Does My Baby Need More Solids??

Updated on August 29, 2010
V.N. asks from Crystal Lake, IL
16 answers

I have a large (22 lbs) 8 months old baby girl. She's not fat, just tall and heavy. I read that 8 months old kids are supposed to eat 24-32 oz. of formula daily plus solids.
She eats 45+ ozs plus solids. Am I overfeeding her or is she not getting enough solids?
Approximate feeding schedule:
4 oz. in the morning at 6 am.
then she drinks overall four 7oz. bottles at the daycare and eats 1/2 jar of fruit with cereal for breakfast and 1/2 jar of vegetables or #2 dinner for lunch.
At home (after daycare) she drinks overall approximately 14 oz. and has vegetables with cereal (3 oz. or so) for dinner.
That's 46 oz of formula plus solids!!! Is it too much? Am I overfeeding her or am I not giving her enough solids?

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M.V.

answers from Chicago on

I'd talk to her pediatrician...but I think that is WAY too much formula and not enough solids. Just to compare...my daughter was also a bigger baby. It typically slows down a lot and now at 23 months she is 29 pounds. Which is still in the 75th percentile for this age. At 8 months she was eating mostly table food and jar food. She was being weaned off formula by 10 months (this was ok'd by pediatrician) and on whole milk by 11 months. And only eating table food.

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L.L.

answers from Chicago on

I have a tall and heavy boy of 10 months. He is eating 3 meals of solids a day ( around 5-7 oz of food per meal) plus snacks and drinks around 20 oz of formula. I would definitely increase her solid food. Start with whole milk yogurt. Mix it in with the fruit and cereal. Its high in calories and will help her not miss the bottles as you decrease the amount of formula. Also try and give her small cut up pieces of fruit and veggies she likes like soft peaches or watermelon and start offering water with her meals in a sippy cup with a straw. She might be thirsty and at the moment she might be quenching her thirst with formula. Talk to your pediatrician and hear what they have to say and maybe go and read some websites for ideas on finger foods.
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/babyfingerfood.htm is a site I found very helpful. Good luck.

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D.S.

answers from Tulsa on

no depends on the kid in her case I would say no. mine was about that size and ate more than her. he was eating 8 eight oz bottles every 2 hours with 4 oz cereal mixed in and about 6-8 sometimes10 jars of baby food. I would increase her cereal don't up her formula and get her on protien baby food. mine was big and not fat also. I would increase her solids. try oatmeal instead of rice its more filling. mix cereal in with her baby food. and get the big bottles of baby food. at that age I had mine on mild table food mashed potatoes, peas, greenbeans, lots of peanut butter sandwiches. all of this mushes easy but mine had teeth. eggs. and french fries with a small amount of tuna. with a big baby listen to your guy. if you think she needs more solids go for it and if she doesnt act hungry dont increase the solids. but mine was still acting hungry after eating more than what yours was I feed till full and he still is not fat just a big baby.

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N.P.

answers from Chicago on

yes way too much
cut down the daycare bottles to 5 oz ones and introduce table foods to cut down the jar food

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K.J.

answers from Springfield on

It sounds like a lot of formula to me but every baby is different and she may need that much. All 3 of my kids were down to four 8oz bottles by 8 months plus a bowl of rice cereal or oatmeal and a jar of fruit and a jar of veggie each day. My only concern is if she actually needs that many bottles or is she drinking it solely because its being offered? I think some Mommies (I've caught myself doing it too) get into a schedule and forget to take cues from their babies. Is she fussy and acting hungry before each bottle or are you feeding her just because its "feeding time"? Also, you may wait until she's hungry at home but are they doing the same at daycare? They may be feeding her more than she actually needs so make sure you talk to them too.

A lot of mommies mentioned that babies rely on formula or breastmilk for all their nutrients in the first year, which is true. However, you also have to prepare them for switching to solids at around 1 year. You don't want to wait until she's a year old to actually do that.

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M.B.

answers from Champaign on

it sound like your little needs more solid food. 46oz seem like to much formula to me. i would try to cut back a few bottles and do if she will a full jar for breakfast. maybe you could try aa little snack like baby crackers so that she is not have so much formula. also never hurts to give them a little water rather than s formula bottle well hope this helps

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A.P.

answers from Boston on

I think you could try a little more solids at each mealtime, but don't push it. Do you try to give her a whole jar and she only eats half? If so then that's probably enough for her. They do get all their nutrients from the formula so you don't have to worry that she isn't getting enough nutrients from solid food. Some babies just like to eat a lot of food and some formula, my son is 8 months and 20 lbs and he just loves the baby food. I have yet to find one he doesn't like. I wonder the same thing, about the balance between food and formula but I wouldn't worry too much as long as she's healthy. Most kids thin out as they get older. I think I prefer a little extra c*** on them as babies, its better than worrying that they don't eat enough.

