Eight-Month Old Feeding Schedule?

Hey E.,

I just wanted to say that the fussiness may be related to cutting teeth, which could explain the increased appetite, therefore weight gain. Sometimes continued oral stimulation soothes teething pain, and your little one might be eating and nursing more to soothe the pain.

On the other hand about nursing and solids. I would not decrease her solids over liquids. If anything, I would reduce the nursing to after meals 3 times a day and either first thing in morning or at night. All in all, just cut out 1-2 breastfeedings. Also watch her diapers to confirm she is still having wets every 8 hours and dirties every 48 hours... then pay attention to consistency.. if she seems constipated increase luquids and if runny increase solids.

As for if your little one is over weight, it really depends on height, weight and age... the doctor should be able to tell you where she is on the growth chart percentile wise for height and weight.

I do strongly beleive in the benefits of breastfeeding... however, i would not back track in an 8 month old on feeding solids as this could later lead to food aversion. I would just adjust minimally and see what is working ... and try to keep breastfeeding for one year, even if it only means once a day snacking. Although your little one needs liquids too. I wish we would have made it a year breastfeeding but we had lots of food issues. On the contrary as we stopped at 7 months, we we never sick with anything other than acid reflux, until 2yrs3mos when we had our first fever.

Best Wishes,
MB

You are right, your pediatrician is wrong. Mom's usually know intuitively what is best for their babies. At this point she could get all of her nutrition from breast milk. I did not introduce solids until my chldren were a year old, because I was trying to avoid allergies, and thae later an allergic food is introduced the better chance that the child will not become allergic. They will get all of their nutritional needs met from breast milk. She will not overeat unless she has an abnormal system, which I doubt. She is probably just going through a growth spurt. Children usually have one at 8 months. Since you have already been feeding solids it will have to be a gradual process until your milk supply builds up to nurse more. I believe your child is just growing naturally and having a growth spurt. Nurse as often as she needs and wants to and supplement with fruits and vegetables if you desire. No grains or dairy though as they are highly allergenic and predispose to inhalent allergies, and are also hard to digest.

B. S. RN CCM

Eight months old and fussy? I think teething. Feel around on the gums and see if you feel any nubs.

Most kids eat like crazy just before a growth spurt, gain weight, look tubby, then jump up an inch or two and look normal again. Then they don't want to eat anything for a while, then cycle with the eating again.

Trust yourself.

Here's a link to my favorite web site.
parentcenter.com
http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-tell-how-much-formula-...
http://www.babycenter.com/404_when-a-child-starts-solids-...

i didnt get to breatstfeed either of my boys because i couldnt produce milk. but i look at the frequency and weaning of the breast the same as formula feedings. at 8 mo i was starting to wean my boys from the bottle to the solids. i would (and of course this is easier with bottles) make about a 4 oz bottle and then give about a 1/4 cup of food and let the kid have at it. by the time the kid was full both the bottle and the food was gone. i agree with your doctor that you should reduce the amount and frequency of nursing. and do not trust her to regulate her own body. she wont do it at this age. my youngest was a very chubby boy (95th or so percentile) becuase he would eat EVERYTHING i put in front of him and then want more and i would give him more. i learned the hard way that as the mom i had to determine how much was enough for him. and now he's not quite as big.

sorry im disagreeing with the majority but this is my opinion. just combine the solids and nursing for a couple more months and youll be fine. she has to learn how to eat solids because that is what sshe will be eating the rest of her life unless you plan on breastfeeding her when she's 20, 30 etc. yes breast is best but that is comparing breastmilk to formula not to solids which she has to learn to eat.

For my children that would have definitely been too much food. Rather than calling the dr., especially since she's been fussy, I would be making an appt. for a full check up. Both of our children were big babies (8+ lbs.) and our son weighed 25 lbs. by the time he was one but still wasn't a big eater. He leveled out in his weight between 1-3 and hardly gained one year, he just grew taller. You don't want to have an obesity problem since there are so many health related health concerns. If you decrease solids, I don't think that will satisfy her hunger with more nursing since liquids aren't as filling. I would see the dr. and discuss this face to face. They too can chart her size for what is normal and above-average to be accurate on her needs.

