OT - fussy 8 month old eater

[snoopy5386]

Actually, that does not sound like that much food at all. My dd was switched to only table food and whole milk at 10 months because she was not satisfied with the baby foods. She was eating 2 jars at breakfast, 3 jars at lunch and 3 jars at dinner, along with bottles.

I think the reason your child is not eating much lies in the last 3 words of your reply "lots of milk". If the child is getting too much milk, they will not be hungry for food.

I am with the other poster. It *IS* a lot of food. For babies under a year their primary source of nutrition should be breastmilk or formula. My DD never in her entire babyhood finished even a 4 oz jar of food in one sitting. We could frequently get 3-4 meals out of 1 4 oz jar of food. She just wasn't interested in food until she was older and was never interested in purees. She was exclusively breast fed so I have no idea how many ounces she was getting. I can't imagine any pediatrician ok'ing the switch to whole milk at 10 months old. Babies need breastmilk or formula, there is no thing as too much milk for a baby.

 

[koima]

I am with the other poster. It *IS* a lot of food. For babies under a year their primary source of nutrition should be breastmilk or formula. My DD never in her entire babyhood finished even a 4 oz jar of food in one sitting. We could frequently get 3-4 meals out of 1 4 oz jar of food. She just wasn't interested in food until she was older and was never interested in purees. She was exclusively breast fed so I have no idea how many ounces she was getting. I can't imagine any pediatrician ok'ing the switch to whole milk at 10 months old. Babies need breastmilk or formula, there is no thing as too much milk for a baby.

DD gets 2 6 oz. bottles a day, and is breastfed the rest of the time. My supply doesn't cover 100% of her milk needs . Our pediatrician said the same thing, that milk should be the primary source of nutrition and to offer that first, food second. After a bottle or nursing, she doesn't want that much solid food. Our ped recommended switching to solids first, milk second after the first birthday. Worked for my son so I'm sticking with it.

 

[HelenePA]

I was always worried if my kids were getting enough or not. I came across sample menus on Beechnut.com that I used as a guideline. They have menus for different age groups. Below is what they had for 8 month olds.




More Solid Foods
Every baby is different. Yours will let you know how much he needs to eat and what he likes or doesn’t. He'll also eat different amounts on different days. This helpful guideline will help you plan his meals. Print it out and put it on your refrigerator for reference.

Feeding Guidelines (approximate amounts per day)

Breast milk or formula – 20 to 24 ounces in four feedings
Fed with meals or in between

Sample Menu Using Beech-Nut® Stage 1®, Beech-Nut Stage 2® (DHA plus+™ and Good Morning or Good Evening) and Beech-Nut Stage 3®:

Morning
Prepared cereal (1/2 cup)
Fruit (6 ounces)

Mid-Day
Meat (2-½ ounces)
Vegetable (4 to 6 ounces)
Fruit (4 to 6 ounces)

Evening
Dinner (6 ounces)
Fruit ( 4 to 6 ounces)

NO WAY! Do not follow this! Formula or breastmilk should be the primary nutrition for at LEAST 1 year! My DS is almost the same age as the OP's (but he is breastfed I have no idea how much he drinks a day) He eats alot of table food and still some baby food. Remember their stomach is the size of their fist.. I couldn't imagine trying to stuff almost 10+oz of baby food in to my son like the mid-day meal thing says

 

[tr-ray]

My DD is 8 mos and she has 24 oz of formula a day (6 oz wake up, 3 4 oz bottles during the day, 6 oz bottle before bed), 1/4 cup of baby oatmeal/baby rice cereal, 1 package of stage 2 veggies for lunch, and 1 package of stage 2 fruit for dinner, plus a few handfuls of puffs.

She wasn't eating the cereal meal until her 6 month pedi appointment when her doctor told me that she should be eating more food than drinking at her age now.

 

[cuppycake]

She wasn't eating the cereal meal until her 6 month pedi appointment when her doctor told me that she should be eating more food than drinking at her age now.

It worries me that a Ped would say this!! It is widely recommended that babies don't even START solids until closer to 6 months these days. I'm shocked that he/she would say that an infant should be eating more than drinking. I'm glad that the PP is still giving her daughter 24 oz of formula! Babies really do need the nutrients that are found in breastmilk/formula, along with the essential fats that are in it for brain growth and development!!

As for the menu....of course they are saying a child should be eating a ton...they are a babyfood company! There aren't many children (at least ones that I've known through the years) who would be eating so much food at such a young age!

 

[tlh0726]

This came from Babycenter.com
When you get to the amounts, there is 8 ounces to a cup.
They list all age groups. I just copied the age that applied to the OP.


Age-by-age guide to feeding your baby
Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board
Last updated: November 2008

Age: 8 to 10 months
Signs of readiness for solid and finger foods
• Same as 6 to 8 months, PLUS
• Picks up objects with thumb and forefinger (pincer grasp)
• Can transfer items from one hand to the other
• Puts everything in his mouth
• Moves jaw in a chewing motion
What to feed
• Breast milk or formula, PLUS
• Small amounts of soft pasteurized cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese (but no cows' milk until age 1)
• Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals)
• Mashed fruits and vegetables (bananas, peaches, pears, avocados, cooked carrots, squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes)
• Finger foods (lightly toasted bagels, cut up; small pieces of ripe banana; well-cooked spiral pasta; teething crackers; low-sugar O-shaped cereal)
• Small amounts of protein (egg, pureed meats, poultry, and boneless fish; tofu; well-cooked and mashed beans with soft skins like lentils, split peas, pintos, black beans)
• Non-citrus juice (apple or pear)

How much per day
• ¼ to 1/3 cup dairy (or ½ oz. cheese)
• ¼ to ½ cup iron-fortified cereal
• ¼ to ½ cup fruit
• ¼ to ½ cup vegetables
• 1/8 to ¼ cup protein foods
• 3 to 4 oz. non-citrus juices
Feeding tip
• Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic.

 

[bgirl29]

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe she is reacting to mommy. Does she need to cuddle first before eating? Do you feed her the same way as the sitter? For instance is one of you holding her while she eats and the other one using a high chair? I just wondered if something was being done differently. How about the temperature of the food?

Good luck figuring out what is causing this, maybe she just needs less food and more rest.

 

[NJR]

How much per day
• ¼ to 1/3 cup dairy (or ½ oz. cheese)
• ¼ to ½ cup iron-fortified cereal
• ¼ to ½ cup fruit
• ¼ to ½ cup vegetables
• 1/8 to ¼ cup protein foods
• 3 to 4 oz. non-citrus juices

This is a much more reasonable amount, and much more in keeping with any of the "feeding guides" I've ever seen (eg I have one from Nestlebaby that recommends pretty much the same amounts). Has anyone else noticed that the daily amount of fruit listed here is equal to or less than the amount that the Beechnut site was recommending for every meal?