Hello mommies!
I am hoping someone can help with this. My 7 month old son loves solid food. He eats 3 meals of cereal a day. Breakfast is 3-4 tablespoons of baby cereal with 1/2 jar of fruit. Lunch and dinner are the same but add in 1/4 jar of veggies with some rice cereal in for texture. He likes his cereal thick and weighs in at 18 pounds. He looks healthy, loves to wiggle and laugh. According to the doctor he is developing very well. So what is wrong? Well since he started solids in earnest he doesnt seem to want his bottle anymore like he used to. He still gets a bottle before bed, but during the day he really isn't interested. I just want to make sure he is getting what he needs to grow up strong and healthy. I don't know if its a boy thing or just him
Ask as the pediatric office if they have a feeding guide. It will tell you how much of each food group your baby should be getting each day depending on his age. It will also tell when to introduce different kinds of foods. We got one that is great. It's sponsored by WIC. You might be able to find it on their website if your Dr doesn't have one to give you.
formula should still very important to his diet (because of iron and such)
after each meal (he will get thirsty) offer him an 6-08 oz formula. which means at least 3 bottles a day and then the 4th just before bedtime. now, don't freak out. he may just be enjoying his food rather than formula, but keep offering it to him. if i remember correctly, before age 1, i was aiming for 28 to 32 oz of formula in a 24 hr period.
I always made my kids cereal using formula. It's not uncommon once you start food for the liquid intake to decrease. I always offered a sippy cup with formula during meals. I would continue to give the bottle first thing in the morning when he wakes and before he goes to bed at night. Also, try to offer it up during the day before offering food like at snack times.
I just brought my 8 month old son to the pediatrician and she told me no more than 30 ounces per day (averaging 24-30/day). Not including formula in the cereal. The only drink should be formula - no water. Always give formula first.
I give a bottle after waking at 6a (4-6 oz), after morning nap at 10-11a (4-6 oz), then after the afternoon nap at 2-3p (6oz), then 6 oz at 4:30-5p, then 4oz at bedtime. I feed him solids at least 1-2 hours after the formula at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is usually within the hour of naptime/bedtime. He seems to be fine with this feeding schedule.
But as most will say, every baby is different. If your pediatrician is aware of the decreased formula intake, and he/she is not concerned, then there's no reason for concern. They look at your baby's weight/height at each visit to determine if there is a "failure to thrive". Make sure he has at least 6-8 wet diapers per day to know that he is not dehydrated.
He does get some fluids from his food. Calorie-wise: since formula is 20 cal/oz, you should try to feed him calorie-denser food if he is not drinking enough formula. Examples: plain whole-milk yogurt, bananas, earth's best has lentils (it's mixed with carrots, apples and rice) - which is 90 cal/4 oz. Make sure he has had the 3-4 trial of all first. Look at the jarred food to see which foods are calorie-rich.
Good luck to you!
