New Mom - Silly Question

Every baby is different and everyone is going to give you different advice. I found the book "What to expect the first year" incredibly helpful in providing answers to what to "typically" expect on a monthly basis with the huge changes that happen so quickly. There is an entire section on the food and feeding diets and when a good time frame to introduce things and the order to it as well. Good luck!

First of all it's not a silly question at all. And it looks like you've got plenty of great advice. The only thing I'd like to add because it's important and I didn't see it said yet (maybe someone did but I was skimming the responses).

You should be giving your son the bottle first. It has all of the nutrients he needs. Then after that you give him some baby food. So when he wakes up give him his bottle like normal and then either feed him right afterwards or maybe wait an hour.

Hope this helps and wasn't too repetative.

Hello,
First of all, there are no dumb questions when it comes to raising kids and every child is different. I am a mom to 6 wonderful children (ages 26 to 3 yrs old) and 5 granddaughters. This is what I have done with all my kids and what my grandmother coached me with feeding my kids. Start with preparing the formula in a bottle, then use the prepared formula in the bottle with the cereal and the prepare your and husband morning meal, then everyone set and eat at the same time. Have your childcare provider feed your son at the same time she feeds the other kids. Then you dinner the same thing. Then give him the remaining formula as he eats and afterwards.
This will help teach and promote good eating habits.
I hope this helps.

I recommend the book Super Baby Foods! It will answer all of your not so silly questions.

i had that same concern with my daughter. i just started offering her food at meal times and when ever she acted hungry..if your son wants the food he will eat it and if not he will let you know. i started her with the gerber 1st foods, like the fruits and veggies and she loved them.i always offered her the bottle after she was done with the solids. sometimes she would eat and sometimes just want the bottle but she has grown up to a healty 17 month old terror! i hope this helps. S.

You can start with "snacks" at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Remember to start with one ingredient foods (tofu, fruit, veggies etc.) Just remember that their main source of nutrition and calories will come from the formula/milk until age 1. It's ok if they don't eat much... right now it's all about experiment :)

This is not a silly question at all. All first time mom's have questions like these...and they don't stop once you have a pre-schooler...they just get more difficult as your child gets more creative! LOL I would say how much/how many times a day you feed your son solids totally depends on how well he takes to them. Some kids love them and have no problems at all, others hate them, have a hard time tolerating them, get constipated, etc. I don't think I fed my son at all three meals at that age, but meals for me were a challenge. It was hard because my son would only eat if I fed him...which meant I didn't eat with the others. To make life easier, I fed him when it was convenient for him and me. It sounds as if your son is eating like a champ, so all three meals may work fine for you. If you are doing one meal now, try two meals for a few days,then bump it up to three. They key is to not make too many sudden changes. As long as your son is peeing and having wet diapers, he is hydrated enough. I can't remember specifics since it has been so long for me (my son is 3 1/2), doctors usually give out charts at checkups of what solids to give, in what order, how much, how many times a day, etc. I do remember that you start off with the light colored foods and work your way to the dark ones, and that you only give one new food per week. That way you can tell if your son is allergic to it. Go through all the light colored foods before moving on to another color. I didnt' start using mixed foods (like squash and carrots together) until I knew my son was not allergic to either one. Also make sure to do the vegies first....meats have to go last because they are harder to digest. Below I there is a link to the section of Parents Magazine website that has links to answer questions about solid foods, making your own baby food, lots of useful things. I read everything I could when my son was a baby and I really liked a lot of what I read in Parents Magazine. Good luck to you.

http://www.parents.com/parents/category.jsp?categoryid=/t...

I had the same question, In fact if you look back at the answers to my question you may find the advice you are looking for there as well. After my son was doing well with cereal, I started to introduce vegetables first (then work up to fruits), just putting 1 or 2 spoon fulls with his cereal and gradually giving more. I did that twice a day in mid morning and mid afternoon giving him a few ounces of formula/breastmilk with that feeding. By 9 months I increased it to 3 times a day. I give my son 6oz of milk first thing when he wakes up, I will feed him approx 3 hours after thats with solids and a little milk with his meal, then for lunch and dinner I do the same and then end his day with another 6 oz. before bedtime. I just winged it and it all worked out ok, I'm sure you will find your own routine and your baby will be healthy and happy like mine =)

Hi S.

