How much is too much for solid food for baby about to be 8 months?

[Anonymous]

FTM here. The doctor told us we could start solids at 6 month mark. We started slowly as they said milk
Is still her main source of nutrition. We try something new here and there and then she breastfeeds mostly. Lately she’s wanting more and more of the oatmeal. We’re up to 4 tbsp (1/4 cup+) of oatmeal…is that a lot, about right, or too little for an almost 8 month old? We give her as much as she needs but it’s increasing daily. Is that normal?

[Anonymous]

I'd start introducing other foods besides oatmeal. I used to blend oatmeal and coconut together because of the fat -- oatmeal isn't very calorically dense, certainly not as dense as breastmilk. But yes, it's normal.

[Anonymous]

Everything you’re saying sounds normal, I’d start introducing more foods.

There is some min number of ounces of breast milk or formula our ped wanted our kids getting until they turned 1. Also introduce allergens now - a little peanut butter in the oatmeal is a great next step.

Beyond that, there’s a huge range of what’s normal.

[Anonymous]

Let them have as much as they want - they might be having a growth spurt.

There’s really no downside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let them have as much as they want - they might be having a growth spurt.

There’s really no downside.

The downside is that solids usually have fewer calories than breastmilk. Milk is very calorie dense; pureed peas or squash, not so much. But I don't think it really makes much difference unless the child is falling off their growth curve.

[Anonymous]

By eight months I think they’re supposed to be having 2-3 meals a day? Where a meal can be up to 1/4 cup. At least that was roughly what I remember being told when I anxiously asked my ped about it for my oldest. That is about the time where solids went from playtime to something my kids genuinely wanted/ate so it sounds like your baby is right on track!

[Anonymous]

My kid ate way more than that! Follow her lead and offer solids after breastmilk, and I agree with others that you can vary it up a little. Sounds like you’re doing great!

[Anonymous]

Hmm, always told that solids were for fun until 12 months. So sure, introduce others, but no, they don’t need solid meals at this age.check with your pediatrician

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm, always told that solids were for fun until 12 months. So sure, introduce others, but no, they don’t need solid meals at this age.check with your pediatrician

From months 8 or 9 through 12 they gradually work their way to 3 meals, 2 snacks per day which is where they should be at 1

[Anonymous]

Both of my kids started preferring solids to milk at 8/9 months. I still offered milk or formula before solid food for all meals and snacks, but they both just naturally shifted so that they were eating more solids than milk by the time they turned one. Rather than mostly filling up on milk and then tasting a couple bites of whatever else, they seemed to kind of rush nursing or bottle to get to the good stuff. (This wasn’t great for my milk supply but I guess you win some and you lose some!) It felt like a very natural, normal shift and their doctor had no issue with it, if anything he was glad they weren’t kids who still wanted to drink 24 oz of milk a day at age 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd start introducing other foods besides oatmeal. I used to blend oatmeal and coconut together because of the fat -- oatmeal isn't very calorically dense, certainly not as dense as breastmilk. But yes, it's normal.

I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Oatmeal has many more calories than breast milk. 1/4 cup of breastmilk is around 40 calories. 1/4 cup of oatmeal is over 100.

[Anonymous]

Oatmeal doesn’t offer a lot nutrition wise.

Are you making enough milk to keep up with her needs? Breast milk/formula should be the main nutrition for the first year.

Why are you not offering other foods like fruits and veggies? You can add in purées like fruits and veggies. If you want to do BLW, start giving her some steamed fruit and veggies.

Most 8 months old are eating purées - fruits, veggies, oatmeal, etc. Many BLW babies are eating fruits, veggies, eggs, meat, oatmeal, cheese, yogurt, whole grain toast with peanut butter, avocado, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd start introducing other foods besides oatmeal. I used to blend oatmeal and coconut together because of the fat -- oatmeal isn't very calorically dense, certainly not as dense as breastmilk. But yes, it's normal.

I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Oatmeal has many more calories than breast milk. 1/4 cup of breastmilk is around 40 calories. 1/4 cup of oatmeal is over 100.

Oatmeal has more calories but it’s nutrition that matters. Breastmilk and other foods are more nutrient dense compared to oatmeal. Oatmeal may have more calories than breast milk, but that doesn’t mean it’s more nutritionally dense. Breast milk offers way more nutrition than oatmeal. Oatmeal is mainly just carbs and fiber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd start introducing other foods besides oatmeal. I used to blend oatmeal and coconut together because of the fat -- oatmeal isn't very calorically dense, certainly not as dense as breastmilk. But yes, it's normal.

I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Oatmeal has many more calories than breast milk. 1/4 cup of breastmilk is around 40 calories. 1/4 cup of oatmeal is over 100.

Oatmeal has more calories but it’s nutrition that matters. Breastmilk and other foods are more nutrient dense compared to oatmeal. Oatmeal may have more calories than breast milk, but that doesn’t mean it’s more nutritionally dense. Breast milk offers way more nutrition than oatmeal. Oatmeal is mainly just carbs and fiber.

this is advice based on problems that don’t exist in the US, where babies have plentiful calories available from solids and regularly get their weight monitored at the pediatrician. OP is not feeding her baby watery gruel instead of milk. As long as she offers a variety of solids like avocado, banana, sweet potatoes, eggs, baby will be just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm, always told that solids were for fun until 12 months. So sure, introduce others, but no, they don’t need solid meals at this age.check with your pediatrician

This is EXTREMELY outdated and not true. Solids before 1 are not just for fun. Certain nutrients start to deplete at 6 months and solids become important. please do some research.