How Much Is Too Much Baby Food

What your daycare provider is saying sounds right. At 8 months I would start introducing more and more solids. They need more than just breastmilk, but by no means cut it out. You can always go to your doctor and ask for charts. They should give guidelines on how much food to eat at what age along with foods to avoid due to possible allergies. I always go by the baby's response. If you are feeding them cereal and they are still hungry, add some fruit or more cereal and fruit. Babies won't eat when they are full. They will turn away or spit it out. Go by their cues. My opinion is the earlier you introduce them to foods and textures the more likely they get used to having it as their diet. Feed them pureed brocolli as a baby and then little pieces of brocolli when it's pick up food time, then brocolli with dinner when they are 4....

I have read alot of responses here berating the daycare and these people are not taking in to account what your daycare provider must to to remain liscenced by the state. Talk to her and you Dr about this. She may be more willing to work with you. Also, look into your state guidelines and see what they are required to do with their state food program. I live in Montana and my daycare provider was required by the state, in order to REMAIN liscenced, to follow their food progam. My son is almost nine months old and he refuse his bottle. He would rather have his solids. I was only able to breatfeed him for 3 months, so he has been on formula since then. He has been intoduced to meats in the last month. He is thriving and very happy and healthy. But, please consult your states liscencing for daycares to see if she is required or if it is only recommended. Just my two cents.

J.,
I would go with what you and the doctor have decided is best for your son. I am a childcare provider and can make suggestions, but must respect what the parent and doctor decide. Your daycare provider is probably just following the state food program, which makes "recommendations" for what each child should be eating at certain ages and/or stages. That is how she is reimbursed by the state food program. You may suggest that if she would like a written note from your doctor to keep on file you would be happy to provide one. Good Luck.
J.

Your sitter said she is "required" to feed him all that? Along with breastmilk? That seems strange. If he eats all that he won't be hungry for much breastmilk. I would tell her you want him to keep getting breastmilk (until you're ready to ween him off the breast) and then a solid after that til he's full. If I remember right, both my boys were close to a year before they started eating more solids and only drinking when they were thirsty.

Follow your baby's cues. If he's happy and thriving, then he's fine.

Technically, babies don't need much more than breastmilk for the first year. All of my kids were different, but my 2nd didn't want anything besides breastmilk till she was nearly one. My new little one is almost 8 months old and has no interest in any foods at all. He's nice and fat and happy on breastmilk and I'll keep introducing healthy foods but I know he's getting what he needs. Breastmilk is the best food on the planet for your little guy. Good for you for pumping and continuing to nurse while he's in day care!

And yes, feeding him more solids will affect your supply. If you don't want that to happen, just pump more to keep supply up. Good luck!

First- I would do what you want to do. I breastfed for the first year and I did something really similar to what you are doing. I wouldn't let the daycare push you into doing something else. Here's what I did at about that age:
Breastfed when he got up. Then cereal.
Midmorning breastfeeding (before nap).
Breastfeeding at lunch then give the fruit or veggie.
Breastfeed midday (before nap).
Breastfeed before dinner, then give the fruit or veggie.
Breastfeed at bedtime.
My experience is that over time, he began to get more mobile and his breastfeedings got shorter and shorter and with that I'd introduce more foods. That was over a period of time between 9 to 12 months.
I worried too about losing my milk supply. So during a new transition where it started to seem like I needed to phase out a breastfeeding, I would still pump at that time. For example, I started noticing he wasn't taking as much interest in the midday feeding. So one day, instead of breastfeeding I just pumped. Then over about a week, somedays he wanted the feeding and sometimes he didn't and after about 2 weeks, he consistently didn't want the feeding. Once I was confident he no longer wanted that feeding, I stop pumping at that time and just skipped it altogether.
Good Luck!

My doctor told me that whatever I could get him to eat was just a supplement to the breastmilk. What you are doing sounds good and was what my boy was eating at that age too. Do what your doctor says, not the daycare.

Babies are just like any other baby mammal. When they are ready for solids they will search out solids to eat, when they are ready for MORE they will make it known that they WANT more.

There is no "rule" about when and how much a baby should eat solids. My Middle didn't even start eating solids until he was around 8-9 months old breastmilk was his MAIN food source until he was Well over a year old, he continued to nurse until he was nearly 2.5.

Tell your babysitter that you are the parent and will decide when and if you child needs to eat more solid food.

My guess is she wants to feed him more so she doesn't have to spend as much time giving bottles which is a lot more time consuming than spoon feeding. If he's eating a lot at meals he's not going to want to drink as much milk as frequently.

J.,

I'm a daycare provider and what I think your daycare provider is trying to say I could be wrong. Is that she needs to serve a more variety of food not necessarily a large amount of food.

For a breakfast to qualify on the food plan for a 8 month old is 6-8oz. of breast milk or formula 2-4tbsp. of infant cereal and 1-4tbsp of fruit or veggie. which is real not that much food. So if she just added a fruit or veggie in with his oatmeal in the morning and reduced the amount of oatmeal he gets that would be adequate.

