I think my 8-month-olds are ready for 2nd foods, but I'm really not sure. They've tried the Zwieback Toast, and they do fine with it, they eat three meals a day but its not really keeping them full anymore, so I'm back to six feedings a day instead of five. When they have 5 feedings they eat three meals (1st foods, two veggies, one fruit a day) with 4 oz. bottles afterwards, and two big bottles (8 oz.) in the morning when they first wake up and right before bedtime after their bath. My question is, how do you know when they're ready? They haven't PERFECTED sitting up, but they sure do try. They're pulling up, and can handle the toast stuff, I think they're ready for 2nd foods. (BTW, for reference, can't afford to make my own, and I use the Nature's Goodness kind, but I'm thinking about switching to the Gerber organic kind for 2nd foods.)
Thanks for the suggestions, Mamas. =) I think I will start them on 2nd foods and keep them on that for a month or so, then try 3rd. I didn't know they could have Cherrios yet, how exciting is that?
Maybe add some snacks through the day??? You can get mesh feeders at Wal-Mart and put regular fruit/soft veggies in them. The baby chews on it and it strains the food through the mesh bag thing. Kinda messy, but really cheap way to add more good for them foods as snacks. If you freeze peeled bananas, it really helps with teething too.
Wow you sure do have your hands full, I would go ahead and switch them to the 2nd foods they are just bigger portions, the consistency is a bit thicker but not chunky at all, and they offer more variety.
Good luck!
By 9 months my daughter was all table food. She wanted nothing to do with 3 rd foods so I skipped them completly. Try it. I bet they will love the 2nd foods and if not, you can mix half 1st and half 2nd. Have fun!
Like the other mommies mentioned, the only difference between 1st and 2nd foods is the portion size and the thickness (still no chunks). There are also a few more choices when you move to 2nd foods.
My 8 month old daughter seems to eat a lot as well (or should I say often). Maybe she's a snacker?? I nurse her 5-7 times a day along with rice or oatmeal cereal in morning with 1/2 jar of fruit; lunch is 1/2 jar of fruit and veg.; dinner is 1/2 jar of fruit and veg. as well. And at each meal I put out a few Gerber puffs or cheerios while I'm trying to get everything else ready. She tends to enjoy snacking those.
Hope this helps!
Wow! You got your hands full. You should go ahead and move them up. They are ready. I have a 9 month old and he eats 2nd foods and table food. A lot of babies skip 3rd foods. My sons eating schedule is 8oz in morning and night. Then for lunch jar and veggies and dinner oatmeal and fruit. He does great! Hope this helps. Goodluck!
I agree that the only real difference between 1st and 2nd foods is the portion size, as well as the variety available. If your boys are constantly hungry, you should also give them baby rice or oatmeal along with their fruits and veggies at each meal--it will fill them up more, and quite honestly it's also a lot cheaper than the fruits and veggies (obviously they need those, too, but I gave my daughter some of both at every meal at that age). You can also get them unsweetened apple sauce, just in the big jar for regular people. If you get organic, and make sure it doesn't have additives or sweetners, it's just as good for them as babyfood, tastier, and cheaper!
When my twins start eatting baby food. I never feed them the 1st foods. I was told by my doc. that the second food were fine to feed them. Just to stay away from anything that had chuncks they needed to chew. When I compared them myself, I found that they were the same only bigger portions. If you need any advice on the twin stuff, send me a message. :)
My dr. just told me that there is no difference in the 2nd foods, except that the jars are bigger, so that is what we feed my 6 month old. I never buy anything that is not the fruit or veggie only (I cant figure out why they sell baby food labeled as dessert, but who am I to make that decision!!) They are probably ready for more of stage 3 foods. Things with more texture to them, that stay in the belly longer, like pasta or rice and meat mixtures. And try foods that you eat too, potoatos, rice, tiny bits of chicken, toast, well really, almost anything that you think they can chew. And go for yougurts, and natural applesauces too. You are a super busy woman, so I am sure you can ease your budget by replacing the baby food with regular foods all together over the next few months. Canned veggies cut up work great too. Good luck, sounds like you are really doing what is best for those boys!! ~A.~
