Help! Seeking Advice on How to Know How Much to Feed My 7 1/2 Month Old........

i wouldn't worry too much, if he is 7 1/2 m.o. and weighs 23 pounds and is a growing happy boy than I think you're doing things right. peiole who bottle feed (whether formula or breastmilk) get hung up on the numbers too much... if you are still nursing 3 times beyond his two bottles, he is probably getting plenty. also, babies are experts at letting you know they need more to eat.

as a side note... good luck with going back to work, it is hard for everyone... be kind to yourself, everyone will survive just fine.

oh and btw... making babyfood is fun and easy! try wholesomebabyfood.com to get you started... you don't need a lot of equipment (though a food processor is awfully nice to have). I froze mine using ice cube trays and stored it in ziploc bags.

I would say at 7 mos, that two 4 oz bottle during the day isn't enough. My son would wake, each almost a 6 oz bottle, then cereal with fruit, then another bottle four hours later, some more cereal maybe and a veggie then another bottle like four hours later. During the day my son and daughter at that age probably took at least 6 bottles (4 to 6oz) and one or two at night.
Just my two cents. You need to se if he is gaining well, not seeming hungry or fussy. I agree with the other poster about the wet diapers and poopy diapers. If he is a big boy I don't think that two bottles is nearly enough.

As far as solids, two tablespoons doesn't seem much either.
I would feed solids until they turned their head as a signal to me they were done. I obviously wouldn't give them three jars of food or anything but babies will turn their heads when they are full and I just waited for them to let me know.

Hi, S.! Congrats on your wonderful boy! :)
I have an almost-9-month old son, and I am feeding him about the same as you are your boy, with the exception that he takes a little bit more in his bottles (6 oz. vs. 4) than your son. I think you are doing a great job! I can recommend a fabulous book that helped me with my daughter and is helping again now with my son: The Super Baby Food Book by Ruth Yaron. It tells you all about how much your baby should be eating, what foods to introduce when, how to make your own baby food, AND it has terrific recipes, too! I can't recommend it enough--it saved me as a first-time mom!
Good luck, and have fun with your little guy!
S.

Will the bottles be pumped breast milk or formula? They don't need as much breast milk as formula. If you're pumping, I would rent a hospital grade pump. They much more effective at keeping you milk supply up. I would pump at his normal feeding times during the day, if you have them. I would guess that you would since he's just starting solids. Pump as much milk as you can get during these times, and that should be close to what he's taking in breast milk.
If you're using formula, I would send extra formula to daycare and have them do a trial and error to get the right amount. Have them start with the 4oz that you mentioned and if he's slupping it down and doesn't really seem satisfied, have them give him more, then follow with the solids. Most of his nutrients should be coming from breast milk or formula at this age.
Good luck with the transistion. It's wonderful that you've been able to stay at home with him for the past 7 1/2 months.

let him eats what he wants. he knows when he's full. plus you're still giving him milk as his main course.

This depends on how many wet diapers he has per day. If he is not saturating at least 6 diapers per day he may be dehydrated. He seems like a big enough kid!