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Babies: 6 - 9 Months
Advice on Solids - How much is too much?
My LO started solids at 4 1/2 months and is approaching 7 months while still EBF. He has 3 solid meals a day and is a very good eater. I've been giving him about 3-4 oz per meal. I prepare all of his food myself and give him a wide variety. For example he eats organic oatmeal mixed with zucchini for breakfast, apples mixed with prune for lunch and chicken mixed with carrots and green beans for dinner. I'm not sure if I am over feeding him or need to feed him more - some family members say that I need to feed him more and add more servings for him to gain weight. He's been in the 50th percentile of his weight since he was born. He was 17.5 lbs at his 6 month check up and is tall for his age. I don't want to over feed him or for him to become too chubby. I am trying to install a good diet now so he will always like veggies and fruits and be healthy! Sometimes its hard to not listen to others comments and second guess my own intuition. Anyone else have this problem? Any advice would be great!!
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Re: Advice on Solids - How much is too much?
My pedi's advice was that until age 1, solids are just to be for fun/practice, and should be fed after milk (breastmilk or formula). He also said that a third meal should be introduced around 9 months. In terms of "how much" on the solids, initially he said start with 1 oz, and then if LO was still interested, trying offering more. At 7 months, we are up to 1TBSP Oatmeal + 2 oz fruit in the morning, and 2 ounces veg at lunch. These are purees I make. He is breastfed, so I don't know exact milk amounts, but I would guess approximately 25-30 ounces per day of breastmilk.
I am not suggesting you are overfeeding/underfeeding, just sharing what I know. I think as long as your LO is still taking in as much milk as before, feed solids as you feel seems right. If your LO is like mine, it's obvious when he is interested in eating more solids, and when he's done. Also, I wouldn't worry about your baby being chubby at this age.
Current advice is to breastfeed before solid meals. You want the solids to compliment your breastmilk, so you'd breastfeed a full feeding about an hour before a solid meal. If you breastfeed after a solid meal, it's more like you're complimenting solids with breastmilk because they get their fill of solids first, then take a bit of breastmilk to top up.
I asked our ped this question at our 6 month checkup last week, and he said to "follow the baby's lead", and that as long as baby is getting at least 24 oz of formula or breastmilk, feed her as many solids as she wants.
FWIW, DD starts the day with BM, has yogurt or fruit (2-4 oz) for breakfast, 4-6 oz of formula, 2-4 oz of a fruit or veggie puree, 2 or 3 more 4-6 oz bottles of formula, 2-4 oz of fruit or veggie puree for dinner, and a nursing session before bed. She's also been waking up 1-2 times a night to nurse; we're working on cutting out the nighttime session.
Solids are supposed to just be for fun under age 1. So it is more important that he get either breast milk or formula. He can still gain weight from that. If you give too many solids, it will replace the milk which is richer in nutrients for the baby.
I think that some older generations tend to stress the importance of solid foods at an early age. My mom has been saying for a while that I should give her solids because she is big and she probably needs it. The doctor said 6 months...so I'm following the doctor.