Need Advice on How Long My 5 Month Baby Boy Should Go Between Feedings

While learning to eat solids it can be hard to get the necessary nutrition in before the brain gets the full signal. However, kids know what their body needs and will only eat when and how much they need. Stock you kitchen with healthy foods. Provide variety and a good example. Get the good nutrition in while he is hungry.

Right now you're just getting him used to eating solids. I think by 8 months he should be getting more nutrients from the solids with milk supplementing. If, when you feed him now, he seems interested in eating more, then give him more. I think the amount of formula you're giving him after his "meal" is good though.

Don't be afraid to top him off with a bottle after you've given him the solid food. He'll stop when he's had enough.

I babysit my sisters' 5 month old girl. We feed her 6 oz formula every 3 hours and at her 1:30pm feeding we give her 1 tbsp (maybe a little more) rice cereal mixed with about 1 ounce formula, plus a 5 ounce bottle of formula after. This seems to sustain her all day. We haven't started her on jar food yet, but I've been told that the green peas are coming soon. Yippee for diaper changing time. SHe is only eating baby food once a day. She has been sleeping all night long since 2 months. Each child is different and since feeding isn't an exact science, what your child needs may be completely diffrerent from what my sisters' baby needs. I am due to deliver my 3rd child in about 2 weeks and I will be personally dealing with this all over again as well. Good luck!

I too have a 5 month old and I started him on solids about a week ago, and I'm trying to ween him off breastfeeding as well. My son would also get hungry after a couple of hrs and he normally eats every 4hrs. I started feeding him his rice cereal for his last feeding of the day then giving him half of a bottle to make sure he is full and he has been sleeping ALL night long. I haven't started feeding him cereal more than once a day but I'm sure if you are feeding your baby two or three times you could still just follow with a bottle to make sure he is full. I am a new mom so I'm not an expert but this is just what I have found helpful.

Every baby is different, you have to go off of their cues..I know sometimes it's hard to pick up.
My 6 month old is a big girl(20lbs.), and she eats 4-6 oz. of formula every 4-5 hours, and has 3 tablespoons of cereal or oatmeal with 2 ounces of fruit or veggie mixed with formula instead of water in the afternoon, then again at dinner but with both fruit and veggies. She only drinks 4 bottles a day and sleeps through the night. I was concerned at first, but my ped. said she is growing perfect and she is getting her nutrition now from the food.
Good luck, and talk to your doctor if you are concerned.

Hi M.,
Since your son just got started eating solids, you can try the one serving of baby food, plus some formula. That will fill his tummy more, and maybe he will go longer between feedings.

After you feed him solids, let him top it off with a bottle! Then he'll be sure to fill up and go 3 hours. I wouldn't give him more than 1 jar of baby food.

Your son could be going through a growing spurt. I'd say listen to his cues and feed him both the formula and the solids. Plus, the solids at that age are much thinner compared to the #2 baby foods that are a little thicker. My son was a big eater too and then he slowed down.

I read some of the other responses and they're right about the solids not giving any nutrition really (for now.) All he gets from the "meal" is learning patience, tongue movements, and different tastes. He should be getting about the same amount of formula as he was before he started solids... let him "tell" you when he wants less. (He'll basically just stop eating and you'll notice a pattern.) He should be able to go about 3-4 hours between feedings. Also as he gets more active he may demand more food at a sitting b/c he's burning thru it quicker.
hope this helps!

Breast milk or formula are his main source of food and nutrients through a year old. The solid food at this point is just practice for texture... Breast feed first, then give the solid, the solids don't fill them up.

My daughter is now 6 months and just had her doctor checkup, he said whatever I'm doing keep doing it because her weight is perfect, I know every baby is different but with her she gets, morning 1 Tblsp cereal, 1/2 jar friut, followed by a 6oz bottle, 4 hours later 8oz bottle, 4 hours later 1/2 jar veggies followed by 8oz bottle, 4 hours later just before bed 8oz bottle... and that seems to work for her, best of luck with your son!

