Is This Normal Eating Habits for a 6 Month Old?

A.: this sounds pretty normal. I am a mother of three and a daycare provider. Infants eating habits change constantly and sometimes when they start tasting food, they really dont like formula as much. Also this is about the time they start teething so he'll want to chew on things more frequently including his nipples.He might wake up next week and feel ravished and eat 2 jars of food or just start back drinking formula. If he is crawling it might be really hard to get him to drink. I'm going throught that now w/ the 7 mo. in my daycare, she's so busy she eats just enough to get full and she's ready to crawl.Just keep doing what you're doing for now as long as he's gaining weight he's getting enough nutrition

A.,
I would not worry.He is getting what he needs with the rice cereal and baby food.As he eats more food the less formula he will require.As long he is progressing according to his growth chart,I would not be concerned.I have an 11 month old

mine did that too around that age she realized there was better stuff out there than what she got in that bottle! i just kept offering the bottle if i were you i would try maybe half a jar of baby food not a whole if you are worried about him not getting enough but i think he should be fine. Remember you can always call his doctor.

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Most moms would've been worried that he WAS eating so often at 6 months! LOL And since you say he's drinking from a cup, you can rest assured that he gets his liquids a lot faster than if he was sucking it from a bottle, so he's probably getting more than you think. Unless his urine and/or bowel movements get too dark and/or concentrated, he's doing fine! (How it comes out the 'other end' says a lot about how it's processed and if anything's amiss).

Sounds like he should REALLY catch up on his growth with all the solid food.

My kids are 20, 23, 28, and 31 and we gave them some 'food' from bottles (they even marketed a 'bottle' just FOR baby food with a big hole in the nipple), but I think it's pretty much a consensus nowadays that you shouldn't add cereal TO a bottle of milk/formula but feed it separately with a spoon. Might wanna ask someone . . . And I disagreed with one statement that someone made -- never put a child to bed with a bottle of anything but water (and not til they're about ready to wean). Formula or juice can 'lay' in their mouth and cause dental decay (it happened to my husband 54 years ago), so it's not a good habit to get into. Hold them while they drink their bottles. (I nursed mine, so this was an easy rule to follow! LOL)

Happy mothering!

Im sure you will get a ton of advice as to what is "normal". I have found that every kid is different and their needs are different. I have 4 kids total, 3 of which are biologically mine that I have raised from babies. Not a single one of them have been alike at all.

The first child I had started cereal at 2 wks, gave up the bottle at 7 mths and went straight to homoginized milk in a sippy cup. She hated the baby food. Wanted what we were eating. She did continue with a pacifier till she was 2(I had to take it). Every picture I have of her before 2 the darn thing is in her mouth or hand....sometimes 2 of them.

My second child started fruit/cereal at 2mths I believe because I pumped and fed her for the first 2 mths, gave up the bottle at 2 yrs (because it was taken). I swithced to regular milk at 1 yr. Never took a pacifier.

My third and only son started eating cereal at 1 wk. He loved cereal/baby food and adult food. He took the bottle till he was 9 mths. He was a colicy baby and I kept him on his formula till 12 mths and then swithced to 2% because he tolerated it better then homoginized milk. I had to mix the cereal with the milk no matter what kind. I believe he had a small case of the acid reflux. He was stuck to the pacifier also. Took it when he was 2.

All my kids did cereal, food, and formula at different times and they are all healthy. I think each child picks what they like at an early age. If your baby is gaining weight and growing regular, having enough wet diapers, and you are comfortable with it then you are doing the right thing. If the baby is having trouble pooing or peeing then you may have to modify a little. Obviously the little tiger is hungry and knows what he wants. He seems to be sleeping very well. (my 4 yr old boy doesnt sleep that well) Your peditrician may tell you different or if you have an old fashion one like I do they will say..."The kid is growing healthy...keep doing what you are doing".

Sounds like he is healthy AND CONTENT IF HE IS SLEEPING THAT WELL. mINE ATE MUCH MORE THAN THAT AT THAT AGE BUT WERE BIG BABIES. I don't see anything wrong with feeding him more. He sounds fine, if he wants more food, give it to him.

well, remember that food wil lkeep himf ull longer. I would say as long as he's growing and gaining weight like he should, I wouldn't worry. It IS weird when they stop eating so often! :)

Just make sure he gets enough fliuds. Try offering him water, white grape juice and/or milk. You can, of course, dilutethe juice. The white grape juice is easier on their system than apple.

Hope this helps!

