How much solids should a 7 month old be taking?

[joanmarie]

 My son is 7 months old. We introduced solids about a month and a half ago, but he has not been too interested. (We also had several slow downs- a cold, an ear infection, and teething.) But even when he is interested, I just can’t seem to get him to eat more than 1 to 2 tablespoons 2 times a day (a total of about 2.5 tablespoons cereal and 2.5 tablespoons fruit/veg in a day). Is this enough at this age? He has had baby cereal and babyfood (fruit and veg). He is breastfed, so I know he needs the iron in the baby cereal. I don't know how much he needs to meet it, but I don't think he could possibly be getting it on this much cereal.

Can you give me an idea of what is a normal amount to eat? Also, if I need to increase his solids, should I concentrate on making one meal bigger, then concentrate on increasing the other, and only worry about a third meal when he is consistently taking larger quantities at the first 2?

[Kate A]

Does he BF before or after solids?  My dd wouldn't take solids after BF, it had to be before.  She is the same age.  We had to work on two meals and then work up to 3.  She also didn't like the baby cereals so we started mixing them with her fruit, that seemed to help. I've read, but every baby is different, that around 1/2 cup at each meal is about normal.  One small baby food jar.  Some meals they may eat more, some less.
Is your LO on 4 hour routine?  If not, moving may help him get hungrier.
let me know if you have more questions?

[*Natasha*]

Two meals at this age is fine and the amounts you are giving are fine also. I believe babies will let you know when they are ready for another meal, my DD did with meal number 2&3. Just remember they are only little and the amounts they need isn't alot they only have very small stomachs still at this age.

[tstasko]

Hi, I hope you don't mind me jumping on this thread, and if I need to start another one please let me know.

Natasha (or anyone who can lend insight!!) - you mentioned that your lo let you know when she was ready for meals 2 and 3.  We are about to start solids in a week or so (woo hoo! - excited but a little nervous). because dd has been STARVING this past week.  Could be a growth spurt, but I think she is just about ready.
Anyway - she is bf and I plan to start with rice cereal.  My question is do you recommend starting with the one meal at noon?  (she is bf at 7,11,3,6:30ish - may vary by 1/2 hour depending on wake up time).  and do i just stay at the one meal for a while until she shows signs of being ready to add another meal?  Oh, and also, I've read that you should introduce new foods every 4 days or so - so if I start with cereal, then add say avocado, do I rotate the cereal and fruit for that one meal?  I hope this question makes sense.  I've just started reading Super Baby Food, and it's very good, but I'm having a hard time finding time to read through it.

Thank you in advance for you feedback!!
Tari

[Sarahboh]

Just an idea, I don't know if this helps very much but my 6+month old eats this per day but she is quite big (19 pounds 2 weeks ago at doc's appt). Every lo is different and appetites as well. Here is my rountine daily.

7:30 am wake and 6-7 ounce bottle
9:00 am 4 tsp fruit or veggies, 1/2-1tbsp rice cereal with 1 ounce formula in it
9:45-11:30(11:45) sleep
11;30-11:45 5 ounces
12:45 5 tsp veggies or fruit, 1-2 ounces formula
1:30(1:45)-2:45(3:00) nap
3:30 7-9 ounces bottle
4:45-5:15 catnap
5:30 2tbsp rice cereal, 6 tsp veggies and/or fruit, 2-3 ounces formula mixed with cereal and by mouth
6:30 bath, massage, cuddle
6:45 bottle 6-7 ounces,
7:00pm bed
Sleeps until 7:30am (no nightwakings)

She typically takes in 2-3 tbsp day rice cereal, 15 tsp day fruits and veggies total and has her extra milk in her cereal and from a cup during and after meals. She is drinking 29-32 ounces daily, though last week she cut her first two teeth so her milk and solid consumption went slightly down before the teeth broke, now she is back up again to the same amounts and more.

[LŠuren]

scarlett'smom - I have just PM'd you with the plan I followed. 

[LŠuren]

Hiya at NEARLY 7 months this is ours, and has been for a while


Wake between 6 &7am  Huh
E 0730  7oz milk then readybrek with 2 icebubes of fruit
A
S1030
A (depending on length of nap)
E1200 6oz milk followed by 2 or 3 icecubes of veggies and rice or pasta or chicken + sometimes dessert
A
S (3 hours +) from last wake up time
A
E1630 6oz milk followed by 2 or 3 icecubes of veggies and rice or pasta or chicken
A 1900 ish - bath
E 1920ish 10oz milk
S anywhere between  1930 and 2000 depending on last nap  Roll Eyes


Calum gooes anywhere from 3hr+ awake time, I think this is quite long for a LO this age. I also limit his naps to no more than 3hours per day. Calum dropped the catnap about a month or so ago, I put him down for it one day in his cot and he wanted to play and got annoyed because I was trying to get him to sleep.
HTH's

[*Natasha*]

Scarletts Mum Calums Mum PM me how she introduced solids and it is spot on almost identical to what i did with my DD. Just remember all babies will take to solids differently and some take longer to get the hang of it. My DD LOVES her food and eats anything you give her so we are lucky.
Good luck don't hesitate to ask more questions you can PM me if you want.

[tstasko]

Great, thank you!  Calums Mom's feedback was great, and I think I'm going to follow her examples and see how it works for my lo.  Appreciate everyone's help!
Tari

[joanmarie]

Thanks for all of the input. I will try to to stress about it  and just keep working on it slowly. In the meantime, I think I will check with my ped to see if he needs an iron supplement.
Joan