How often should I offer solids to my 12-month-old?

[newmamalizzy]

DD's pediatrician always tells me I should be aiming for 3 meals and 3 snacks per day, and I think she particularly wants me to do this because DD has started really dropping through the percentiles.  DD has very little interest in solids still.  Every now and again she'll surprise me and eat a lot, but lately all I can get her to eat is blueberries.  She still takes a bottle every 2.5 - 3 hours, so between all those bottles, 6 (supposed) feedings and 2 naps, I feel like there's no more time in the day!  And her solids intake is getting worse, not better, with no sign of this baby leading anywhere close to weaning.  So...is it better if I keep offering solids really frequently, hoping to catch her at a good moment or something?  Or is it better to just try to establish a few good feedings as long as she's still having all those bottles?  OH, and is it better to keep changing the foods I offer her, or should I stick with the same few things that I know she likes and introduce other foods in gradually?

[crystal_buffaloe]

I have an almost-11-month-old and I offer solids everytime I'm eating. I eat 3 square meals a day so during those times, I sit her down with a tray of foods.

I try to aim for one or two snacks a day, too, though sometimes that doesn't happen. Usually the snack is cheerios or banana (because those are in the diaper bag) or something I'm snacking on.

I try to offer nutrient-dense, high-fat/calorie foods at meals (avocado, egg yolk, hummus with extra olive oil) and also try to offer variety then sometimes -- so maybe one thing on her tray is new. We also get some variety in with snacks sometimes, then it's not a big deal if she doesn't want to eat it.

[sunflower.mama]

I offer 3 times a day when we all eat.  For a couple of months (say 6-9 months) she wanted NOTHING to do with food.  But I kept with it and she turned a corner, almost overnight.  It's as if she had to get used to the idea.  I just posted on anther thread the sorts of things I offer, but she really turns up her nose at purees so I focus on things she can self feed.  If she's liking blueberries - which mine loves - maybe ripe pears?  How about cheeses?  Do you do the solids before the bottle so she is hungry?

I nurse, and I think I am nursing 4-5 times a day.  I suppose at some point you need to drop a bottle or two, but I certainly see how that would be concerning/stressful if she's not gaining as you'd like her to.  It's a cart before the horse issue.  What about yogurt?  Mine loves yo-baby...

[newmamalizzy]

Thanks for the suggestions.  To answer your questions, DD only self-feeds (well, she likes being finger-fed sometimes, too).  She liked Yo-Baby once...then stopped, and we haven't done pear for awhile because she lost interest.  That's pretty much how she is with food - like it's just this novelty that's fun for the first time or two, then starts being boring.  In the past I've offered solids midway between bottles because she particularly doesn't like to try food when she's hungry (right...).  Lately I can't get her to eat anything at all, period, so I think it's a good time to drop back and start a new approach, so any additional tips would be great!  I'm going to start by offering something just before each bottle so hopefully she starts to get the idea that eating is linked to hunger.  I think you're right - I think she's still just not used to this whole solids concept. 

[Amanda1]

We see a natropath for most things, the guide they gave me is that a baby between 9-12 months should be eating only 4-10 Tbsp per day, then after 12 months it just says to satiety. My son is 11 months and is in that range for solids. I goes through phases where he will eat lots for a few days then nearly nothing for another few.

He nurses many (probly between 5 and 7 times a day), i suppose only 3 of those are "big" feeds.

They don't have recomendations for formula but I would think it would be similar to bm? it says

6-7 months: 3-5 feedings, 24-32 oz

8-9 months: 3-5 feedings, 24-32 oz and

10-12 months + : 2-4 feedings, 24-32 oz

Just to edit this: ds only self feeds aswell, unless its oatmeal which is just too messy

[SeattleRain]

I know it's not a popular approach here on MDC, but given she's over a year old, I'd feel comfortable cutting back on some of her bottles. That's a lot of formula for a one year old, particularly if she's little. There's a very good chance she's not interested in eating because she's full of milk. Formula stays in the body "heavier" than breastmilk. Can you reduce the amount of formula she's getting in each bottle by an ounce or two and see if she'll up her solids intake? If you're saying she's getting 6 bottles a day with around 4-6oz (I'm assuming here) then she's getting between 24-36oz of formula, which is a hefty amount. Babies that age should be getting closer to 24, and definitely no more than 30oz. To answer your original question, I offer solids to my 9 1/2 month old three times a day, plus a "snacktime" when he wakes up from his afternoon nap (usually some cut up fruit and cut up cheese and maybe a cracker or two with cream cheese). Daniel is primarily spoon fed and he enjoys purees of lots of different foods and yogurt. He LOVES yogurt. The favorite around here is "Greek Gods" brand whole milk yogurt in the green carton, it's plain and sugar free (other than lactose) but its so creamy. Have you tried spoon feeding her at all? I would say also that babies go in and out of foods. Daniel loves green beans, but this morning he wasn't into them. Whatever. In a day or two, he'll like it again. So don't think that just because she wasn't into it one time that she just doesn't like them. Just keep offering a variety of foods and she'll get into it.

