Hi Moms! I have an almost 6 month (Aug. 23)baby boy. He was taking about 26 ounces per day of formula. I started him on cereal a few weeks ago at ngiht (6:00pm) He did great and LOVES it. He gets 2 tablespoons at night. About 10 days ago, I started giving him oatmeal also. He loves that too. He gets 2 tbls. oatmeal for breakfast and then the same amount of rice for dinner. The last few days he has been drinking less formula. He is only taking about 20-22 ounces. He also sleeps 12 hours at night so he only has 12 hours to get his formula in. He was doing great eating every 4 hours, now it is about 6 hours. Even in the morning, he barely finsihes 6 ounces. Now it is like 4. Before he would chug it. I am afraid that the cereal is filling him up too much to eat anything else. This happened with my daughter. Should we do less cereal and see if the formula goes back up? We have a doc appt. on the 24th but just wanted some thoughts. Thanks!
What is the cereal/formula pattern? Our pediatrician suggested that we give the formula first, then the solid foods. Of course there are many different theories out there, so follow what your pediatrician recommends. Good luck to you - isn't solid feeding so much fun? Wait til he starts grabbing the spoon and holding the bottle - it's so cute!
Hi Jenni,
I, too have 2 kids around the same age as yours! (I can understand how busy you are...mine are 2 and 5 months).
My doctor's philosophy is "If they are hungry, feed them".....meaning when they want extra give it, when they are done (even if its less), don't worry about it. For a long time, this caused me frustration---not giving me a direct answer. With my second, I am a lot more relaxed and I've noticed the same patterns my first daughter had come again with my 2nd. My 5 month old is currently eating rice/cereal as well. Too much rice binds her up so I actually put them both in the same serving---mixing 1/2 and 1/2. I do notice that since she's been on the cereal she is taking less of the formula. The cereal fills them up more. Remember, the cereal also contains formula, too.
I've also noticed my baby to eat more (in particular, formula) when she is about to hit a growth spurt. Lastly, another reason I've noticed her eat less from time to time is when her gums are starting to hurt---she is starting to get teeth already. You can tell this when they start gumming the bottle and stuff which you probably already know.
It's great you have a doctor's appointment to make sure nothing else is going on, but rest assured--the same is happening in my home, too.
Good Luck!
I wouldn't worry too much one way or another aboout the amount he eats. I would consider advancing him to other foods if he is enjoying eating and eating a lot. Rice cereal has no real nutritional value except added iron which is in formula anyway. There's really no reason to give cereals at this point.
it is totally normal - i have 6 month old twins doing the same thing - i continue to make them 6oz bottles every 4 hrs, but when they are done - most of the time there is 2-4oz left in the bottle. the Dr told me that is to be expected.
Hi Jenni, It is perfectly fine for your baby to have less formula, just make sure he is getting at least 18 ounces per day. I am a licensed childcare provider for 11 years and mom of a 14 year old. I currently care for 6month old twin girls and they are also getting less formula, because they are eating more. Their doctor is fine with their formula intake, but all doctors are different. Good luck! Don't worry, baby is doing fine.
Ms P.
