Adjusting Baby's Schedule So She Can Eat Dinner with the Family.

My hubby is in sales so his schedule can tend to vary a bit daily. I usually give my son some dinner around 5 or 5:30 as well. Sometimes we are all together sometimes not. On the evenings that my hub is late, I do what another poster suggested. I just sit him at the table with a sampling of what we are having. He can eat it, or mush it around whatever floats his boat, but we are together as a family and he does fine taking his milk before bed. Hope that helps:) I do give mine juice etc. and he does great with it, I just keep those little teeth and gums brushed:) I give him whatever I can to keep those calories up! Merry Christmas!

Feed her a FULL LUNCH at 1, Then give her yogurt and flavored milk for a snack to hold her to 7 pm. I have two boys and they sure ate alot at 1. Ask your pediatrician for a menu for her age.

I too have a one year old that I was concerned about her eating schedule (especially when I start weaning her). She eats her dinner around 5pm and nurses around 6 or 7pm before bed. Her pediatrician said that when I do wean, she should have no problem going from 5 or 6pm until she gets up in the morning (6am) without food. There have been times already that she hasn't had any interest in nursing before bed and has been just fine (despite my worries).
I would just switch your daughter's dinner with a snack like you already guessed. Give her something to snack on at 5 and then she can eat with you at 7. She shouldn't need the 9pm formula anymore, so if she isn't hungry for it, you needn't worry.
Good Luck!

Are you still giving her formula b/c she does not like milk? At this age formula/milk should not be their main source of food. They should be eating as much of the food you eat as they can. So I would not worry about her not wanting the entire night bottle. Try giving her a light snack at her normal dinner time and then sit her down to eat with you guys. Give her whatever you have on your plate. It may take her a while to get used to and she may not eat as much at first, but just keep with it. Don't stress. Things will fall into place. Good luck.

I feed my family at 5 or 5:30 . That is the best time for my 1 year old and my 3 year old. It was getting harder to get my 3 yr old to sit down after snacking so i took out the snack before dinner upped dinner time and he can have whatever he wants after dinner. as far as my 1 yr old I give him dinner and he does not request any more to eat just his sippy cup of milk and off to bed he goes at 8! It gives him more play time and we do not have to rush the bed time routine and he settles in better. if this is not for your household i would say al light snack should be a good thing.

BTW my husband is a shift worker so he is not always home for dinner I decided that moving dinner was in the best intrest and he does get to eat plenty of meals with us. Sometimes the boys even sit back down with him to eat when he works days and I am happy with that cause they have fun and I get to dissappear for a quick bath!

The great thing about children is taht they can adapt. Initially, try to put off the dinner until 7, if she gets hungry give her a small snack between 5-5:30 no later than that. You want her to be hungry dinner time. Eventually, her little body will adjust and she will get on your schedule, because 1. she will be hungry and 2. she will want to be included in dinner time. She will know that to be included she she will need to eat, like everyone else. As for her night time bottle, you can see how much she will have. If she is full, that's ok. She will know when she is done eating. Good Luck to you. Remember, children can and will adapt and if her behavior is positively reinforced than I do not see why she can not get on your schedule ASAP.

After reading the responses, I can only assume that the living abroad may have something to do with the late dinner. Just look to your child for the cues that she is fed and happy. This is all trial and error. Eventually, it works out just fine.

I personally would move dinner time back a little. 7 is pretty late with small children. At some point, you'll want your LOs going to bed before 9 (though it's fine for now, it won't be when they're school age). I think even 6:30 would be easier. Perhaps she could have her formula at 5 and a snack if she needs it, then eat with y'all later. But again, I would consider moving back the family dinner time too.

I agree with the other Mom to a certain extent- keep her schedule about the same. Could you move your dinner to 6 or 6:30? Also, I really hate to be critical but I also would worry about her sugar intake. What you give her now sets the stage for what she will eat as she grows. Flavored milk AND Juice? Both are awfully sugary- especially for such a little one. My daughter never had flavored milk until she was over 2 and now it's only as a special treat- not on a daily basis. I also limit her juice as it is just extra sugar and calories- I would rather her get the vitamins from the actual fruit rather than the juice. Healthy eating habits are set early.

Good luck!

Here are my thoughts...
I would keep her feeding schedule the same. If you want her to join the family for dinner, simply sit her down at the table. I dont think it really matters if she is having a "full meal" with you. At the age of one, its all about testing the food out anyway. So why bother to "rock the boat"? Also, THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION, I have never given my daughter juice. I dont understand why people think juice is so healthy. The detriment(sugar) far outweighs the benefit(fruits). I personally think that juice is about as good for you as a soda. But, like I said, that is only my opinion. Another thing to remember is that your daughters stomach is as big as HER fist. So, even if she only eats a few bites of food with the family, it doesnt matter if she eats before or after dinner. I dont think one year olds will gorge themselves.

Margaret

Well, what time does she go to bed? Seven o'clock for dinner if she is going to bed at 8 is unreasonable for a 1 year old. We eat dinner at 5-5:30 so that my kids get to bed by 8. If my husband and I are hungry later, WE eat a snack. Otherwise....Just give her a snack at 7 if you really want her to eat something with you. Dinner at 5 for a 1 year old is normal.