Introducing Solids and Formula

My daughter was born Dec. 20. We are also just introducing solids. I always nurse first. Sometimes she doesn't want to eat the solids afterward, especially if she doesn't like the taste. In that case, feed on one side (or half a bottle), then feed solids, and then the other side/half of bottle. I do it all in one sitting and then it is like a meal instead of a "snack." It works well for us. My daughter really likes sweet potatoes.... much more than rice cereal :)

my understanding is up to one year.. they should be getting most of their nutrition from breastfeeding or formula so feed formula or breastmilk first.

solids are really only supposed to be for experimenting and fun up to a year... so I wouldn't worry to much about how many solids your little one is getting.

My doctor also noted that most of our 8 month old nutrition still comes from formula (she still needs 24 ounces per day). I give her a bottle when she first wakes up (6:30am), then I give her cereal and fruit (7:00am). A few hours later, I give her another bottle (9:00am) for her nap, then she eats cereal again with fruit at 11:30am.

I personally mix her cereal with approximately 3 ounces of formula so you figure if she eats (3) times per day, she is still getting almost half of her formula intake from her cereal. I mixing the formula with cereal instead of using water helps to ensure she gets her sufficient forumla intake for the day (because she too doesn't always finish her bottles).

hope that helps.
E.

we feed as such

breast in AM
breakfast - 3-4 oz food (2 grain 2 fruit)
bottle
snack
lunch 3-4 oz food (2 grains 1 vegi 1 fruit)
bottle
snack
breast
dinner (whatever we are eating)
breast
bedtime!

we never feed him bottle with food! we give water or diluted juice with his meal - he is 10 months :)

6 oz x 5 feedings is 30 oz breast milk which is perfect
if he drops a milk feeding I cut his food back - we just introduced snacks but dont always feed them sometimes he is not in the mood or just wants his milk which is fine - they will tell you just make sure food doesnt interupt milk intake!

I think they need at least an hour between food and bottle. This is the basic schedule we follow:

6am bottle
8am cereal and fruit
10am bottle
12pm veggie, cherrios or crackers
2pm bottle
4pm snack
5-6pm dinner-- veggie or a little of what we are eating
7pm bottle.

my daughter is 8 mos.

NUrse first...

the nutrition is from the breastmilk or formula..

the solids are just practice for eating real food later.

For some babies it doesn't matter, but I had to reverse and do the bottle first for my son or I had the same problem. I also give him 1/2 an hour in between the bottle and the food.