Adding food to the diet should be just that. Adding food. It really should't replace anything since there is more nutrition in formula or breast milk than there is in a jar of baby food. Try giving him his bottle before offering solids. That way he will fill up on the formula that is better for him and if he is still hungry after that give him the solids. He is still young to be getting most of his calories from solids. Good luck.

his food is filling for him, and he is watching you all eat because he wants that too, sounds like he has a good appetite for food. Do not think you will have to worry about his eating habits.

Hi A.,
I know it's hard to know how much to feed your baby once they start solid foods. It is important to know that a baby doesn't need any nutrition besides the breast or formula until they are 8 months old. Food is only given before then because they need to learn to eat food besides the breast or bottle...research has shown if you wait until 8 months to introduce food they won't eat it. With that in mind your son MUST have 24-36 ounces of formula a day. 24 ounces it the absolute minimum. I know all this information because my pediatrician just shared it with me on Friday, my son is 8 months old. My pediatrician said if my son refused to take at least 24 ounces of formula then I needed to stop solid foods until he was drinking the bare minimum. Hope this helps.

Sounds like you're too worried to me. My son is 7 months and hasn't taken to eating like yours has. He wants the bottle and no food. I'm having the opposite problem. He's not much for the sippy cup either, although he'll take it if I switch it out midway through his bottle. (He doesn't notice as much.) I use the Nuby sippy cup with the soft silicone. My guy still doesn't sleep through the night, either. He wakes up 2-3 times a night. I'd love to be in your position!

I think that he is doing fine. You might try to squeeze in one more bottle. Maybe as soon as he wakes up. The formula or breast milk is very important at this stage. But, his eating habits sound great. Plus, as soon as he starts teething he could do what my little guy did. He went on a solid food strike for a little over a month, and went back to nursing 3-4 times during the night. He was eating 4 full meals a day plus 5/6 4oz. bottles. Teething can be quite disruptive of eating and sleeping schedules. Luckily my guy is back to eating well. Anyway, as long as your little one is not losing weight and isn't cranky... he is doing just fine.

Hi A. C

It sounds like to me Your Boy is growing fast.
Feed him what he likes.
The formulas is just the first of food that their little
body can except. The rice is the a good idea.
Gradually you can start giving him different foods that you eat.
I really never worried about what to feed my babes.
I just sometime would give them soft food first like mash potatoes and smash sweet potatoes.
Just a little. Them I gradually start giving them smash sweet peas with a little of sweet potatoes.
But be careful not to give them too much for this will stimulate them. It might cause a stomack ache. Until they get use to it.
You seem to be doing just fine.

have a good day Today

Vicki W.

Aagh! Don't put the cereal with the formula in the bottle!!!! No no no!! I'm not sure if your pediatrician told you to do that, but no! There is no reason to and no need to. Just mix the cereal with the formula and mix it in a bowl and then serve it to him.

You should always start slowly when it comes to food. You have a good system down, but remember the 4 day rule. Introduce each new food for 4 days and then try another and then wait four days and try another etc. Once they get use to the different foods and textures, you can determine if he is allergic to any types of food. Then you can mix and match the peas and the carrots and then fruits once you know he's not allergic to an individual item. There is also a suggested guideline to what foods to feed first before you start giving him meats and such. The website I suggest later will help you with what to serve when!!

Always start with formula first...that is where he gets his most nutrients from, not the food right now. Then offer the food. Food is good, but he's still developing, you're weaning him as we speak off of the bottle. Anything you put in your baby, instead of the breast or formula, is in itself weaning. You're obviously doing it very slowly and gradually, but you are getting him use to other ideas of other things instead of a bottle. (A lactation nurse told me that once!)

Anyway, if I were you...I would:
Start with a bottle in the morning....wait a bit see how he is doing, play with him, then offer some cereal mixed with formula or fruit, or just offer fruit in the morning.
Play some more, nap, do you thing..

You don't have to give him three meals a day at once, start slowly, start with one meal, then two and then move on to three meals a day and even introduce snacks in there too!

Then around "lunch" time you can give him a vegetable followed by some fruit if he's still hungry, but always the Bottle FIRST!!! (maybe sure you introduce each first before mixing and pairing - allergies!)

Same thing around dinner time.

You'll start pacing your bottles out more and more, but he should still be getting the same amount of formula across the day. Ask the pediatrician how much formula is to be taken in for a 7 month old. I nursed both of mine, so I don't know exactly the amount of milk they are to have each day. Mine nursed great and took in what they needed each day, so it's unsure exactly how much they took in.

Then you can reevaluate everything again at a year, if you choose to wean him.
As long as he is getting enough nutrients and growing and having a good time, then no worries, but I highly suggest this website for lots of food ideas, combinations and neat info about babies and feedings!!

