Feeding Solids

Hi M.,

I have a 7 month ond too (August 2nd, 2006). I did a lot of research on the internet and with different moms in my baby & me class. This is what really works for us. I started her a couple months ago on solids because she showed an interest in what we were eating. Our schedule now is based on when we (me and my husband) eat so that she gets used to eating solids at the "normal" meal hours. It will probably take about a month to catch up to a 3 meal a day schedule because you want to start with just one meal a day. So here it goes:

Nurse in early a.m (5 for her)
Breakfast around 7:30/8:00 3-5 TB rice cereal with 2TB fruit mixed in

Nurse or 6 oz. bottle around 10:30

Lunch around 12:30/1:00 1 vegetable (Gerber size) & 1/2 fruit if she wants it with some water from sippy cup

Nurse or 6 oz. bottle around 3:00/3:30

Dinner around 5:30/6:00 1 vegetable and 1/2-1 fruit with water from sippy cup

Nurse or 8 oz. bottle at 7:00 and then she goes to bed right after that until 5 am.

Just get on a schedule that works for you. If your babe is not sleeping through the night, you would have to adjust this because my babe needs the calories in the day because she sleeps a long time.

Good luck and trust your instincts. Sometimes the babe doesn't want all her food, sometimes she wants more. Don't worry, your babe will cue you in if he wants more or doesn't. If he is waking still in the night for feedings, that is another issue that you might want to start weening him off of. Good luck!

I always fed until my daughter lost interest, spit it out, or turned away. I had no issues with doing it this way. I'm sure there may be some guidelines at your Doctors office too, but I wouldn't be too concerned unless the Doctor says your kids is way overweight.

Continue with breast milk or formula and give him a variety of solids they usually give you cues or signs when they are full.My daughter was big chunky monkey baby and would eat and eat. I fed her until she let me know she had enough. When she started walking she shed alot of her baby fat and lost her crazy appetite and started to eat smaller portions but I have always let her decided when she had enough.

Hi M.. I had no idea what, when and how much to feed our daughter when she started solids at 6 months. I found an amazing book which told me everything I needed to know. I was a stay at home Mom, so also had the opportunity to make all my own baby food. You may not have the time to do this, but the book is still something that I would recommend you get. (I give it as a shower gift to all first time Moms.) The book is called "Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yaron. Some people have said that it is too basic - I found it perfect! I tells you "when" to introduce "what" food, and "how much" to give. I love this book so much that if I could, it would be the gift that hospitals pass out to new Moms! If you need help, e-mail me back. B..

www.gerber.com

the website will walk you through what developmental stages your child is at right now and that will tell you how much he should be eating each day.

I gave my son at 7 mos. / 5 6-8oz. bottles a day and one jar of gerber 1st fruit in the morning and 1 jar of gerber 1st veggies in the evening....