For lunch the requirements are 6-8oz of breast milk or formula
2-4tbsp. of infant cereal or meat, fish, poultry, egg yolk, or cooked dry beans or dry peas. or cheese 1/2-2oz. or cottage cheese,cheese food, and cheese spread.
they must also have a fruit or veggie 1-4 tbsp.

For a snack they must have formula or breast milk 2-4oz. or full strength 100% juice.(which I never serve in my daycare because my doctor does not recommended giving children this young full strength juice). Crust bread 1/2 slice or crackers
1-2.

Most children at this age are getting most of there nutrient from food now they need more vitamins and proteins then formula or breast milk can supply. All three of my sons were Breasted feed and they all started food by three months old because they were big babies with big appetites and it wasn't that I was not supply enough milk trust me I had enough milk for 3 babies but it was just that the liquid diet could not keep them satisfied for long enough time unless I wanted to nurse every hour in a half which I didn't they were fussy and crying all the time. My milk supply was not affected by it at all. As long as you keep pumping when she at daycare you will be fine.

Hi J.,
My son will be 10 months old tomorrow. At 7 months I started him on jarred baby food. Our normal routine is: 4-6 oz milk at 6:00, 2 small jars at 8:30, followed by a 4 oz bottle of milk, 2 jars at 11:30, 6 oz milk at 2:00, 2 jars at 4:30, 2 jars at 6:30 with a 4 oz bottle. I have no idea what's "right" but this works for us. So far, he's refused solid/adult food. I didn't nurse so I'm not sure how eating solids affects your milk supply. I just wanted to share with you what we do.
Good Luck!
T.

J. - The thing is, if they are a licensed daycare provider and are participating in the state food program where they get a reimbursement for tracking their meals with the state, they are required to feed the children per the state guidelines. I'm in Moline, Illinois and according to our program we are not required to serve the Iron Fortified Infant Cereal with a fruit or veggie until 8 months. From 8-11 months we are required to do so at both breakfast and lunch. Then at 12 months we are to up them to additional requirements at meals and snacks. The only exception is if we have a form filled out by the doctor for the infant and send it in to the State to explain why we are not doing that. Everyone has an opinion and I've heard a million different theories but I am required to do as the state and federal food and nutrition programs dictate as a licensed provider. Hope that helps! K.

Trust yourself and your baby. If they are hungry they let you know, and thank all those people for their advice and then ignore all but the medical one that you trust.

Good luck and don't worry so much

At 8 months he should be nursing as often as he always has, in addition to eating more and more solid foods. If he's eating jarred foods, he should be on 2nd foods and eating both a fruit and a vegetable at lunch and dinner. Your daycare provider is right as far as the food program is concerned (I working in daycare for 5 years). But if your child seems to be fine on how you're feeding him, I wouldn't be concerned. He'll definitely let you know if he's still hungry! But I would try giving him both a fruit and a vegetable at mealtimes as well as starting some table foods. Small pieces of toast or cheese, cheerios, things that will easily disolve in his mouth, especially if he doesn't have many teeth. But if he really rebels against that, don't push him. Breastmilk is very sufficient.

Talk to your Dr. There are some correlations being tested and reviewed cuurently as to introducing certain foods and solid foods too early, and food allergies. Find a pediatrician who is knowledgeable and well versed and stick with what they tell you. The daycare provider doesn't have the luxury of tailoring childrens' eating to each individual...but with sound medical advice you can guide her on specifically what your child needs. Don't be too hasty in introducing foods until you talk to someone who knows about some of the pros and cons of nutrition.

J.,

Breastmilk offers the optimum nutrition for your baby right now. For the first year of life, it is best if most of your baby's nutritional needs can be met by breastmilk.

At his age, food is for experimentation, but not necessarily for nutrition. Baby cereal has very little real nutrition in it. Your day care provider gets credit financially for all the meals served and this is likely why she wants to feed breakfast again... but I would be surprised if it is a real requirement.

You could try being a bit more firm with your day care provider, or seek another one more committed to your goals for your baby. You could also drop the morning breakfast you are feeding your baby and nurse him instead, if you day care provider won't be flexible and you want to stay with her. This would remove at least the double morning dose of solids and allow for more breastmilk to be taken in.

It sounds from your post as if you are not feeling comfortable with the amount of solids your baby is receiving. One thing I find myself telling the moms I support is to slow down and listen to your inner voice. YOU are the expert for your baby. The answers are within you.

Here are some great links to information that may be helpful to you.
http://www.llli.org/NB/NBMayJun99p86.html
http://www.llli.org/NB/NBNovDec93p184.html
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/bflength.html
http://www.llli.org/NB/NBJulAug90p99.html

I hope this was helpful... feel free to contact me directly.

Warmly,
L.

