Introducing SOLIDS!
- Thread starter clowe77
- Start date
M
MLBW
Guest
Hi Clowe,
My son's formula consumption varies--the more solid food he eats, the less formula he drinks. His appetite is pretty steady but some days lately he is too busy playing to want to stop and eat much. Generally, I would say he drinks probably between 18-30 ounces of formula a day, depending on how much solid food he's eaten. I've read and been told by the pediatrician that formula or breastmilk are recommended up until at least the baby turns one-year-old.
Even with the amount of food my son is eating, there is probably no way he can be getting the amount of calories his growing body needs as well as the balanced nutrition that formula or breastmilk provide. I know some moms who also start feeding their baby goat's milk between 9-12 months as it's easier to digest than cow's milk.
Oh, and an interesting thing--my son until very recently, detested drinking water--he wouldn't swallow it--whether you gave it to him a bottle, in a sippy cup, in a dropper--nothing. We even added small amounts of pure juice to see if that would make a difference--still hated it. So...our solution was to start giving him small ice chips--he likes to suck on them and he can go through quite a few--that keeps him hydrated and prevents constipation (because he is formula-fed).
Hope you have fun with the feeding.
My son's formula consumption varies--the more solid food he eats, the less formula he drinks. His appetite is pretty steady but some days lately he is too busy playing to want to stop and eat much. Generally, I would say he drinks probably between 18-30 ounces of formula a day, depending on how much solid food he's eaten. I've read and been told by the pediatrician that formula or breastmilk are recommended up until at least the baby turns one-year-old.
Even with the amount of food my son is eating, there is probably no way he can be getting the amount of calories his growing body needs as well as the balanced nutrition that formula or breastmilk provide. I know some moms who also start feeding their baby goat's milk between 9-12 months as it's easier to digest than cow's milk.
Oh, and an interesting thing--my son until very recently, detested drinking water--he wouldn't swallow it--whether you gave it to him a bottle, in a sippy cup, in a dropper--nothing. We even added small amounts of pure juice to see if that would make a difference--still hated it. So...our solution was to start giving him small ice chips--he likes to suck on them and he can go through quite a few--that keeps him hydrated and prevents constipation (because he is formula-fed).
Hope you have fun with the feeding.
For us, even though ours really seems to enjoy solids, we haven't noticed much drop in his milk in-take. I work so my helper gives him EBM during the day and he is still consuming 4 full bottle feeds (5 oz each) as before. And bfing with the same frequency and duration once I'm home (4-5 times, am/pm).
Clowe: My baby drinks anywhere between 0.5-1.5 oz per feed. Sometimes he'll drink lots, other times barely enough to wet his lips. I just offer it and let him decide. The main purpose is just so the solids go down easier. In the evening, we generally feed him at about 7 p.m. (2 hours before he goes to bed).
Clowe: My baby drinks anywhere between 0.5-1.5 oz per feed. Sometimes he'll drink lots, other times barely enough to wet his lips. I just offer it and let him decide. The main purpose is just so the solids go down easier. In the evening, we generally feed him at about 7 p.m. (2 hours before he goes to bed).
Thanks everyone!
MLBW- ice chips, now there's a creative idea... hope i get to meet your little fellow one day, when you're back from the States.
Peainpod, thanks for the info re how much water your baby drinks. Do you feed him from a bottle or sippy cup? How old is he now? Sorry if you have already mentioned this - had a rough night and mommy is exhausted :-(
MLBW- ice chips, now there's a creative idea... hope i get to meet your little fellow one day, when you're back from the States.
Peainpod, thanks for the info re how much water your baby drinks. Do you feed him from a bottle or sippy cup? How old is he now? Sorry if you have already mentioned this - had a rough night and mommy is exhausted :-(
Oh, one more question to the mommies out there - in the first few weeks, did you offer the solids/cereal BEFORE or AFTER the bottle? I can see pro's and con's to both... I think a lot of people offer food AFTER bottle in morning feed (11am ish) and food BEFORE bottle in the evening (5-7pm ish) feed?
I've got such a good milk feed schedule now with my LO (FINALLY after lots of trial and error!), I am aware that introducing solids will probably throw everything into confusion again...
I've got such a good milk feed schedule now with my LO (FINALLY after lots of trial and error!), I am aware that introducing solids will probably throw everything into confusion again...
fhurley
Registered User
Just one thing - all the medical advice I have read says it is really important to make sure that your baby continues to take at least 500-800ml of formula/breast milk a day until they are a year old. This means that even if they are eating solids really well the milk should not be reduced to less than 500ml. Apparently babies may not be able to fully digest the solid food at this age and so will miss out on vital nutrients.
our son gets about 500 ml of formula/day plus about a 150 ml/day of water. We started giving water at almost 7 months when we were trying to eliminate a feed at night. He now takes it whenever. It's especially helpful if we are out and I can't make a feed with formula. I just give the bottle filled with water.
