Feeding My Daughter

Hi K., You may want to check to see if daycare provides food. I know that mine does. You might also want to try mac & cheese or steamed veggies. Make them ahead of time so you are not doing everything in the morning while trying to get you and your daughter ready. I was told by my pediatrician to use whole milk with formula starting around 11 months. I hope that this helps.

As far as I know you shouldn't be giving her any milk at all until nearly a year old...their digestive systems sometimes can't handle it before then. You should only give whole milk until at least age 2...not reduced fat or skim..they need everything that's in the whole milk. Hope that helps.

First of all , what is the rush?? Have you checked with your pediatrician to even see if regular food is good for a baby so young? Just because mom or grandmom said they did it with you etc doesn't mean it is in the best interest of your child. Regular food at 5mths old was not a good idea. Daycares provide snacks and lunches, so you shouldn't have to prepare anything for her. You just need to let them know she is eating regular food. I am not sure how you make the food so she doesn't chock since she doesn't have all of her teeth to chew certain stuff. If you blend it or something they will not do that at daycare. They will feed her the regular food they give the older kids. Second, you can not give a child anything other then whole milk until they reach 2 yrs old. Once they are 2 they suggest low fat milk not skin milk. Skin milk is for much older children. You really need to talk with your pediatrician about what you are feeding her and what you are thinking about to make sure she is getting the nutrients she needs. Young children need the fat in whole milk, please don't give her skin milk keep her healthy. Are you concerned about her weight or something that you want to give her skin milk??

Try Gerber Graduates... stuff like the sweet potatoes with carrots, ravioli and mac and cheese... the ones that come in the little tubs are always easy and portable. Also, you can puree vegetables into her mashed potatoes with lowfat cheese so that she gets protein and veggies too but it tastes good! My little one also loved hummus, yogurt and cottage cheese (also easy to buy in small portions and carry around) and all fruit, just be sure to either blend them up or cut into non-chokable pieces.

i wouldn't start the solid milk until she is a year old or close, her tummy may not me able to handle it altho its in her food she may not be ready for more yet, as for easy foods for her to eat i'd prepare her some green beans, cooked carrots mashed potatoes that kind of thing. my pediatrician always told me not to feed my babies baby food because it teaches them to drink off a spoon to give them adult food thats soft and he's cheif of staff of ob/pediartics at a hospital. oh and eggs.

My nine month old is the same way he likes grown up food he eats french fries and hot dogs and other things as long as they are small enough and the baby has teeth that is ok just watch her so she dont choke. Babies dont really get anyth nutrients from the big peoples food until they are one year old. As long as she is drinking her formula and drinking diluted juice and is eating things like gerber table foods or other baby table foods or cheerios she is doing good. The only time to worry is when she is not gaining weight or if she is loosing weight. Just watch out for peanuts alot of babies are allergic to them.
K. W

Hey K.. I completely understand your issue of having a child that will not eat baby food. I have a 1 yr old now that would not eat baby food from about 8 mos on. She would scream and turn her head and fight us all the way. I tried everything from stage 2, stage 3 and graduates foods....she hated them. I finally gave in one night and gave her some potatoes. She was in heaven. Kids will tell you what they want. Some will eat baby food and some will not. Just like you and me, our tastebuds are different, I may like something you don't. Kids are like that too. My second one ate baby food till she almost 16 mos old, if that tells you anything. Easy suggestions....Mac-N-Cheese, cooked veggies (steamed sometimes can still be crunchy, i found boiling them makes them softer), Ravioli (cut-up), spagetti....pretty much anything that can be mashed. My daughter also did well with cooked chicken nuggets as long as I cut them super small. For breakfast we found out that she loves eggs, cereal with milk(go figure) and toast. Talk to your daycare too. A lot of them provide food now, but I was not always comfortable with the idea of them feeding my little ones lunch. I have worked in daycare and they are not always careful to cut things up small enough for me, so I always preferred to do it myself.

As for the milk....you do not want to mix milk in until she is at least 11 mos old and I personally never started that soon. My 15 mo old is still on formula. I personally recommend the Next Step Formulas for a period of time after their first birthdays. Cows milk does not provide enough of the vitamins and minerals that they need for proper growth. All of my children stayed on formula well after their first birthdays and then at about 1 1/2 I weened them to 2% milk. My baby is still weening to milk right now. Keep in mind though that this is a mere suggestion and speak with your pediatrician for real guidance if you are unsure. Mine has always led me in the right direction. Good luck!