. It's really just extruded goo meant to teach baby how to eat solids. What she's really needing is the nutrition found in formula or breastmilk.

So, give her some babyfood, and some finger foods like cheerios and cooked carrots and such. To practice with. But once she's had a couple jars, give her a bottle or boob until she's satisfied.

You're doing great. :)

How much breastmilk/formula is she drinking? Breastmilk or formula should still be the main source of nutrition for her.

Get rid of the baby food. Your daughter should be eating finger/table foods. Let her eat what she wants while at the table. Stop trying to "top her off" with baby foods. If she's still hungry, she's likely to start eating more of the regular foods you offer her.

My youngest is 13 so this is all a bit fuzzy but I am sure none of my kids were still eating baby food at a year! They have teeth! Stage two are two food blends with no lumps at all, no one feeds that to a one year old.

Go buy some real food!

If you are not first nursing or giving her a bottle, you should do that first, and then give her additional food after. If the jarred food isn't filling her up, give her table food. She should be able to handle small cut up bits of your food. Wholesomebabyfood.com is a good resource for toddler meals.

What is she eating for protein? You don't specify what her Stage 2 foods are, but if it's fruit/veg and you're giving her cereals, where's the protein? Secondly, she eats "some finger foods" but what are they? The fact is, it takes longer to eat real food because they need to be chewed, and they also fill her up longer because they take longer to digest.

There is no reason she shouldn't be eating solids as long as you cut the pieces up fairly small - she's probably sucking down the pureed foods so quickly she doesn't even know when she's full until it's too late. I'm not clear why you say she "has to" have baby food - is she crying for it? Is she pushing away the table food and you feel guilty? Is she just lazy and wants you to do the work? In what way does she "act like she is constantly starving"? Is she pointing to the food or whining for it? Put the real foods in front of her, the same things the rest of you are eating as much as possible. The truth is, if she's hungry, she'll eat. Yes, a young child needs more frequent meals and snacks, but they should have a variety of food types, colors, textures, etc. A snack can be yogurt or cheese cubes or sliced up grapes or small pieces of turkey, not just crackers or cheerios. She's not going to starve so I wouldn't given in to the convenience of pureed foods.

It's also so expensive! And you're setting yourself up for her demanding a separate meal than what everyone else is eating - that turns into a nightmare later on.

At that age, you obviously want to make sure she's eating a healthy diet - getting enough and a good variety of protein, veggies, fruits, dairy, etc. As long as she's getting a good variety, if she's hungry, feed her. She will stop when she's full. If you were overfeeding her, she would probably get sick.

Now, if you gave her a chocolate doughnut and wanted more, I would not recommend you give her another one.

Kids are different and will eat different amounts of food. The will even eat a ton one day and live on practically nothing but air the next. Let her tell you how much she wants to eat. She will stop when she's full.

I can't really comment on baby food. My boys were too interested in feeding themselves, so by 9 months both were on table food.

Relax, as long as she's getting a good variety, she's fine.

Well, make sure she is getting fat and protein because (with fat especially) that is what makes you feel more full. Plus her body needs it. At age one my daughter was eating what we ate at most meals. Sometimes smashed up, but usually in small pieces. I did not feed her baby food anymore. Your post makes it sound like your daughter is only eating fruits/veggies and you sometimes add oatmeal/rice. I think it is great that she is such a good eater!

By this age, she should be eating real food...if she is "very" close to 1. My youngest ate maybe 3-4 jars of baby food and the rest was real food.

Is she still getting a bottle or nursing? She should still be getting that for sure...and food also.

Keep a journal of what she is eating, when, how much, etc. Then take that to your pediatrician and go from there.

If your child is almost one, she shouldn't be on baby food. She should be on table food. It's not that you are overfeeding your child, you aren't feeding her the right foods in my opinion. She has teeth and can chew, right? No health problems that would keep her from eating table foods? She needs table foods.

She needs protein. Check with your pediatrician and see if he approves her eating scrambled eggs with cheese. Peanut butter is another good source of protein, keeping allergies in mind, check with your pediatrician as I don't know yours or your husband's health history and allergies.

Stage 2 foods? What even is that? (My "baby" is going on 14). Is that mixed fruits and veggies with lumps? With no lumps? What exactly is she consuming in 5 JARS of "baby food"?