Go to http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/

OH!! Just read something about juice....you don't have to introduce juice now...he's doing fine with formula, if you do introduce juice, then introduce in slowly and very little. Gerber makes little juices but I would still water it down big time!! Sugar is not good for their developing teeth and nutrition, so have him get use to a sippy cup with water instead. Water as we know is healthy for everyone!!

Hope that helps!

A. B

it doesn't sound like he's getting enough formula. Even 1 yr olds are suppose to get 24 oz or milk a day. I'd say he should need between 36-24 oz a day. Mine at that age nursed/bottle when they woke up, then cereal and fruit mixed a little later (only half a jar of stage 2 size of fruit and then an equal amount of cereal). Then at morning nap I'd nurse or put them to bed with a bottle. When they woke after a 1-2 hr nap it was lunch time, usually half a jar of veggie and half a jar of fruit. Then at afternoon nap more nursing or a bottle to bed with them. Then at dinner time they would have half a jar of meat and half a jar of veggie. At bedtime more nursing or a bottle. I added meals as we added food groups. First just cereal twice a day. Then fruit and cereal in the morning and just cereal later in the day. Then fruit & cereal in the morning and veggie & cereal later in the day. Then added a third meal- fruit & cereal, fruit & veggie, veggie & cereal. Then meat introduced so dinner became meat & veggie. By this time they were like 8-9 months old.
Why does he only get a 4oz bottle? At 6mths he should be drinking 6-8oz at a time, unless being a preemie your doctor has told you otherwise. Babies under 1yr get most of their nutrition from formula or breastmilk. Baby food is just to get them use to eating and start making the transition. If he's not drinking enough formula then you should limit his baby food intact. As a preemie I would think it is even more important for him to get enough formula since it really is his nutritional source, not baby food.

i don't think he's getting enough formula. i think it's supposed to be whatever their current weight, then you double that and thatts the number of ounces of formula he needs. why not give him a bottle 1st then if he's still hungry then feed him the baby food?

They say that formula is the best for kids....I don't know that he is getting enough. I am supposed to get my 6 mo old to drink n o more than 36 oz of formula a day. Her schedule is 4 oz bottle first thing, cereal 1.5 hours later, bottle a couple hours later, and then a jar of food a lunch, a bottle a little later, then ceral at dinner, then a bottle before bed. BUt she still wakes up 2-3 times for a bottle at night. Ask your Dr what is best, just call them to see.

I am the mom of a beautiful 6 month old baby boy as well. He is 90% in height and 60% in weight and he eats 3-4 ounces of rice cereal for breakfast with 3 ounces of formula, 2 containers of baby food for lunch, a 6 ounce bottle around 2:00, 2 more containers of baby food for supper and another 6 ounce bottle before bed. Sometimes he adds another bottle during the day depending on when he gets up. He usually sleeps form 10:00pm-9:00am. So I think your is fine as long as he is growing fine. Best of Luck.

Hi A.,

I just took my daughter for her 6 mo check-up this week. The other moms are right, the majority of their nutrition should still be coming from their milk/formula. Her dr said she could start eating cereal and fruits/veggies twice a day if she wants it. (I was feeding her once a day prior to that.) She did say to nurse her first before her cereal if isn't drinking as much. The dr said that most babies this age nurse/drink formula every 4-6 hrs, but some still nurse every 3 hrs. The dr said that it really works out to be about 3 meals plus a snack. I feed her cereal and fruit in the morning and cereal and veggie in the evening. These are in between feedings(nursing). So her feeding sched. looks something like this: nurse when she wakes, cereal/fruit, nurse around lunch time, nurse around 3/4 pm, cereal/veggie, nurse in the evening, bed. Sometimes I will feed a little bit right before she goes to sleep depending on the last time she nursed that evening. Hope this helps! I know what you mean about the last one being so long ago and forgetting. :) My oldest is 8 and my middle one is 5. :) Hope this helps. Good luck!

http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-tell-how-much-formula-...

I found this site for you. It is full of info that will answer your questions. God Bless~

Hi A.. I also have a 6 month old. What your son is doing sounds fairly similar to my daughter. The differences are that she only gets food twice a day. She gets fruit mixed with cereal late morning or early afternoon and vegetables in the evening. I think the reason he is taking so little formula is that you are giving it to him all at the same time. My daughter gets about 2 oz of juice or water when she eats her food and about 1 and a half hours later is when she takes a bottle. The amount of formula she does take has reduced. Its usually 5 oz but she has been spitting up alot so I'm thinking of taking it down to 4 oz. My daughter also really wants an opened cup too but I have been trying to insist she takes a bottle or sippy cup because she is just not steady enough to take the cup by herelf. Try just the two food feedings a day and offering a bottle at a different time and see if that helps.