Feeding solids - when to stop?

kat.in.the.hat · July 2009

Marion has never been a particularly food motivated baby. She likes her food, a lot, but she's also happy to go hungry. If she's crying, hunger is usually the last cause of it.

That's one of the reasons we weren't sucessful BFing, she just wouldn't cue when she was hungry. She's not very good at telling us she's hungry and I also think she's not very good at telling us when she's full. Anyway.

So she's big in to self feeding now (she was 10 months Saturday) and so we always make sure she has food to feed herself on her tray, but we also spoon feed her at the same time.

She'll often stop feeding herself and instead switch to feeding the dogs, or playing with her toes, or become fascinated by her diaper tags, etc, all pretty good indicators that she's full. But she'll continue to be spoon fed by us for a while afterwards.

Should we stop feeding her after she loses interest in feeding herself, or keep feeding her by spoon until she starts fussing to get down? I don't want to stuff her but I want to make sure she gets enough to eat as well.

LisaK2b · July 2009

I think at this stage since she's still on formula, it's more about her getting use to feeding herself and eating with a spoon, etc...since most of her nutrient is coming from the formula and not the food.

When she gets to 12 months and starts whole milk, that's when you would consider making sure she's getting enough solid foods. I always try to give her protein that is the size of her palm and carbs (either veggies, rice, etc..) the size of her fist. 3 meals a day with 2 snacks. Sometimes she'll eat all the food and will want more, and sometimes she won't finish. I try to get her to eat at least half her meal, but wouldn't force her to finish if she doesn't want to.

mom2ll · July 2009

I would feed her until she refuses. Luca will get distracted, but he is still hungry.. She may be bored with the activity of eating, but still be hungry... I've found that better eating = better sleeping = happier baby = happier mommy Big Smile

ucalum93 · July 2009

bpaullo:
I would feed her until she refuses. Luca will get distracted, but he is still hungry.. She may be bored with the activity of eating, but still be hungry... I've found that better eating = better sleeping = happier baby = happier mommy

Couldn't have said it better myself. Lately C will take the food, but will do so more slowly as he fills up. His latest thing is taking it, then spitting it out a few seconds later. He used to flat out refuse but it has developed into the above routine.

He eats a ton of food and still nurses alot. But he's sleeping so much better.

kat.in.the.hat · July 2009

Lisa - I like your portion sizes - thank you!

We've started switching to milk this week (she's 1/3 milk, 2/3 formula) so making sure she's getting enough real food has me a little anxious now.

Brandi - it seems that Mar & Luca share an awful lot of DNA!

mom2ll · July 2009

kat.in.the.hat:

Brandi - it seems that Mar & Luca share an awful lot of DNA!

I'm sorry!!! I won't tell you what you are in store for... Don't want to scare you.. Keep in mind that Lila is super mellow.. #2 could be totally kicked back...

alisa1228 · July 2009

bpaullo:
I would feed her until she refuses. Luca will get distracted, but he is still hungry.. She may be bored with the activity of eating, but still be hungry... I've found that better eating = better sleeping = happier baby = happier mommy

i agree, maddy is the same way.

if i feed her and she spits it out, i'll try one more time. if she spits it out again, i know she's done. but sometimes she will spit it out and then continue eating after the spoonful she spit out. she's a weird one like that.

thumpofmyheart · July 2009

I have the same issues with Lucia. She is 8 months today and we started feeding her solids at 6. She might have a couple of spoonfuls but then just doesnt' want anymore. She wants the spoon and the bowl to play and throw around and have mommy pick up fifty times but no eating! It can be very frustrating... I get worried of course and mostly it's my moms fault because she keeps telling me that she's getting too skinny and is going to get sick. She's a Bfed baby and she loves that. I called a lactation consultant at Texas W. and she told me that Bfed babies get all the nutrients they need the first year from the milk except they need extra iron. Thats why we give them iron fortified cereal. I didn't ask about formula but I'm guessing it's the same?? So now I make sure I serve a little cereal at every meal along with other food and let her eat as much as she wants. I always call Texas W's Education Dep when I have questions and they always call back promptly. I just love that place. Maybe you might call them and ask about formula fed babies. I'm sure its the same but you might check it out...

PAGAS · July 2009

I have the opposite problem. No matter how much we feed F, she will eat and eat and eat. She is like a goldfish that way. Whenever she has cleaned her plate, she cries. No matter how much she eats. Last night she ate a cup of yogurt, two cubes of cantaloupe, half of a grilled nectarine, 2 tablespoons of corn kernels and three cubes of sweet potatoes. She was still hungry so I gave her some puffs as well. This was just dinner. And she would have kept eating if we gave her more. She eats until she pukes. It is awesome.

Thanks so much for the portion size tips~ that is really helpful.

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