Feeding 5 Month Old Solids

At four months we were "taste testing" already so by the time 6 months rolled around my daughter was eager for solids. At the 5 month mark we were giving her a fruit during the day and mushed up anything at dinner. (She was wanting to eat our food by then). At 6 months we started giving her Yo-Baby in the morning too. Now at 8 months she eats 3 meals a day with snacks in between. In her case she's a skinny minny so we let her eat as much as she wants and she can eat A LOT! My philosophy was, if she wants to eat it and its safe and healthy let her. Better that she wants to eat versus being picky where we have to force food or bribe her to eat.

Good luck!
Jen
http://www.mommysjoy.com

You could ask your pedi for an infant feeding schedule. They usually give you one at the 6month check up. You can also find one on Babycenter that outlines what and how much of each item to feed your infant at each stage. Just remember these are all just guidelines. Every child is different. I have 3 kids and they each ate extremely different amounts and types of baby food. My 8 month old refuses to eat any baby food and is only eating table food.
Here is the link for the Baby center feeding schedule: http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-by-age-guide-to-feeding-y...

I have a seven month old baby girl.How much and how often to feed has been my biggest challenge. Everyone tells me - dont worry that she will cry when she is hungry. My little girl is a happy baby and hardly cries at all. I have found Gerber has the best feeding suggestions - i get mailers but i am sure they probably have a website. We are finally to 2 1/2 meals a day and breastmilk on demand. Be sure to use cereal - single grain - ex. rice. good source of iron.

oh my gosh, I have a 5 month old and he's still only getting breasmilk! My son didn't get his 4 month old checkup because the doctor was not in that day and they rescheduled him for when he is 6 months!! not only is he going to be behind on shots, I don't really know what to be doing for him. I have forgotten since my daughter is now 3, I don't recall what I did back then when she started food.
guess i need to start experimenting with food or rice cereal, huh!!

SUPER BABY FOODS is a quick ref book i recomend. it has guide lines...although i never made my own baby food. I recomend you getting it as your babys foods will change alot over the next few months till a year. also there are certian foods that babys cannot have till a year or older. which i did not know!

Hi Rhonda,
At 5 months you should only be giving him solids about twice daily- I would use cereal and fruit in am -veggies at lunchtime then expand it to something in the evening if he stops sleeping all nite. It is trial and error with your child , especially the first one- just feed him when he is hungry. He will let you know-
good luck
Blessings

Well, as everyone else has mentioned, just be sure to introduce new foods slowly and look for any kind of reaction. I have an 8 1/2 month old and he now eats some oatmeal and a fruit in the morning(a couple of hours after he nurses), then a veggie and some meat for lunch and some cereal and another veggie at dinner. He has milk in between his meals. You will just have to work your way up to it and see how much your baby wants to eat. Don't force it and go slowly. He should eventually be eating 3 meals per day, but it's very early now. You mention that he is just eating the 1st foods....are you giving him cereal at all? I would start with rice cereal and then add the other stuff. The cereal has all of the vitamins in it, so I think it's important to make sure he's getting some of that. Best of luck!

I agree with Karen.

We fed our son breakfast first with oatmeal/breastmilk, then moved onto adding a fruit. Then we moved onto adding a vegetable at lunch, then 2 veg's at lunch, then to something at dinner all over a very LONG period of time.

Don't be surprised if it takes a long time and you son may not be very interested.

I would stick just vegetables morning and night. Starting a baby out on fruits can give them too much sugar and be bad for them. Vegetables are much more healthy.

as long as you introduce each new food with a few days in between to determine if there is an allergy, you can and should feed your child as much as he is willing to eat (probably only a couple of spoonfuls 3 times a day, With each passing month, you can see if he is willing/able to take more... You don't want to force it...but you don't want to leave him hungry either...let your son show you how much he wants...he will refuse the spoon when he is done eating...

Good Luck... ;-)

oh, the stress and worry about solids foods... I remember that!

I don't recall jumping into solids that quickly when my daughter was that age. First she started on oatmeal; only ate that (in addition to formula/breastmilk) for 2-3 weeks exclusively to make sure there was no food allergies; then oatmeal with apple... Again, only that exclusively to rule out any reaction. Then mushed banana, then pears. I remember that my daughter's pedi told me to start with "yellow foods" (apple, banana, pears), then introduce "orange foods" (sweet potato), then green (avacado, green beans). And simultaneous with those introductions, move beyond oatmeal, introducing bran cereal, then wheat after 12 months.

But you have to go slow, 1.) in order to make sure there is no adverse food reactions to whatever the new food is that you're trying out. And 2.) the baby's tongue will be able to swallow certain foods easier than others, like apple and banana is easier swallowed by a young tongue than green beans. Otherwise the baby might start gagging.

She had solids 3 times a day (breakfast, lunch & dinner), in addition to separate bottle/nursing feedings.

At least that is what I remember....