My doctor gave me this great cheat sheet on how much children should be eating. When I started solids I thought the formula intake would decrease, but the doctor told me my daughter-Sophia should still be taking the same amount. Sophia is 8mn old and I started solids around 5mn. At first she didn't really eat it so I stopped and started again a few weeks later. She still only eats solids 2 times a day and will only eat smooth foods. She does not like texture or the baby crackers.

its scary to be a first time mom, you dont want to think your starving your child.

I would feed my son, his bottle a little less then normal then give him his ceral, and mushed bananas. Then we would have another bottle. For lunch more yummy mushed up food. then another bottle more food for dinner and then another bottle before dinner. Kids dont usually eat to much when they first start eating food, so i would give him a bottle as normal, if he doesnt eat it all like normal then he is full and you are doing great. Kids will elt you know when they are hungary.

Good luck and happy times.

N.

Hi S., I wondered the very same thing w/ my 7 month old daughter. I found a guide in one of those formula flyers they send in the mail, and it's been a good resource. Of course every baby is different, but it's good to have an idea of ballpark figures. 5-7 months, Breakfast- 2-3 tablespoons baby cereal, 6-8 ounces BM/Formula, Mid morning snack- 2-4 tblspns fruit, Lunch- 2-4 tblespns veggies, 1-2 tblespns cereal, 6-8 ozs BM/Formula, Mid Afternoon- 6-8 ozs. BM/Formula, Dinner- same as lunch. 8-12 months Breakfast- 3-5 tbls. cereal, 6-8 ozs. BM/Formula, Mid-morning- 2-4 ozs. 100% unsweetened juice diluted w/ water (limit to 4-6 ozs a day), dry toast strips, Lunch- 3-4 tbls veggies, 3-4 tbls pureed meat or mashed beans, 6-8 ozs. BM/Formula, Mid-afternoon- 2-4 ozs. BM/Formula, 2-4 tbls fruit, 3-5 tbls cereal, Dinner- 3-4 tbls each veggies, meat or beans, and fruit, 6-8 ozs. BM/Formula. It also gave solid food steps as 5-6 months- pureed, 6-7 months- mashed 7-9 months- minced fine, and 9-12 months- chopped. We space out the bottle feedings and the meals, about an hour apart, this works for us. I hope this helps you out, I refer to it often to see whether we are in the parameters, but baby will let you know best! Good luck!
K.

Hi Stacy. Personally I dont think cereal is a great first food. (Avoid wheat for sure it can cause allergies if introduced before a year). Cereal's are mostly carbohydrates that convert to sugar. Pureed veggied or even organic meats are my choices. Good luck!

not a dumb question...

every kid is different in how much they will require (amount/frequency)

I would start slow... first of all only introducing one new food every 5-7 days, you want to be sure he is not allergic to anything. If you are starting with rice cereal... that can either constipate him (or as in at least one of my kids who was allergic - give him diareah). I would also start small and work your way up with how much and how often.. just to be sure you don't overwhelm is little body/digestive system. Other than that HE will let you know how much and how often.. he will clearly let you know if he likes something or not.

there are several child rearing books that are very good for this Dr. Spock is a good standard - and there is another one that my kids pediatrician gave me each time I had a kid. And certainly if you like one idea in the book... doesn't mean you have to consider all of it the gospel truth... with my first three.. I consulted all three books I had every time I had a question.

Best wishes.

Jennifer

I think we as moms go thru all those concerns..so its not a silly or dumb question at all.
I also know each child is different and is ready to move on when they are ready and not any sooner... I would see what your precious boy will take and try new things...if funds dont allow for alot of shopping...boil peas or carrots or potatoes and mash them up..see what he will take.. and with food always give them water...they have sensitive tummies and can get constipated...my sister just had her 3rd baby boy and he is about 5 months old and he is trying all the new tastes of the mashed up everything... (we dont like spinach...I had the pleasure of getting it spit all over me...!sigh!)...oh well..hope this helps. M. in otis orchards, wa.