[Hannah32]

Our 10 month old eats 3 square meals a day, plus nurses about 4 times a day and drinks two 4 oz bottles of breastmilk per day. He's extremely active, so all this food hasn't resulted in much chub, but pretty much keeps him the same width, though he keeps getting longer, LOL. 

I'm with SeattleRain on this one. I feel that babies need food, particularly active babies. According to the AAP, a 8-12 month old should be getting about 1/2 his daily calories from breastmilk or formula (about 400 calories worth, which is about 20 oz) and 1/2 from food. I just checked the one-year old section, and it suggests 1000 calories per day. 32 oz of formula/breastmilk is about 800 calories. 

[D_McG]

I would definitely be offering more food and fewer bottles. By a year I was bf'ing but happy to wean ASAP. I offered solids every time I ate which can be pretty often lol .

[Knitting Mama]

I know I've talked about Cecilia's eating habits before, but at one, she most certainly does NOT eat 3 meals and snacks a day! The idea is pretty laughable here, frankly. I am big on not forcing kids. She doesn't want to eat that much, and that's okay. She'll get there eventually.

One thing I have noticed, that might help you, is that Cecilia is a much bigger social eater than she is eating solo. Family dinners definitely involve a lot more eating that just her in her highchair.

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[newmamalizzy]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama 

I know I've talked about Cecilia's eating habits before, but at one, she most certainly does NOT eat 3 meals and snacks a day! The idea is pretty laughable here, frankly. I am big on not forcing kids. She doesn't want to eat that much, and that's okay. She'll get there eventually.

One thing I have noticed, that might help you, is that Cecilia is a much bigger social eater than she is eating solo. Family dinners definitely involve a lot more eating that just her in her highchair.

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I think that's true for Bea as well, but, unfortunately, she's stuck alone with me most of the time :)   Seems like the concensus is that I should drop her formula down in hopes that she'll start to eat more, which is exactly the opposite of my own inclination, which was to stop pushing solids so hard and just give her more time.  I'm guessing it's different if you have a baby who eats...it's so, so hard to feel like you might be allowing your child to be hungry.  This talk of her eating more than one tablespoon of food at a time....I don't think she's ever eaten a whole tablespoon of food in one sitting. She ate 12 (individual) baked beans at Easter yesterday and I was thrilled.  It's, like, the most she's ever eaten....Today she ate one mozzarella pearl, 6 blueberries, half a wheat thin, and about 15 O's.  A typical day...

[Buzzer Beater]

GG is 11 months old and has already had her ups and downs on solids. She was late trying anything at all, actually. She's finally a little chub, people notice she has filled out, and she didn't get that way on pears and sweet potatoes. Even if she is eating fairly well on any given day I make sure I offer to nurse the same amount. I also offer solids whenever I have them, but she only takes me up on that about half the time!

BTW our ped told us at six months we should be feeding her three meals a day, and we hadn't even started her on solids yet.

[Ginger Bean]

Originally Posted by Buzzer Beater 

BTW our ped told us at six months we should be feeding her three meals a day, and we hadn't even started her on solids yet.

Good gracious! My son is 7.5 months old and I've only just worked my way up from once every few days to once a day.

[Knitting Mama]

Originally Posted by newmamalizzy 

I think that's true for Bea as well, but, unfortunately, she's stuck alone with me most of the time :)   Seems like the concensus is that I should drop her formula down in hopes that she'll start to eat more, which is exactly the opposite of my own inclination, which was to stop pushing solids so hard and just give her more time.  I'm guessing it's different if you have a baby who eats...it's so, so hard to feel like you might be allowing your child to be hungry.  This talk of her eating more than one tablespoon of food at a time....I don't think she's ever eaten a whole tablespoon of food in one sitting. She ate 12 (individual) baked beans at Easter yesterday and I was thrilled.  It's, like, the most she's ever eaten....Today she ate one mozzarella pearl, 6 blueberries, half a wheat thin, and about 15 O's.  A typical day...