I agree with the doc that it sounds like she's being overfed but I'd would definitely cut the solids before the nursing. At this stage, the solids are just for practice. I would nurse her first, then give her a little bit of the solids so that she can practice eating and learn how to use her tongue and so forth. Also, 9 months is a growth spurt period so she may be coming up on that and that could be why she is so hungry. So, don't be surprised if she shoots up a little in heighth and then decides she doesn't want to eat that much. Sounds like you're doing a wonderful job. Keep up with the nursing, I definitely agree that breast is best! Good luck!

I'm with you, I would rather nurse than feed her more solids. My son was a big baby and is still in the 90th percentile for weight and height at two and a half, but he never ate up food like that while he was younger. At eight months, he would usually eat a 4 oz jar of food for lunch and supper and sometimes he would have cereal in the morning. He would have formula while at daycare during the day. When he was at home in the mornings, evenings, nights, and weekends, he would nurse whenever he wanted. I would never limit him to only a certain number of nursings a day.

I'd cut back on the solids and let her nurse as often as she likes. She doesn't have to have the solids and she definitely doesn't need that much. As far as your pediatrician, I do agree that she's being overfed, but don't agree with the limit on nursing at all. I'd seriously consider finding another doctor.

I agree with you that nursing until at least 1 is great and important, as long as she will do it. It is more important, however, to follow their cues than our "wants and wishes". The fussiness is a good sign that she is overeating - toothaches,tummy aches and exhaustion are the biggest reasons for actual fussiness and not just need-crying (is she cutting teeth?). And it probably is time to transition toward the solid foods more, just following her cues. You're not stopping breastfeeding - just beginning transition. I agree with the doctor, in that 4 times of nursing in a day is enough for an 8-month old who is eating solid foods. Her body is just ready; remember, every baby is different. Not every baby's stomach is ready for solid foods as early as yours - and mine, too. But when they are, they need that solid food to build other parts of their body. Your princess will tell you what she needs - watch the windows! :)

I am still nursing my daughter and she is 15 months. She sometimes nurses 5x a day. When she was your babys age she was nursing about 10x and eating solids. I would feed her just like you have been. My daughter was 19 lbs at her 6 month check up and is now only 22 lbs! she slimmed up when she started crawling and walking and becoming more active. I would feed you baby until she is no longer hungry. She will slim up. Don't worry about how much just know she's not hungry and that's what's important.

You're right that milk is the much more important source of nutrition at this age. It's actually adaquate, alone, for somewhere between 12 and 24 months! Which is a good thing for my kids, since they both refused solids for a long time :)

So, until around a year, nurse first, then offer solids. The milk gives the calories and nutrition, and the solids give some new flavors and textures, to learn all about them. The other plus to doing it that way is that you can ditch the mashed up baby foods and start offering small bits of whatever you made for supper. Less cost, more nutrition!

Unfortunately, doctors know VERY LITTLE about breastfeeding. If a mom is lucky, they got one hour of classroom instruction from an IBCLC. Usually, though, it's a page or two in a book that they might not cover in class. And then everyone wonders why our breastfeeding rates are so low (but that's a whole different soapbox LOL).

As for the fussiness, yeah, an age and a stage. Teeth or gassiness from solids ormaybe a new developmental milestone in the works. The wonderful thing about you still nursing her is that it offers gas relief if her tummy's bothering her, pain relief if her problem is teeth, and the comfort of Mama, should her problem be generalized fussiness, either from life changes or a developmental surge.

Keep on doing what you're doing! It's good to check in with doctors and other moms (check out http://www.llli.org and http://askdrsears.com for some more helpful advice), but, in the end follow your gut.

Have a great day!

Oh, definitely, way less solids. "Until one, it's just for fun." Meaning that babies' only real form of nourishment needs to be breastmilk or, failing that, of course, formula. Solids are not supposed to replace your breastmilk in growing your baby, only go in on top of it. The La Leche League leader I spoke with about solids amounts said that LLL recommends feeding solids only after nursing. This way, you ensure that solids are not in any way replacing the breastmilk intake.

I still cheat and give my daughter snacks between nursing sessions, when she has something of an appetite, but I don't make it more than about 1/8 of a cup per "meal," (that actually makes its way in ;) and this is only once or twice a day, absolute max. It seems to be working out well, and my milk supply hasn't diminished. Usually, in fact, I'll just give her a few tastes of what I'm eating (even better, since I don't have to pull out a bib, put stuff in a little cup, stick her in her high chair, etc. I'm holding her and I mash up some banana between my fingers, and she's happy).

