Should a 16mt old be eating baby food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.?

Question

For snacks he can eat fruitloops, apple jacks, gold fish crackers and so on... should he be getting adult foods now. And if so, how to presude in laws not to feed him baby food.
(mother and father inlaw believe he should eat babyfood all he wants and to have a bottle when he wants.) My wife and i are trying to stand our ground with the bottle but we can't get them to stop buying and giving him baby food. Any suggestions would help...DO NOT CRITIZE PLEASE...WE DON'T NEED THAT!!!!

my wife will pack food (adult) for him and instead of feeding it to him her lazy sister eats it and then they tell us he's not ready for it, or he don't like it

Answer 1

Well, baby food won't hurt him, but really he should be taking table food at this age. You definitely want to encourage them to stop the bottle. Kids really shoul be off the bottle at 12-15 months, maybe 18months at the latest. I agree with standing firm on the bottle.

Will he take table food when he is with you? If so, feed him table food when he's with you and let them continue to buy expensive but unnecessary baby food. It's not unhealthy, just not necessary. Show them how much more expensive baby food is in relation to table food.

If he's refusing all table food because he prefers babyfood then you really need to intervene. Maybe his doctor can write a quick note explaining that the babyfood is holding him back. But the truth is, if he'll take table food at other times it really won't hurt him to have baby food. Just wastes their money.

Answer 2

I'd say to tell your inlaws that if they're not going to respect your wishes and take care of YOUR baby the way you ask them to, then he can stop coming to their house(s). If they want to see him, they can come visit you.

By 16 months, he should be eating just about all adult foods, within reason. No honey, swordfish, shark, or anything spicy. He should also be completely off of formula and drinking whole milk. Many children aren't weaned off the bottle until they're two or later. My older son was off it completely at 13 months and my younger son (will be one year old in two weeks) is just about off it now, except for one bottle occasionally at night if he's fussy. Can your baby drink from a sippy cup? If so, when he goes to visit your inlaws, don't send any bottles. That way they can't give him one.

Not sure what the inlaw situation is as far as him seeing them. Are you talking about occasional babysitting that they do for you, or do they watch him during the day while you and your wife work?

Also (and I know you said not to criticize, but I'm sorry...I can't help it!) you might want to lay off the fruit loops and apple jacks. Try Kix or Cheerios instead. They're basically the same thing, but have much less sugar. The Berry Berry Kix are awesome. My 11 month old loves them.

Answer 3

At this point, a 16 month old should be off the bottle and working on regular food. At this age, they don't need baby food any longer. Your child should be drinking whole milk from a sippy cup and eating fruits and veggies (soft and cut up small), eggs, and things like that. You need to explain your position to your inlaws and ask them to stop if that is what you want. You can present them with information and research to support your side if that will help. Check out babycenter. com for some good information on feeding by age. I hope that helps!

Answer 4

I understand your worries, but a 16 month old should most definantely be on adult food... and that IS YOUR child... if that becomes a problem, feed the child before he visits inlaws to where he won't be hungry and tell your inlaws he already ate... it's not their child, he's yours. If you see them hand the child a bottle.. take it away from him, and explain to them kindly that he is drinking from a cup now like a big boy... if the child is able to eat fruit loops and things like that, then just cut adult food into baby bite size peices and just sit next to and watch them. My 12 month old no longer gets bottles or babyfood. She eats table foods and drinks from a sippy cup. They can eat it way before 16 months. I hope that helps. :-)

Answer 5

wow...in-laws. it may be fine for the baby to still have baby food every once in a while, but he should definately be eating table food by now, and he should have been off of the bottle by no later than 12 months. usually "older" people are quick to want to put babies on table food--speaking of the in-laws, but are often slower at taking them off of the bottle. how often do your in-laws see your baby? do they often babysit him? is he an only grandchild? these things will make it more difficult if they have a lot of contact with your son. you will have to eventually just be straight-forward with them, as difficult as it may be. i have a 4 month old and i am tired of people insisting that he needs to be eating not only baby food, but TABLE food as well (and it is "older" people saying this)! i have the opposite problem from you. i have been raising a 9 yr old and a 2 yr old and they have turned out just fine with the way i fed them!! and i am sure if you tell them "the doctor said this...", they will say that doctors dont know everything. good luck.

Answer 6

hi ! Unfortunately i had the very same problem with my in-laws i would suggest you visit yr paediatrician or let the doc pay a visit at home so your in-laws can hear straight from the pro what your child should be eating. At 16 months your baby should be eating adult food if the baby has a few teeth maybe mildly put in mixer to get a softer texture. Lots of Fresh fruit vegetables and proteins.

Answer 7

No, at 16 months, their teeth are just in, they could eat adult soft foods, like mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and tiny cut up hot dogs...anything small and soft that they won't choke on. As far as the in laws go, tell them nicely that you appreciate their concerns and ideas but as the childs parents this is what you two have come up with, and you are asking them to respect that. You might have to be a little forceful and insist on them doing it your way, if not them only allow them to see the child while you are there. And if they ask...simply tell them this was an important decision making idea, and they need to repsect your and your husbands choices.
Good luck, do as you feel is right.they will come around..

Answer 8

I think your baby should be eating adult foods by now, but you should still incorporate plenty of milk. My step son was slower with this transition. Maybe you shoul get the little bites or little finger meals by gerber. They are usually in the baby aisle. They still have everything a little one needs and they seem to be a good steeping stone.

Answer 9

Babies from the time they are ready to eat solid foods are certainly capable of eating real food, rather than mush. However, I don't think that's really the issue in your question...

This is *your* baby. You have the right and the responsibility to decide how the child will be raised. If your anyone--family, friend, or paid caregiver--doesn't respect your wishes on how to care for your child, it is up to you to *refuse* to allow them unsupervised visits with the child! It isn't a question of who is right; by virtue of being the parents, you automatically get to make the decisions.

If you're asking me (and if you weren't, then you shouldn't have posted the question! :-)), stop leaving your son with your in-laws for a period of time. Then explain to them why you did this. Only agree to allow more visits (without you) when and if they agree to follow your instructions. Then follow through.

I had to do this with my parents at one point. Yes, it is painful, but if you want to raise your son, you have to do it. The alternative is to let them raise him. And, by the way, if this is your in-laws, your *spouse* should be the one to talk to them, not you. It's the family she/he grew up in and she/he is the one who knows best how to talk to them.

Good luck.

Answer 10

My nephew started eating solid food at about 10 months. Make your own babyfood with fresh friuts and veggies and feed him that. He can eat just about everything you do so experiment and see what he likes. Good Luck with the in-laws, I have no advice there except maybe tell them how you want your child raised and you will not budge. It's your kid, they have already raised theirs.