I am pretty certain that my kids were grossed out by ANY stage of baby food by age one. The were eating cheese, olives, grapes, green beans, steamed carrots, yogurt, chicken, raisins, scrambled eggs, strawberries, bananas, blueberries, cheerios, and yes, probably goldfish crackers, too. And they drank several bottles of formula each day (until they were one, then they transitioned to whole milk, and continued to drink at least three 8 oz servings every single day). Often much more. My son LOVED his milk.

I didn't see any mention of a single item that has protein in it in your list. Maybe that's because you weren't specific what the baby foods were, and no mention of what she is drinking at all. But I can tell you, baby food "meat" is disgusting. My kids would NOT eat it. I could "try" to trick them into eating some of the chicken mixed up in applesauce, but they were onto me. I couldn't force it, either, it was gross smelling to me, too.
But actual meat from the table? Cut up small, they ate it up.

L.,

Welcome to mamapedia!

How does this compare to your other daughter at this age?
Why is she eating stage 2? How "close" is "very close" to one year??

personally? I would talk with my pediatrician and ask him/her their advice. It sounds like a lot of food - and really it sounds like fillers instead of real food. She need PROTEIN. What is she getting for protein?? There are so many unknowns here.

Start a food diary and when you take her in for her 1 year well child check up - show the doctor what she's been eating and what it takes to make her "full" and see what they say.

Good luck!

My daughter was the same way at 1. She only wanted one particular baby food. My pediatrician said to cut it out ASAP and offer her table food only and a good variety of foods. She'd have to get used to the other textured. So that's what I did - she didn't starve. She adapted very quickly.

As long as you are offering healthy food choices (vegetables, some fruits, no doughnuts, no sugary foods, no junk food) I'm not sure you can over feed a baby.
They go through some rapid growth spurts and that kind of growing has them eating more than usual.
The other side of that is when the growth spurt ends, you'll feel like she's hardly eating at all and then worry about whether she's eating enough.

"Baby food has no nutritional value" - not a true statement - although it flies around the parenting sites a lot.
Any processed food might have fewer nutrients than if you pureed the food yourself but it's still digestible food and fine to use if your baby likes it.

Talk to your pediatrician about your feeding concerns but I think you're doing just fine.

time to lay off the baby food. it sounds as if she needs more protein and possibly some healthy fat (yogurt and whole milk as well as meat). you can always puree it if she's not liking the texture.
she's probably just going through a growth spurt. it's okay to let her feed herself on snacks like cheerios and steamed carrots and bits of chicken. i assume she's still getting some breast milk or formula?
do not, however, worry that you're 'starving' her or that baby food has no nutrients. some of the things you read here are just wack-O.
khairete
S.

How much milk is she drinking each day?

Time to move to real food. I made the same mistake with our oldest (fed him baby food waaaaayyyyy too long). She can eat (almost) anything you eat. The best part is that she'll feed herself, so you don't have to!! I started with fruit and veggies from a can (sliced carrots, cut green beans, etc). For protein, just cut up a plain chicken breast or hot dogs (in quarters). (I know hot dogs aren't the greatest, but buy the all beef--kids love 'em). Things like cheese, goldfish, and pasta are easy to!

Stop giving her baby food. It's too easy for her. She needs to feed herself now. It's more work for you, but it's time. Cut up her food. Give her several different textures.

I'd give her milk instead of more food. She still needs milk and the calcium it provides. But let her feed herself first.

Some of these people gave one goid piece- formula/ breastmilk first and then whatever else. If SHE still wants stage 2, then let her have it. i suggest giving her yogurt too (the yo baby brand is good or greek yogurt has tons of protein. my son is 4 and still likes the getber squeezers that have pureed fruit/veggies. You are not starving her as one lady who doesn't know what she's talking about said- but probably gobbling it down before she can register full. Go at the pace you and her feel like- despite what some said, there are kids who won't eat even if they're hungry if they aren't comfortable with the food. that is the worst advice. So, I'd start with formula or yogurt atleast and if she still wants food you can try some table/stage 2 in the mix.

My kids stayed on formula until they were about 14 months just for nutrition. Then they switched to goat milk. Is she getting enough "real" nutrition to keep her full? I would talk to the nutritionist at the peds office or at your local WIC office.