Mama, regarding the bolded part: if it feels wrong in your gut, don't do it. We, too, are alone most of the day and in the evening it's just my husband and I, and while we try to have meals with her, it's not the same. The weekend family dinners are the only time she eats a good amount. And for Cecilia, a good amount is a couple of tablespoons of food. On Saturday at my parents' house, she ate three 1-2 tablespoon helpings of charoset (it's a Jewish thing, it's chopped up apples and walnuts, with cinnamon and in our case a bit of agave and a bit of grape juice instead of wine), followed by half of a matzo ball. I've literally never seen her eat so much. So in some cases it could also be a matter of trying everything under the sun until you find what works. I think in this example it was the combination of all the family around and food she really likes.

Anyway, what I am trying to say in my rambling way is that you need to trust your instincts. Our girls will get there someday! And if by 2 mine's not eating well, I will probably talk to my pediatrician about it and see about EI testing for sensory issues. My gut tells me it's not the case here, since she doesn't have a problem eating pieces of food, just eating appreciable amounts. But that's neither here nor there yet. 

[SeattleRain]

Originally Posted by newmamalizzy 

I think that's true for Bea as well, but, unfortunately, she's stuck alone with me most of the time :)   Seems like the concensus is that I should drop her formula down in hopes that she'll start to eat more, which is exactly the opposite of my own inclination, which was to stop pushing solids so hard and just give her more time.  I'm guessing it's different if you have a baby who eats...it's so, so hard to feel like you might be allowing your child to be hungry.  This talk of her eating more than one tablespoon of food at a time....I don't think she's ever eaten a whole tablespoon of food in one sitting. She ate 12 (individual) baked beans at Easter yesterday and I was thrilled.  It's, like, the most she's ever eaten....Today she ate one mozzarella pearl, 6 blueberries, half a wheat thin, and about 15 O's.  A typical day...

I don't think you have to "push" solids harder at all, but more to decrease the amount of formula you're feeding her. You shouldn't "push" your baby to do anything they don't want to do. Offer the solids and if she eats them, great, and if she doesn't, that's fine too. I really think that if you cut back on a little bit of the formula, even an ounce per bottle, she'll make up for it in what she's eating. Breastmilk changes in composition as a baby ages, making it a perfect food for babies and toddlers, but formula does not change and is an imperfect food, particularly for toddlers. That is why there is a different formula for toddlers. It's possible that she's caught in a cycle where she gets full on milk, you offer her solids, she doesn't eat any because she's full, and you think because she didn't eat lunch she needs more milk.

[newmamalizzy]

Originally Posted by SeattleRain 

I don't think you have to "push" solids harder at all, but more to decrease the amount of formula you're feeding her. You shouldn't "push" your baby to do anything they don't want to do. Offer the solids and if she eats them, great, and if she doesn't, that's fine too. I really think that if you cut back on a little bit of the formula, even an ounce per bottle, she'll make up for it in what she's eating. Breastmilk changes in composition as a baby ages, making it a perfect food for babies and toddlers, but formula does not change and is an imperfect food, particularly for toddlers. That is why there is a different formula for toddlers. It's possible that she's caught in a cycle where she gets full on milk, you offer her solids, she doesn't eat any because she's full, and you think because she didn't eat lunch she needs more milk.

Yes, that is EXACTLY what I think.  And I did try decreasing her bottles to only 4 ouncers for a few days.  They were her worst solids days ever.  On one of the days she ate only a 1 square inch piece of toast.  I think she construes the very act of being sat in her high chair as "pushing."  She also immediately shoves a spoon away when it's put near her, regardless of what's on it.  Bea is very strict about only doing things on her terms.  Lately I've been so frustrated about the solids thing that I've forgotten to see it as many of you have framed it:  "I offer her food whenever I eat."  What?  I eat?  Oh yeah!!!  I think I need to go back to feeding myself in a more normal way and, yes, offer her food whenever I'M eating.  So far we're still on our old formula, but if the toddler formula offers a higher calorie density, I'll feel more comfortable offering her less fluid volume - because I think you are totally right about what's happening, but it's SO a chicken and egg thing for me - I don't want to cut down on formula if she hasn't started eating, but she's not likely to start eating until I've cut down on formula for a few days.  I'm also thinking about trying smoothies, since she does like drinking out of her sippy cup.  Nothing with this baby happens easily (sigh) - nursing, bottle-drinking, sleeping, napping, and now eating...I should have learned how to deal with it by now, but apparently not! 

