When can I start feeding my LO lunch?

[~Amz~]

Hi everyone.

I was wondering my DS is going to be 6 months this coming Thursday (God willing). I have been giving him solids since he was 4.5 months old. I am currently just feeding him a tablespoon of solids morning and just before bedtime. So far we've had tried rice cereals (wasn't good for him at all, he got constipated.), applesauce (again wasn't good), sweet potato (no problem there), oat cereal he loved it and now butternut squash (still seeing how it goes).

I was wondering when can I start feeding him lunch as well? Is it too early?

Thanks in advance.

[Mimi 2]

Hi there,

You can offer a second meal when your ds is ready.  You can start by offer a little bit at first until you can increase the amount.  Some babies are on their second meals within a few weeks some take longer.  Just remember that milk feeds are more important at this age then solids as it is the perfect balanced meal for an infant until 12 mos.  Solids are slower to digest and this may make him feel fuller thus not taking in enough formula/bm.

[~Amz~]

Thanks mimi, just another question.

He usually has cereals in the morning and just before bedtime, if I were to start giving him lunch do I give him either veggies or fruits, or do I continue with cereals for lunch?

Also if I am to give him veggies or fruits is that going to be ok for his as he is having cereal in the morning and just before bedtime?

Thank you in advance.

[Mimi 2]

You can still offer cereal for lunch or you can introduce a new food for that time or you can offer a little bit of cereal and then finish off the meal with a veggie or fruit.  During the first few months your goal isn't to offer a balanced diet for each and every meal.  At this stage in the game, you just want to introduce new flavours and texture to to your ds.  When he is closer to 12 mos, you can start to plan out a more balanced diet spread out over the course of a week.  As he is enjoying his solids, try different mixtures as well to give it some variety.