J.,

Listen to your lactation consultant! Your daycare provider is going on what older children should be eating, not a nursing baby who eats some solids. Yes, if you start giving him too many solids, it could affect how much he wants to nurse and then decrease your milk supply. Many pediatricians actually say to wait until 1 year old to start solids. So, stick to your feeding schedule. Your daycare provider has guidelines to help her prepare meals, they are not rules and you are the parent.

A., RN

Let your baby be the judge of how much he needs to eat. No offense to your daycare, but any professional will tell you that no 'food program' fits the diets of babies. Who knows where she got it. Your daycare needs to feed your baby according to YOUR guidlines/routine....period! I would tell her you appreciate her attentiveness, but you have baby's diet well adjusted!
~L.

I have a 6 month old and he loves his baby food. When I took him to his 6 month well baby appointment I talked to the doctor because I was concerned that he was not getting enough breast milk because he wanted baby food. Here is his schedule:
7am he wakes up and nurses.
9am cereal (sometimes with a fruit, depending on if he is still hungry)
11-12 nurse with a fruit or veg (sometimes both if he is still hungry, we have just started giving him solids at this time, so some days he only nurses, it just depends on his mood)
3-4pm nurse (somedays he does not want to nurse at this time)
5:30-6pm fruit and veg (he refuses to nurse at this time and will only take baby food, sometimes he has 3 size 2 baby foods)
7:30-8pm nurse then bed afterwards

Most nights he sleeps through the night, but occasionaly I will have to nurse him once in the middle of the night.

I do family childcare, so I am lucky that I am with my son all day long, so I can adjust how much he eats based on his hunger.

When I told the doctor he was only nursing 3-5 times a day he said that it was fine. He told me by 9 months he wants at least half of his calories to come from solids. He also said that babies are smart and will stop eating when they are full, so to give him as many solids as he wants and he will stop eating when he is full. Unlike adults where we tend to eat until our plate his empty. I also do not pump and only nurse him so I have no idea how many ounces he gets at a time. He also said that I can start adding in mashed table food into his diet.

My daughter was completely different when it came to solids. She loved to nurse and very slowly added solids to her diet. I pumped during the day for her, so she had bottles at daycare and I nursed her whenever I was with her. Around 8 1/2-9 months her daycare started introducing table foods to her at lunch. They normally started at 8 months. She was a late teether, so I was concerned with her lack of teeth but she did great. I stoped nursing her at 12 months and that is my plan with my son.

When my daughter was younger I worked at a child development center and saw that each parent normally has their own opinion on what their child should be eating. If your son is happy and growing fine I would stick with what works best for him. If you get a note from your sons doctor, your daycare provider will be able to keep it in her records and should not have any problems with feeding him what you and the doctor feel is best for your son. If she still has an issue with what to feed your son, she may not be the best person to keep your son for you.

I hope this helps.

YOU are the parent and it is YOUR decision to make, not the daycare provider. Your son will tell you when he is hungry. If you notice that he is more fussy trying feeding him more, when he turns his head away then he is full. As for solids, start with cheerios, my son was eating Cheerios long before 8 months but I also had him on cereal at two weeks. My middle son is 6 and my youngest is 17 months so it seems as though he is actually progressing slower than my other. My doctor told me that your body will supply what you need. If he starts taking less breastmilk than your body will just produce less.

I was in the day care biz for 5 years and I myself nursed my daughter well past a year old. I participated in the food program, and they gave me all kinds of probs because I did not introduce her to solids or feed her any solids until she was closer to a year. I just did not claim her until she started to eat solids. You are NOT obligated to particpate and your provider DOES NOT have to claim your child. You are not required to particpate in order to have your child there, unless it is stated in the contract [ providing they made you sign one at time of admission]. Also it is not manditory that your child EAT what is provided in order for them to claim that meal. If they present it, and offer it, and your child "tastes" it ie... 1 spoonful, they can claim it. I would tell them at the day care, you do not want solids introduced until 1 year, and only want breastmilk as his primary nutrition. You are the parent and it is your child, so you do what is best for you and your baby. if they still balk at the idea of no solids, I would look for another provider.

Listen to your lactation consultant and your own intuition. Why do you think God created mom's and breastfeeding? It is the best for bonding and the most nutritious thing your baby could eat. I wouldn't push solids unless your little guy is grabbing for food as you are eating. Then only give him fresh pureed fruits, potato, etc. I wouldn't feed him any prepared baby food as most of it is full of sugar and other bad additives. Good luck and don't forget to listen to yourself and watch for clues from your baby.

My daycare was treating my son the same way. They are required by law to give them what the state requires at their age group unfortunately. There is no way for them to go around this without a doctor's note. It got to the point where they were giving him a cereal bowl full of oatmeal or rice cereal mixed with formula. I thought this was strange as well so I asked them to give him some formula separately to drink. We both decided to just mix the fruit with the cereal instead of mixing it with water that way he wasn't getting too much food and not enough formula. The daycare is also required to give him his required amount of breastmilk as well. Once he turns 1, he can have cow's milk instead and then he can start drinking more for thirst like we do. But until then, his main source of nutrition has to be the breastmilk.