Feeding Schedule - Boonville,IN

The book "Super Baby Foods" can answer these type of questions for you. It follows babies up through 3 years for feeding schedules, types of food to feed them, etc.

Ok, for feeding your baby at 7 mo. old--pg. 97 in book.
It says introduce cottage cheese, asparagus, hard boiled egg yolk (yolk only), carrots, green beans, peas, summer squash, white potatoes, peaches, apple, apricot, grape, papaya, pear, peach, and prunes. You can also introduce mild, pasteurized, diluted (3/4 water, 1/4 juice) fruit juices.

A sample schedule for feeding at 7 mo.
Upon awakening--breast/bottle
Breakfast--two or three food servings and breast/bottle
Lunch--two or three food servings and breast/bottle
Supper--two or three food servings and breast/bottle
Bedtime--breast or bottle
(food servings being 1-2 tablespoons)
You should also be feeding him water after and between meals... very little however (no more than 4-8 oz. total a day) and offer the diluted fruit juice once a day (4 oz.)

The book is wonderful b/c it separates out "feeding your baby at ___ months" and you can just look up what month you need to know about.

Your baby should be getting 30-32 oz. of formula or breastfeed 5 times a day. If he isn't getting that much, cut down on the solid foods.

Fruit servings should be 1-2 tablespoons
grains/cereals should be 1/4-1/2 cup cooked
egg yolk should be fed to him about 3-4 times a week
dairy servings are 1/3-1/2 cup yogurt or 1/4 cup cottage cheese

It's all so confusing at times! I'm sure you are doing a great job. As long as your little man is gaining weight and healthy, then no worries! :)

Throw out the books and don't listen to your doctor! You'll know when your child is hungry for more then liguid. My son's were started on cereal at bedtime shorty after coming home from the hospital and at 2 months I started them on baby food. He was hungry for more than just formula. You can read the body language! My doctor was shocked I was feeding him baby food so early and urged me against it. But hey, my mom's three were raised the same way as my three...we turned out perfectly heathly! (And we all slept through the night after getting cereal at bedtime!) Go by what he tells you not what the books say!

my son is 10 months old and he eats when we eat and in between he gets snacks and a bottle. However I didn't breast feed him, so as far as that goes I'm kinda clueless. I guess you just give him a drink when he's thirsty. I also started my son on a sippy cup at about 6 months and he gets that durring the day with some juice. I'm not sure if this helps, but I hope so.

I can't remember for sure when we started doing three "meals" a day, but it was right about where you are now, I think. Maybe even a bit sooner. My daughter is 8 1/2 months old now and does about 2 oz of cereal and a 4 oz jar of fruit for breakfast, and 2oz cereal and 4 oz veggie for lunch and dinner, with a 6-8 oz bottle about 45 mins before each "meal". She also breastfeeds at night right before bed, and I would say that's about 4 oz or maybe even more. Our next thing we're going to work on is switching and doing meal first with bottle second. The only reason I do it that way is to make sure she fills up on that as opposed to food, and I think sometimes people get so excited for food they forget that in the 1st year their main source of nutrition should still be breast or bottle, with switching over to food to come near the end of the first year. I don't know if what we're doing is "right", but it works for us and she certainly is gaining weight and is very healthy. You just need to do what works for your family, and it sounds like you're doing a great job already! Good luck!

Hi R.!

As long as Zachary is happy, and isn't crying more than usual, you're probably giving him plenty. If he starts wanting to nurse alot more or starts crying more than usual, than he's probably hungry. He'll let you know if he wants more. At 7 months, I probably wouldn't push it. Then when you do start feeding him more, I'd probably increase his cereal first, then add fruit, and then maybe vegetables. When my oldest girls were young, the Dr always said only breast milk and formula until a year old, but Zachary will definitely let you know if he needs more, but if any doubt, then I'd check with your Pediatrician. Too much too soon may give him a tummy ache.

R.,

I would definitely say that if your baby boy is happy with what you're giving him don't push for him to eat 3 meals a day. My oldest child, now 6 yrs old started eating 3-5 meals a day when he was 10 months old. But, my daughter, now 3 yrs old didn't eat 3-5 meals a day until she was 16 months old. With my bckground (BS in Early Childhood Education and Development) and knowledge of child development I would say that each child is different and he will let you know when he's not getting enough to eat/drink!

Will he eat more than 1-2 tablespoons of food or you are just not giving him anymore than that cause you're not sure??? He could definitely be safe with half jar to one full jar of baby food for breakfast, lunch and dinner when you are eating as well.

Hope this helps!!
A. C.

I don't remember when i did. I always went off of my kids. If they were hungry, i fed them. Or i would fed them when i thought it was time. if they didn't eat all of it, that was fine.