How much solid food should baby eat?

Julie - posted on 09/19/2012

I fed my children solids 3 times a day. A bowl of baby cereal at breakfast, 1/2 a jar of veggie and 1/2 a jar of fruit at lunch and the half of the jars at dinner. Once they tried all the basic fruits and veggies and I knew there were no allergies I moved them up to Stage 2 jars. At 9 months I moved them up to Stage 3 jars. Once they were at Stage 2 I also started mixing a jar of meat with the jar of veggies. Then up to 12 months old I continued to nurse as well 6 times a day. My children have all been on the small side though so your son may need to eat bigger jars sooner or smaller amounts 6 times a day to keep up with his growth. You can't give him too much solids. He'll push it away when he's had enough. Follow his cues. If he loves to nurse or drink bottles he will still drink plenty afterwards. Think if you ate a whole meal with nothing to drink. You'd be thirsty. He will too. Also consult your pediatrician on how many calories a day your baby should be getting for appropriate growth. The calories are on the baby food jars/boxes and you can plan his meals around that goal. For instance my son is underweight and he needs to consume 950 calories a day to gain weight. 1 oz. of formula or breastmilk is about 30 calories. So add up the calories on the solids you're feeding him for the 3 meals and subtract from your total number to see how much milk your son needs to receive to meet his total calories for the day. To put it in perspective my son is turning 2 on Friday and weighs 23 lbs.

Amanda - posted on 08/20/2012

Thank you all for the advice! He is breastfed, I've noticed that although he'll eat an entire container at one meal, he'll only eat half at the next. I don't think it will be much of an issue, he seems to know how much he wants/needs himself. Thanks again!

Amanda - posted on 08/17/2012

I started giving both my children solid food when they showed an interest in eating. They would watch me, or my SO, eating and get fussy. Around 3-5 months I started giving them stage one baby food. My daughter is now 9 months and eats almost whatever I do. She loves to eat. It all depends on what you are comfortable with.

Sherri - posted on 08/14/2012

My baby who will be 6mo's tomorrow eats twice a day. He eats maybe 2-3tbls of food for lunch and maybe 5-6tbls for dinner. I make all his food from scratch so I don't know the exact sizes other than to tell you by tbls.

Stacey - posted on 08/12/2012

With all my children I waited til they were at least 6 months old and then I introduced baby cereal only once a day. I would talk to your childs doctor before you want to give him more. It also does depend on how much milk he is gettin too and if it is breastmilk or formula. My daughter was the only one who actually started eating more than just the baby cereal because she was so tiny thin but she walked at 7 months old and burned off all the calories that she got. Only introduce more food if they are acting like they are still so hungry and are getting the right amount of milk and hopefully more activity.

Sophie - posted on 08/12/2012

My neice was like that I'd still give your son his milk but there's no harm in giving him solids aswel. Try a bottle of milk in the morning (have you tried it with rusks in?) then if he's still hungry give him some porridge. At dinner give him solids and then a yoghurt and the same at tea time. All the weight he puts in now he will lose when he's walking and running about my daughter was a chunky monkey and now she's really slim but still has a big appetite. Aslong as you stick with milk through the day then there's no harm at all in giving your son as much solids as he wants. Xxx

Lauren - posted on 08/06/2012

As long as your baby gets 24 to 32 oz of milk a day feed him all the solids he wants. maybe if the first stage doesnt seem to be doing thed trick try using 6 months and up baby food, it is thicker. at 5 and a half months i fed my daughter brekfast and supper. she ate a table spoon of cereal mixed with her milk and a table spoon of jared baby food. for supper she had a table spoon or two of veggies. after she started eating that like no problem i gave her lunch of veggies. by mid 6 months i started giving her a snack of fruit around 3 pm by the end of this month (7 months old) ill start giving her another snack in the morning. I hope ive helped you!

Amy - posted on 07/31/2012

At 5 1/2 months I was just starting solids with my daughter so she only got 1 tbs. once a day. Solids shouldn't be replacing any bottle feeding and before one they are just for fun. I would stick to what you are doing unless you see that he's not drinking as much formula or breastmilk.