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M.F.

answers from Phoenix on

How long is she going in between bottles? If she's getting 7 bottles a day, even, she's getting a bottle about every 2-3 hours, which is way too short of a time between bottles for an 8 month old and why she's getting way too much formula during the day. She should be drinking 32 oz. MAX. of formula per day and should be able to wait at least 4-5 hours between bottles. If you increase her solids significantly, space her bottles out more, give her solids in between, she'll have a much more well-rounded diet. By 8 months, my daughter was eating 4-5 oz. fruit plus 1/4 cup cereal for breakfast, 4-5 oz. veggies and meat plus 1/4 cup cereal for lunch and 6 oz. veggies/fruit and meat for dinner. She nursed no earlier than every 4 hours. While your daughter might not eat as much as mine right away, I definitely think you should increase the amounts of solids you give her per sitting, increase the time between bottles and decrease the amount of formula she's drinking per day. If you're worried about her being thirsty, introduce water in a sippy cup at meal-times, so she can start getting used to the idea of drinking from a cup now. Your pediatrician will probaby tell you the same thing at your 9 month appointment.

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

How about introducing water in a sippy also?

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S.T.

answers from Chicago on

As a mom of 2 and a day care professional with 10+ years of experience, I totally agree with Andrea G. As a society we rely to much of food for the babies once we can eat. That first year, from a nutritional standpoint, they only need formula or breast milk.

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A.F.

answers from Columbus on

Sounds to me she is getting too much formula and not enough solids.
I have a 8 month old and he eats five 6 oz bottles throughout the day and a jar of baby food in the morning, afternoon and before bed. Not saying you should do exactly what I do but just to give you an idea of what my 8 month old eats.
Next time you take her to the Dr, just mention your concern. As long as your daughter isn't over weight, it's probably fine what you're doing.

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C.

answers from Chicago on

Sounds like the solids is pretty typical (about 4 oz. 3 times a day). Bottles are more than typical. Typical would be more like 4-5 six-eight oz. bottles. I have 2 boys and provide home day care and at that age we are usually at 6oz. bottle and then 4 oz food in the am (fruit and infant cereal), 6 oz. bottle and then 4 oz food around lunchtime (veggie and infant cereal), 6 oz. bottle and then 4 oz. food around dinnertime (I like to skip the cereal for dinner and do just jar food). Then a bottle before bed. Meals could be spaced out like 6am, 11am, 4pm, bedtime. Is she eager to consume that much?? I would stretch out the bottles a bit particularly if she is not eager to drink them right down. She must be having full bottles pretty often to have that many in a day? Running concerns by your pediatrician is never a bad idea of course for peace of mind. Best wishes to ya!

M.P.

answers from Provo on

My son who is 28 lbs at 10 months was similar, he would eat a little solids but not a lot, but then around 30-40 oz of formula. Feed her as much as she wants. There is no right or wrong, just what she wants. If she will eat more solids vs formula great! if not, don't freet. My son I'm having to scale back the solids because of digestion issues, so don't push solids if her bm's are consistant.

A.G.

answers from Pocatello on

She doesn't need more solids. For the first year of a babies life the majority of their food should be formula or breast milk. Solids are more just to teach your baby to eat from a spoon and to learn different textures. And as for over feeding. She does seem to be getting a lot of food but it is important to listen to you baby. If she has a bottle and is then content you don't have to give her solids. But if she cries and wants it then she is still hungry and may need that little extra to hold her over.

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D.G.

answers from Chicago on

That sounds like too much formula. My pediatrician told me no more than 32 oz, and once they are on solids the 32 should decrease to only about 24 oz. She may cry but you are going to need to cut her back on the formula or she will become overweight. What does your pediatrician say? Most pediatricians will let you know when you are feeding them too much. I have two kids and run a daycare out of my home, I have been taking care of infants for quite some time. I have never seen a baby on more than 36 oz of formula per day. Formula is also much heavier than breast milk. I am surprised that she needs that much, but I could be wrong. Maybe she is extremely tall for her age and needs more than the average kid.

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

ALL three of my kids were like this..My youngest is 7 months now and eats like your daughter....Loves food and his bottles!!! If you are concenered verify with your pediatrician..My pediatrician has no concerns at this point. And my other 2 children are normal and healthy and not overweight!

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