[BabySmurf]

It seems to me that there is a wide range of normal in terms of how much our LO's should be eating, and also a wide range of normal in terms of what is recommended to us by our pedi's.  i say that you should be following what your gut instinct says.  however it sounds like your LO isn't gaining the way she should be even with all of the normal formula feedings.  i find that to be of interest, and i would ask if there was some other reason why she isn't gaining.  i do think that perhaps you should switch to "toddler" formula if you're not already using it.  maybe try offering food before every bottle so that she associates food with hungry, and you don't necessarily have to drop a feeding until she starts to fill up on foods.

i would also keep in mind that kids won't just start eating several meals a day just because the calendar says it's time.  they have to work up to it, and some kids will take longer than others.  your lo will tell you if she's hungry - she won't let you starve her.  all you can do is keep offering her foods (the same foods, different foods, reintroduce old foods), and she should start to eat more when she is ready....but i would keep track of her weight to make sure that there isn't something else going on. 

[MJB]

Have you tried any of the baby food pouches? They can drink them which might appeal to her, while getting a more balanced diet and used to different tastes. We use them when we're on the go and my 9.5 month old LOVES them. We get the "Happy Tot" ones at Target.

[SeattleRain]

Originally Posted by newmamalizzy 

Yes, that is EXACTLY what I think.  And I did try decreasing her bottles to only 4 ouncers for a few days.  They were her worst solids days ever.  On one of the days she ate only a 1 square inch piece of toast.  I think she construes the very act of being sat in her high chair as "pushing."  She also immediately shoves a spoon away when it's put near her, regardless of what's on it.  Bea is very strict about only doing things on her terms.  Lately I've been so frustrated about the solids thing that I've forgotten to see it as many of you have framed it:  "I offer her food whenever I eat."  What?  I eat?  Oh yeah!!!  I think I need to go back to feeding myself in a more normal way and, yes, offer her food whenever I'M eating.  So far we're still on our old formula, but if the toddler formula offers a higher calorie density, I'll feel more comfortable offering her less fluid volume - because I think you are totally right about what's happening, but it's SO a chicken and egg thing for me - I don't want to cut down on formula if she hasn't started eating, but she's not likely to start eating until I've cut down on formula for a few days.  I'm also thinking about trying smoothies, since she does like drinking out of her sippy cup.  Nothing with this baby happens easily (sigh) - nursing, bottle-drinking, sleeping, napping, and now eating...I should have learned how to deal with it by now, but apparently not! 

I actually think it's the opposite, toddler formula is LESS dense and has less calories, making it better nutrition for babies who aren't getting all of their nutritional needs from formula. Have you spoken to your pediatrician about when your little one can wean off of formula and onto milk? The idea is that she should not be getting so full on milk that she doesn't have an appetite for solid foods. In general, a one year old should be coming to the table hungry to eat, or else they're just going to play with the food. And just because she did poorly one day, doesn't mean she'll always do it that way. It might take her a little bit to recognize that food isn't going to come in a bottle all the time.

I will say, though, that since your daughter just had a traumatic mouth injury, food could be hard to deal with. Stuff like toast might irritate the wounds on her teeth, and it might take a while for her to get the jist of eating without her little teeth. I'd go with it, but It'd still try experimenting with smoothies and other liquid yummies like pureed soups and Odwalla drinks. Maybe try some soft, cool, fruits like melon or chilled sweet potato cubes. Here's a recipe for babyfood that Daniel LOVES (I spoon feed it to him, but you could definitely let her drink out of a cup or a sippy):

1lb strawberries

1/4 of a fresh pineapple

1 small mango (or probably 1/2 bag of frozen mango)

1 banana

8 oz water

Cook all of the ingredients in a pot for 10 minutes, and then pour the fruit solids over a strainer to drain the liquids. Puree and add the reserved liquid as necessary to get the consistancy you want (I didn't add any to make a spoonfeed-able mush, but you would want to add some if you want to drink it out of a straw or sippy). This recipe made enough for me to pour it into 1 1/2 ice cube trays. You could pour your smoothies in ice cube trays so that you could just defrost a few ounces at a time so you won't feel like you're making a ton and tossing it if she decides not to eat it. You could also mix some yogurt in it after you thawed your cubes to add some creaminess and fatty goodness. And really, who doesn't love a tropical smoothie?!

[SeattleRain]

Hey mama, how are things going?