Is it OK if my 8 month and half baby girl does not want formula but Gerber foods?

Question

I heard that a baby has to drink formula until she is 1 year old but mine does not want it and I do not know if it is OK. I have to speak with my baby's pediatrician but while I do it could you share your knowledge with me, please?

Answer 1

For how long has your baby been resisting her formula and what signs is she giving you that she doesn't want it? While it's fine for an 8 month old baby to eat foods it is too early to wean a baby from breastmilk or formula. At 8 months, the formula is still your baby's primary source of nutrition and solids should not replace the formula in her diet. In addition, other liquids should not replace her formula -- if she is drinking water or juice she may simply be filling up on those liquids and no longer "hungry" for her formula. (Likewise, if she is eating a lot, or eating her solids before being offered a bottle, she is probably filling up on solids so that she's not hungry when her bottle is offered to her.) She should not be drinking regular milk at this point (introducing milk before a year has been linked to increased risk of diabetes and food allergies, and in any event milk cannot replace/compete with formula or breastmilk in terms of nutritional content.)

If she does not seem interested in the formula anymore there is probably an underlying reason that can be identified and addressed: she may not be interested in a bottle anymore (have you tried transitioning her to a sippy cup? That offers more independence.) She may not like the taste of the particular formula, or it may upset her stomach. Has she ever been diagnosed with reflux?

It is natural for a baby's appetite to change, but even more than that, it is to be expected that a baby will resist the bottle (and, therefore, what's in the bottle) when teething. Could your baby be teething?

This is definitely something to address with your pediatrician, and it's hard to guess what might be going on without knowing what your daughter eats/drinks, what her eating/drinking schedule is, whether she's teething, etc. Suffice it to say that at 8 months you don't want to replace her formula with water, juice, milk, or even solid food.

If it's a matter of something like teething, then it should be very temporary (until the next time she cuts a tooth!). Good luck.

Answer 2

It seems the protocol on that controversy keeps changing every 5 years or so. I'd like to know why myself. I've heard that an infant requires either breastmilk or formula for anywhere from 6 months to 18 months. When my youngest was 5 months old I had to take her off the breast (she was a biter) and she would not take formula in either bottle or what was then called a tippy cup. We switched to either cow's milk or goats milk (I can't remember) and that combined with soft foods, she did just fine. I think as long as they are receiving ample fluids and meeting nutrition standards it's okay, but not all kids are the same. Talk to your pediatrician.

Answer 3

Oh no, baby needs at least 16oz. of formula at this age. You can count whatever you use in her cereal. Try cutting down on the solids and offering her a bottle many times a day. Or maybe she would like a cup? Either way you have to give her the formula. My baby refused the bottle when he was teething or had an ear infection. So check out those possibilites as well.

Answer 4

No, it is not ok! She has to have the formula. Do not give her any more food till she takes the milk. and she will take the milk when she gets hungry enough. The milk has so much more nutrients and vitamins in one bottle than she would get in several days of baby food. she needs at least 24 oz in a 24 hour period. she will also get dehydrated if she is not drinking liquids.

Answer 5

My son had this same issue your baby does. You little girl doesn't have to strictly drink formula, but it is important to supplement baby foods.Bottles though may be given on demand or between 24 and 32 ounces formula daily. Formula has much needed vitamins and is necessary for you baby's brain development and physical growth.

Answer 6

First off, I would speak to the pediatrician. Secondly, your baby's dietary needs need to be met. Formula provides all of that. If you are going to feed your baby just jarred baby food, make sure you cover all of the nutritional bases. Remember that eating is not just to satisfy hunger... it is to provide the essential nutrients to thrive.

Answer 7

You need to back off the solids and give her bottles first. Formula/breastmilk should be the primary source of nutrition for babies under the age of 1. Whatever you do, don't put food in your baby's bottle, it fosters unhealthy eating habits early!

Answer 8

She has to drink the formula. There are not enough vitamins & nutrients in the baby food, to completely make up for the formula. Formula should still be her main source of calories anyways.

Answer 9

on the grounds that I made my older sons infant foodstuff, he replace into probably getting threes with the help of four months old. He had little or no infant foodstuff and alter into eating table foodstuff with the help of 8 months. infant's get enamel from utilising their gums. the only meals that could desire to be puzzling is meat, at the same time with steak. My oldest replace into over 18 months till now he have been given lower back enamel, yet he ate what we did, merely often shrink up. 50 years in the past infant foodstuff replace into no longer somewhat elementary and so maximum infants grew up eating what the the remainder of the kinfolk did, merely broken right down to circumvent choking. My 2nd baby on the turn ingredient, refused table foodstuff and can in elementary terms consume infant foodstuff. wager which one is pickier.

Answer 10

They say you should give them formula until 1 year, but its not set in stone. If your daughter doesnt want the formula, then just give her the gerber food. All three of my siblings started the Gerber food early, with my youngest sister starting at 7 months. Your daughter will be absolutly fine if she has the baby food instead of the formula.