How often did you feed your baby??

Question

My baby will be turning 6 months at the end of this week and my dr. gave the ok to feed her at 6 months. How often and how much did you feed your child initially when starting to give your baby solids? I will ask my dr. at the 6 month visit but i just wanted to get an idea.

Answer 1

Thank God you said solids....I was a little confused and worried for a second....

Anyway, a 6 months old I was mixing the solid with the formula once a day then twice a day, only about 4 ounces at a time until her stomach got used to digesting it and she wasn't so constipated.

Answer 2

If you have been exclusively breastfeeding, there is no need to start solids at 6 months, and in fact it would be beneficial to delay solids longer. Studies have shown that delaying solids can help aid in preventing food allergies and ensuring that your child's digestive system is truly ready for such an arduous task. Starting solids also often leads to constipation. I highly recommend you do some more research on this topic before actually beginning rather than just taking your pediatrician's word for it. Many pediatricians (like my old one) are well-meaning but well-trained on the formula-fed baby and under-educated about breastfed babies. Of course, I have no idea what you feed yours, so this could be useless information to you!

But yes, you MAY start solids if you wish. Some people choose rice, but because it can be constipating some others choose single-grain oatmeal or vegetables. Your baby is only experimenting at this age and therefore whatever you want to give her (probably only once a day) would be fine. You can start with a few tablespoons of baby cereal mixed with breastmilk (or formula if you are formula-feeding). The stuff I used said to start with an equal proportion of cereal fluids (1 Tbsp of liquid per 1 Tbsp of cereal), but my babies usually liked their cereal thicker. Of course, in the beginning you have to be very careful not to mix it too thick or the baby will choke.

Honestly, if I had to do it over again, I would have switched pediatricians to one more educated about breastfeeding and waited much longer to introduce solids (maybe even a year). I was exclusively breastfed for the first year back in the 70's when it was unheard of, and I turned out great! :-D

This is a big decision. Please do your homework before making it!

Answer 3

Your baby should still be getting about 30 ounces of breast milk/formula per day. I would starting introducing stage 1 food's only a spoonfull at a time per attempt. When your baby gets more comfortable eating from a spoon, you can increase the amounts given per feeding. At 6 months, I only gave my daughter a feeding of food once to two times a day and give her a bottle the rest of the feedings. Start with vegetables first. It's best to introduce your baby to the not so great tasting foods before giving him/her the good stuff (i.e. banana's, peach's, etc.). My daughter's pediatrician told me to introduce one food per week, so that if your baby is allergic to anything you will know right away. Each time you start a new food, watch your baby carefully on that day to spot out any kind of rash or swelling. I usually started a new food on my day's off from work so that I would be home with my baby all day long. I hope this gives you an idea of what to expect. Good luck! P.S. Keep plenty of bibs on hand or feed your baby in only a diaper. If your baby is eating oatmeal, you might want to mix a small amount of that in with some of the really watery foods to thicken up the consistancy...

Answer 4

Until she lost interest, and usually twice a day, to start. Once, before her middle nap, the second time before bed.

Sometimes, she would eat two or three spoonfuls, then turn her head or fuss. Then she would usually eat more (like 2-3 tbsp) at the next feeding. At 6 mo, one of the 'level one' Gerber's is supposed to be a serving, but you will likely need to work up to that a little at a time.
ALSO:
www.Gerber.com
or read on any box/jar of gerber food for the 1-800 number, they are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for ALL feeding questions. This is a WONDERFUL resource.

Answer 5

Initially its only about a couple of spoonfulls a couple of times per day. The majority of calories should still come from breast milk/formula so start each feeding with that first, supplemented by solid food. You introduce foods one at a time (starting with rice cereal) for 3-4 days in a row to isolate potential food allergies. When you do start fruits and veggies, separate a bit out into a separate bowl to feed from, cover the orignal and put in the refrigerator. Never store food that has been served directly from because saliva introduces bacteria into the food which then multiplies (also, saliva really changes the texture of foods).

Answer 6

I started every 2-3 days. Basically if he was awake while I was eating we would share. Otherwise it wasn't a big deal.

Here is some info on starting babyfood:
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-how.html

Here is some info on baby-led introduction to solids, which is what I did as it makes the most sense to me. Also my son has never had an allergic reaction, choked other otherwise had any problems with anything that he has eaten:
http://www.borstvoeding.com/voedselintroductie/vast_voedsel/rapley_guidelines.html

Also this is an interesting (and short) little answer from a doc:
http://www.askdrsears.com/faq/ci2.asp

Answer 7

If you're talking about baby food, we started ours on 1 jar about mid morning & 1 jar in the evenings. Stage 1 of course.
We are just now beginning to start soft table foods at 9 months, but still offer a veggie and a fruit in Stage 2 twice a day. At this time he's taking three 9oz bottles of formula a day & we will keep him on formula til he's over 1yo.

Answer 8

swap to 2 nutrients in basic terms once you think of she is waiting for 2 nutrients. have you ever besides mght been feeding cereal? you're able to continually feed cereal besides to jarred toddler foodstuff. in basic terms undergo in strategies, for the 1st 3 hundred and sixty 5 days her eating regimen could be specially formulation or breastmilk as this is the place the foodstuff is. Similac policies advise a toddler 4-7 months of age be eating 4-5 cases an afternoon, 7-8 oz..according to time for a complete of 28-40 oz.. If she is in the upwards selection of the 40 oz., i might certainly advise you throw yet another meal in. If she is nearer to the 28, i might wait.

Answer 9

At 6 mos, solids are just for practice, your baby should be getting breastmilk or formula as her main source of nutrition until her 1st birthday, and breastmilk for as long after as you feel comfortable with.

Answer 10

they only get solids once a day between 6-12 months.