He will let you know by refusal of formula or food. Just make sure he has drinks available. They say dont give them foods till age 1 but that never works with most moms. Mine had to eat rice cereal just to get enough food to properly sleep. Good Luck and Happy New Year

check out www.whattoexpect.com. I haven't looked in a while but will have to again soon, but I remember they had some really good sample menus for each age group. Good luck!

Hi S.! First, it's always advisable to talk to your pediatrician about infant nutrition (they often have handouts,etc...). But I love the resource of Dr. Sears. He's my favorite on-line pediatrician! =) Here is a link to what he says about introducing solid foods...
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/t032000.asp
Also, not sure if he says it on this page, but my understanding coming from La Leche League meetings is that whether a little one is formula or breast fed, that is still where the bulk of their nutrition will be coming from for the next several months, and the introduction to solid food is like a combo of tasting and experimenting and learning the social aspect of "eating" with family.
One highlight from Dr. Sears' page:
"Expect erratic eating patterns. Baby may take a couple tablespoons one day and only a teaspoon the next."
Best of luck on your continued adventure of motherhood! J.

Never any silly questions. First I recommend a book to all my friends that are new moms. Its the American Academy of Pediatrics Birth -5 yrs guide. It covers lots of topics and is good reference for all those "silly" questions. Now, until the kids are about 1 year old, they will still get most of their nutrition from the formula. Keep the bottles the same time and same amount, those shouldn't change much. Solid food is just practice for eating after 1 year old. Start with cereals, different types, then add some veggies then some fruits. Start with just once a day, then twice, then 3 times just like meals. I stagger my daughters feeding so that she has a bottle when she gets up, then her solid breakfast a little later, then another bottle before lunch, then her solid lunch, then an afternoon bottle, dinner and a bottle before bed. Since you work full time, who takes care of you boy? Experienced care givers will help you answer these questions too and will be able to give you feedback as to what your son is eating and when and how much and if he likes it or doesn't. Don't sweat over it, just have fun. After about 9 months you can try table food and dairy products like yogurt and cottage cheese. The more foods you expose them too as a baby, toddler, the better they'll eat (hopefully) as children. Good luck.

Every family is different.

I provide care for a little guy he is about 9mo.
and I have two of my own. I wasn't very good at feeding them solids regularly. now that I've had practice on about six babies I've got it down! lol... two of mine four of other people's babies!!

so, we feed him a couple tablespoons of rice cereal mixed with a scoop of formula, and I pour in a jar of baby food. (personally I don't like feeding seperately. and the babies don't mind.
I mix in water too.

at breakfast I mix in fruit, lunch and afternoon snack I mix in veggies.
his schedule is like this
7am, bottle six ounce.
8am, cereal mixture
10am, cheerios
12, cereal mixture
2pm, six ounce bottle
4pm, cereal mixture
6pm, cereal mixture (starting 3rd foods for dinner)
and then they give him a bottle before bed too.
I think they need atleast 24 ounces of formula a day.

hope this helps!

This is the site I always went to when i had questions like that. http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-by-age-guide-to-feeding-y...

Hey S.!
-There are no stupid questions!!!! After all, they don't come with instructions! I was also very concerned about how, when and what to begin feeding my first child (now 4 years and doing well!). In addition to asking the pediatrician, my sister and anyone else with experience - I also found a great website for suggestions: www.gerber.com/feedingplan - they had great ideas for starting the baby on solids, how to introduce new foods, and nutritional meal suggestions. They also give stages and other great development info. We are so lucky to live in this age of information! So relax & enjoy your baby while you can - pretty soon he will eat everything!

FWIW, my son (also formula fed) never had drop of solid food until his 1st birthday. After that we introduced baby food (the little jars) and fruit.

As for the liquid, keep him on formula until he hits age one, then switch to whole (make sure it's whole) milk and he should be fine ;-)

I'm sure you've gotten plenty of responses but I'd thought I'd throw my two cents in. Your son still depends on the nutrition from the formula until he is 12 months old. The reason for giving him solids now is to introduce him to taste and texture, it's not to replace any nutrition. Hope this helps.