I am starting my daughter on solid foods an I am seeing a lot of suggestions on what to feed her, but not many on how much and when. Do I continue to offer milk and cereal and just add fruits/veggies or gradually reduce servings of milk and/or cereal and replace with fruit/veggies. Any suggeations or reading material would be much apprecited!

Koryn - posted on 01/07/2009

Oh and a great resource for all your baby questions is www.askdrsears.com

Koryn - posted on 01/07/2009

Start by offering her solids three times a day.  Always offer breakfast and then offer more solids for lunch and again when you eat dinner.  If she is at least six months old, offer the solid foods first and then the breast/bottle.  If you give her milk first, she will fill up on the milk and won't be very interested in the solids.  She probably won't eat much solids at first and that is ok.  Let her go at her pace.  My son acted like he wanted to eat solids so bad and then when we started feeding him solids, he was very particular and didn't consume much.  He was 8 months old before he began to eat more of a variety of solids.  He is now ten months and he continues to improve.  Just don't feel like you need to push solids, she will begin to eat solids when she is ready to.  All you can do is offer them to her.  I hope this helps!

Ruth - posted on 01/06/2009

Thanks to all for your replies!! Some really great advice!

Thanks again for the support.

-Ruth

Maggie - posted on 12/30/2008

the baby whisperer is a very helpful book!!! Tracy Hogg (the author) included a feeding chart as a guide in the book. Of course evert baby is different but it is a great start point. You can visit the website babywhisperer.com. Also one of my favorite websites is wholesomebabyfood.com there is a ton of great info on age appropriate foods. We made our own food in a magic blender then would freeze it in ice cube trays then put it in a freezer bag (you save sooo much money, and it is healthier). And wholesomebabyfood.com has a lot of awesome recipes!! But I would highly recommend the babywhisper and the baby whisperer for toddlers!!

Kerian - posted on 12/30/2008

what i find works for us is i nurse Kyla, then an hour later give her solids, then an hour later nurse her again. that way i make sure it is not replacing her feeds.

Koryn - posted on 12/28/2008

A great website is www.askdrsears.com. He has a list of what to feed your infants throughout the different ages. I printed it out to help me out too. Check it out.

Shannon - posted on 12/28/2008

Try adding small amounts of the friut/veggies to the cereal, and gradually make it a little thicker so that she gets used to the new texture and flavors. We did this with my daughter starting at 4 months back a few years ago now (she is 5) and we just started with my son this month. He is also 4 months and eats food twice a day as well as nurses 6 to 8 times a day still... yes he loves to eat!! He now eats a whole jar of fruit or veggies mixed with oatmeal or rice twice a day and it is on the thicker side.. good luck to you... and don't force the child to eat something. If they really turn from it or spit it back out abruptly refusing anymore... it sometimes can be a sign of an allergy!

Emily - posted on 12/28/2008

From what I have learned, for a breastfed baby, solids are not necessary at all for the first year. They are simply to learn about tastes and textures and to learn to chew and swallow.

Personally, I nurse my babies on demand, then at mealtimes they sit with us and eat whatever we are eating (that is appropriate). They are allowed to start sampling foods after they reach 6 months, but none of my kids have become really interested in actually eating until around 8 months. I don't do baby food or purees, they just get small bites of things appropriate for their age. We start with veggies (cooked carrots, mashed potatoes, etc), then fruits (peaches, applesauce, etc), then some dairy (cheese, yogurt, etc.), then meats (shredded chicken, etc) and finally grains. My 12 month old is now eating everything except nuts, and things too large and chewy for her. We also don't give her cows milk, but mostly because she's still nursing so frequently.

Also, remember that babies and toddlers don't need as much food as you might think. A serving size for a 2-3 year old is about the size of 3 dice.

Kimberly - posted on 12/28/2008

I also recommend Super Baby Food book by Yaron. We make baby food at home, and I feed our 8.5 month old solids twice per day, fruit/veggie plus cereal w/ breastmilk. We will be going to 3x per day in the next week or so. But the most important source of nutrition is breastmilk/formula. So make sure the quantity doesn't go down! Good luck! They will tell you when and how much they need.

Beth - posted on 12/28/2008

I used the Super Baby Food book by Ruth Yaron. It's very good about what foods to introduce and when. It's also helpful if you want to learn how to make some or all of your babies' food at home.

Kirsten - posted on 12/28/2008

From what I understand, until babies are well-established on foods, you should be nursing first, then offering foods as a supplement. I would give fruits/veggies in addition to rice cereal. I personally like Ellyn Satter's book "Chlild of Mine," which is very helpful through the toddler years.

Ruth - posted on 12/28/2008

She will be 6 months on the 16th. Right now she nurses about 5-6 times a day and I give her rice cereal mixed with 1-2 oz of breastmilk at breakfast lunch and dinner (she gobbles it all up, but does not seem to be still hungry when we're done). We want to start adding in baby foods in the next few weeks, but I'm not exactly sure how to go about it.

Sheila - posted on 12/28/2008

how old is your daughter?

Kelli - posted on 12/28/2008

Just follow your instinct, every child is different and you know yours best. If you think she wants food, give if to her (regardless of if it's breakfast, lunch or dinner)..But definately don't decrease her intake of milk..

Rachael - posted on 12/27/2008

It depends on how old she is. My daughter just had her six month check up and her pediatrician said she should be eating two baby foods per day. Food should not be a replacement to milk. Baby food does not have the fat or much nutrition compared to milk. It is to supplement milk.... Personally we mix baby cereal into the baby food. It makes the consistancy a little thicker which is easier to feed and our kids seem to like the texture. Plus they get the extra iron that cereal provides but you aren't doing extra feeding. Keep up with her "normal" intake of milk and just add baby food to that schedule. She will let you know when she is too full. We do baby food for lunch and dinner. Hope this helps.