Even if your daughter is happily eating 10 oz. or more per meal, don't just let her do what she likes best. She'd eat that much in sugar, too ;) What I mean is, we can't always follow their inclinations. And I think the ped was missing one thing. Don't just reduce to 3 meals of solids per day. (Even make it one or two per day. Three is a lot for an 8-month old.) Reduce the amount at every meal to just, well, something like 1/8 cup (I think in things I see, and oz. doesn't work for me). Because you'll be nursing her, first, she will feel well fed and she won't be too frustrated with this. If she seems to be, then distract, distract, distract. Take her out for a walk in this lovely spring weather! Show her that stroller/baby carrier and make a big deal of what a great thing you have in store for her as soon as you can whisk her out of that high chair. Leave the dishes in the sink and scram ;)

L.

PS about her being fussy, what are the circumstances? Times of day/night when she's fussiest? Any new behaviors coming along with it, like ear tugging or cheek rubbing? Maybe go into some more detail and post it, and we'll see what we can do for you, mama :)

I think it is odd if you don't feed her when she acts like she wants it. At this age children tend to NOT eat when they are NOT hungry. If she acts hungry nurse her or feed her. As long as she is eating healthy food. My baby goes through times of eating alot (usually accompanied by a growth spurt) and then not eating much at other times. Perfectly normal. Your the mom go with your gut. Different doctors will tell you different things. You know what is best

E. I am a mother 4 boys 16, 14, 12 and 4. I nursed 3 of them. I have to agree with your doctor she is eating a lot. My last son loves to eat. I have had to make sure that I portion his meals. It has been my experience that as she is getting older she needs more solid foods than she does milk. Nursing her that many times a day and feeding her that many times a day is a lot. I would back up on the nursing. Are you pumping yet and introducting he to a cup? Yes breast milk is exteremely healthy but she can be over fed. There little stomachs get stretched and then they desire more food. It just teaches them unhealthy eating habits. My last son was the same way. I had to portion control what he did but also how many times he nursed. He still has "to eat on time" and if we don't "eat on time" he is very impatient. To this day he has to have 3 meals and snacks in between and wants to drink all day. It was very difficult for him to transition to school because they didn't eat or drink like this. This is just one woman's opionion. Yes her fussiness can come because of change of diet. Sometimes you have to indure it to get her on a new regimen.

offer her less solids! your milk is the best source of nutrition for her. if you don-t change what you are feeding her, she will continue to overeat and you will have created an obese child! think about the consequences SHE will suffer because she is relying on you to regulate what she eats and drinks. follow your gut instincts, MOM! GOD BLESS YOU and your fmly.

Girl, just don't even worry about it! I say ignore the pediatrician. Those things they tell you are from textbooks, and your baby never read those books! haha She's going on her God-given instincts as to when she's hungry and when she's not. You're such a good mommy--and if not, you wouldn't be worried. But she is doing fine. She will eat when she's hungry--never saw a baby yet who wouldn't. And she'll stop when full : )
Some babies wean earlier than others, too. For whatever reason. Might look out for this if she's really liking food (or she might not--who knows.) I had one wean herself at 7 months and move completely to food and cup. I mean, just quit!
If she's gained a lot of weight, great! That means your milk is doing its job and you're both healthy : )
Her fussiness is likely teething at her age. Also nothing to worry about. You can take a drop of orajel, or even a droop of plain whiskey (just one drop : ) And rub anywhere on her gums that seems inflamed. This will numb it up and help her sleep.
Don't cut anything, girl. That baby knows what she needs. Sounds to me like you are doing just wonderfully.
Keep up the good work!
Blessings from a nurser of five : )
--H.

my 7 1/2 month old is getting solids 3 times a day and nursing 4-5 times a day. i would keep doing what your doing. she knows when she is not hungry, just dont force her to eat something if she is not hungry. my son is a very big boy. he is 20 pounds and 29 inches, very big for his age so he needs more food to keep him full. at 8 months i would not stop giving him solids. a baby should learn to mash food with their mouths before 1 year old i have read or they may reject foods a lot when they are older. so i would not stop giving her solids. maybe if she were a few months younger...but i think you are doing everything right. you know your baby better than anyone else. she may be being fussy if she is teething or going threw a grow spurt. mine was. hope this helps :]