I've ready that kids this age sometimes cut back on the amount of food they eat - but my little guy just doesn't seem to be close to the volume of what the books describe is typical for his age. He never gets cranky because he's hungry and we offer him food about every 3 hours. He's a very healthy little guy - little on the skinny side but he takes after both his parents that way. Just wanted to get some feedback on what was normal for other kids about his age.
He usually eats about 2/3 of a jar of stage 3 gerber - sometimes a little bread and 1-2 oz of formula at each meal (b-fast, lunch dinner). He also gets 2 snacks every day - usually about 1/4 cup of fruit and/or yogurt. We also nurse mid morning, mid afternoon and right before bedtime.
Thanks everyone - I figured I was just letting anxiety get to me. It's good to hear from real moms and get advice from their experience.
From what you listed it sound like he is getting plenty to eat. If he is happy and healthy, I wouldn't worry about it. Honestly, that sounds like more than either of my boys ate at that age. Keep it up, you're doing great.
If he's healthy and happy he's eating enough. My grandson has always been on the skinny side. He's 5 now and I noticed he's starting to get a bit of a tummy and his ribs are covered better. His doctor has never suggested that he was too thin. He's always measured at a high percentage for height and a much lower percentage but well within the average range for weight.
I don't think there is a normal. Instead there is a range which has been created by averaging together all babies/children. Your baby is due for a well baby visit soon (at or around 12 months). Feeding is a good topic to discuss with your doctor.
It sounds like your son is getting enough to eat and is happy. Books are guidelines, not the Bible of nutrition.
Sounds like he is eating plenty. Remember, babies tummies are very small and every child eats different amounts. And with the snacks and extra nursing, he eats way more than quite a few babies I know who are healthy. A good rule of thumb my doctor told me with my kids is that a serving size for a baby is the size of their palm, which is small. So I'd say sounds like he's eating enough. He should have his 1 year check up soon and you'll see his weight gain and you can check with your pediatrician if he/she feels he is getting enough as well.
I used to nanny for a little boy with this same issue. He was several months older than your son, though. His Dr. told the lad's Mother that a 1 TBSP. serving was sufficient for a child that age. This has been helpful information for me over the years, and I hope it helps you, too. God bless you and yours! :)
They will not let themselves starve. Their intake can vary drastically. If you are really concerned, take him to a doctor
My daughter is 11m and it sounds like your son eating enough to be healthy. However, if you don't feel like he is getting enough to eat you could try offering more finger foods. I know my daughter does not like puree much and won't eat more than 1/2 jar (or 1/4 cup) of anything spoon fed. She wants to feed herself and will eat much more if it's offered cut up into little pieces for her to pick up. For example, this morning for breakfast we had:
Home-canned pears cut up
mini pancakes broken up
cheerios
blueberries (small fresh whole ones)
Lunch:
Gerber Graduates Raviolis, cut in half
more blueberries (in season here so fresh from the farm)
Slice of cheddar cheese broken up
She also gets about 16oz of formula throughout the day at naps and bedtime.
Anyway, just a quick example of what my 11m old eats. I know if all I offered her was purees/jarred food she would maybe eat half the amount of food she does. She is not chubby at all, 50% for weight and 90% for height (tall girl).
Hi M., I'm the mother of 3, but has raised 5 children. All of my kids have gone through that phase. Just as long as he is healthy & happy... he will eat when he gets hungry. I've been accused of spoiling my kids, but I was told at age 17 that I would have no children. God saw it differently and blessed me with 3 who are all grown up now. My biological baby is 22 yrs old. Anyway, I would find whatever it was that I knew the kid really liked and presented that favorite food for as long as it took for their appetite to picks up. I don't know if that's what a mother should do. It worked for us. My first born was 3lbs at birth & No. 3 was 4 lbs. So I fed my babies on demand & whatever they wanted (as long as its healthy). They are all 3 big, healthy & thriving young adults. Don't worry... your baby will be just fine. I can tell you will make a great mom. Have fun and good luck
M.,
It sounds to me like he's getting plenty of opportunity to eat, he's just choosing not to. The thing about kids is that we can't force feed them. All we can do is offer the food and hope they eat it. The only thing that I can really think of is to maybe offer him some higher calorie foods to see if he'll chunk up a little, but that's up to you. If he's lean like both his parents then I wouldn't worry about it too much. If he starts to get skinnier then I'd probably start to worry a little more.
My kids are 5 years and 17 months and some days they eat everything in sight and some days it seems like they don't eat anything.
Hope this helps,
M.
Glad that you asked this question. I have a ten month old, and despite that it is my second child it is hard not to worry whether they eat enough! Eespite the fact that I logically know that kids know how to regulate their own intake just fine. I guess it's just a mom thing (my mother-in-law still food pushes on my husband!).
Your little guys sounds similar in eating quantities to my daughter. She has also started backing away from spoon-fed pureed food, so it was helpful to hear from a couple of other moms that their kids are doing the same and to get some suggestions for finger foods!
Sounds perfectly normal to me. My daughter nursed mostly through the first year and never really took to baby food or pureed food. I started sharing little bits of food from my plate and she enjoyed that the most. The bast part is now that she is two, I am not making separate meals for her. She knows she is getting what mommy and daddy are eating and she likes it that way. Also, their taste buds are still developing, so most moms I have spoken to notice their children like spices and flavor on their food. My daughter would eat very spicy food and loves pepper. As she got older, she decided she liked medium to mild spicy foods, but still loves pepper. So watching for preferences help with eating. And they will go through growth spurts and teething phases too which effect their appetite or desire to eat. Some days they will eat what seems like next to nothing and some days they seem to eat non-stop. As long as he is healthy, not losing weight and happy, I wouldn't worry one bit! BTW, my daughter is petite and skinny in the 10 percentile, but she loves to eat, is very healthy and on her own personal growth chart, she has grown very steadily. Each child is different, just trust your intuition.
Children go through growth spurts where they need more food and then plateaus where they need very little. Almost no children have feeding problems. The problem comes when parents try to force food on them. It sounds like your little boy is perfectly normal. The time to worry is when he actually loses weight or falls off the bottom of the growth chart. Just be sure that the food he gets is healthy and not empty calories (junk food). Good luck and just enjoy your child.
I am a public health nurse, mother of 3, grandmother of 4 and foster mother of many.