I am an OT who works with babies with feeding issues. Pediatricians usually advise to start solids after 6 months because that is when they are more ready to digest solids and also able physically use their tongue and cheeks appropriately. With that said, there are lots of moms who start sooner for various reasons, so I would suggest that you feed him the baby food and then give him the bottle to finish the feeding either right after or within 1/2 hour. Usually when you start baby foods, you do not decrease the amount of formula (or breastmilk). Good Luck

It is obvious you want the best for your baby, and someone has given you faulty advice in telling you to put him on a schedule. Babies don't pig out or eat out of boredom, they are growing and sometimes are growing more quickly than at other times - they know when they need to eat. If he's hungry, feed him - go by his instincts rather than the clock.

Also, babies' digestive systems aren't quite mature enough for food before six months of age. A quick internet search will yield several results; here is one: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,206158,00.html

Hi M.
I just started my 5 month old on cereal. What I do is always feed him (I breastfeed or sitter feeds him from bottle) every 3 hours. After the 1st morning feeding and the late afternoon feeding I wait about 30-40 min and then give him 1-2 TBS of cereal. I never give him his cereal right before feeding otherwise he might get full and not want the milk.

Since the cereal does not offer much nutriticnal value - I want him to get most of his nutrition from breastmilk. If he does not finish the cereal it is OK as most importantly is that he finishes his milk.

I am waiting to give him solids (fruits/veggies) until he is at least 5 1/2 months. If you are going to give him formula/solids at the same time would recommend giving him formula 1st.

T.

I think it's normal to get hungry after a couple of hours since he's not consuming as much as he would with a bottle. One thing to remember with solids is that it's not meant for the nutrition or really to replace meals, it's to teach babies how to eat. A baby should be getting at least 24oz of formula, or 3-4 good breastfeedings, a day up until a year old. You could try bumping up the amount to get another hour out of him or give him a small bottle after you feed solids. I usually feed my daughter 2-3 oz of solids and then I nurse her until she's done. This way she eats until she's full.

In the end I think you should do what you think is right for you and your baby.

I haven't read the other messages but generally solids are a supplement to regular milk feedings initially, not a replacement.

Initially, milk made up the bulk of what she consumedI used to feed my daughter solids every 2 hours, then offer milk every 3-4 hours (it varied).

At first, my daughter preferred the milk and ate only small amounts of the solids. But eventually, she ate more solids and took less breastmilk until eventually, she only took breastmilk just before bedtime.

What I have been doing is I feed her some milk an hour before breakfast and I give her Rice cripy ceral or cheeroz to munch on while Im feeding her and then I give her Rice ceral and a half jar of fruit. AFternoon I do the same but I give her a veg, meat and fruit and I give her Peas to munch on. Dinner I have been giving her scambled eggs, some mashed up sweet potatoe and brown rice with 3 more can foods. She never eats all of what I give her but enough that she pushes the spoon away. I give her milk about an hour after she eats and she does not eat as much mild but just enough to get her sleepy. I would also start on letting the baby drink some water while he is eating that helps also. Once he is use to the sippy cup then in between meals let him snack on the cerals I told you about and give him some water. I can go about 4 hours with out feeding her.
My child does not have teeth yet but she loves to feed herself and she does not have a problem choking.
C.

at five months old his main source of nutrition should still be coming from formula or breastmilk... when our son was your son's age, our pediatrician told us he should be getting at least 24 oz of formula a day. hope that's helpful advice. :)

Are you also feeding cereal with his solids? I know that sounds like a silly question but sometimes as new mommies we are so overwhelmed with everything else in our lives we overlook the simple things.

I added cereal to the food as well as the formula to give my kids a more filling meal. My kids ate about every 3-4 hrs when I did this.

Give him as much as he wants to eat until he's full. He'll eventually get on your schedule and start eating his 3 meals a day with snacks in between. This is what I did with my 2 kids and now my daughter practices this same ritual with her 2 kids.

Young Grandma

Hi,
At five months solid food does not really provide the bulk of his nutrition so when he is hungry two hours later give him a bottle. Let him eat as much of the solids as he desires and don't force him to take more than he wants. The formula should still make up the majority of his calories at this age.. Good luck and don't worry..