Solid Food Road Map Needed

[daniellechiasson]

My DD is currently 10.5 months. Recently she went from EBF to bottles. She was bfing 3 times a day (7am, 2pm, 7pm) and one night feed. She loves her sippy with milk or water, I dont believe in juice so she hasn't had any. I am giving her cow's milk, not formula, since giving up the breast. Now she is getting about 30 oz in the bottle in a 24 hour period plus what she takes from her sippy. She normally eats well, loves veggies, fruits, cheese, yogourt, breads, pasta etc. She still is not big on the meat but I think it's because of the chewing factor.

I am just looking for some clarification as to where I should be heading with her solid vs liquid intake. I know that her milk is supposed to be her mainstay until about a year, then what?

Being the worry wart that I am, I want to have a plan of attack ready for her caregivers. I will be going back to work just before she turns 1 and it bothers me I wont be the one helping her transition. I keep hoping they will be able to read her signs and relay it to me. (I guess this part is a whole other post!).

Thanks, Danielle

[tylersmommy]

As you approach 1 yr, her total cow's milk intake for the day (including dairy foods) should be around 16-24 oz. If she's exclusively on cow's milk now, you might start getting her down to that amount. When they say that "milk" is supposed to be her mainstay until 1 yr, they're referring to formula or breastmilk, which both contain a lot more nutrients than cow's milk. It's commonly recommended to limit cow's milk intake to 16-24 oz because it's really filling and doesn't leave a lot of room for other foods. If she's eating a variety of other foods, you're on the right track!

[daniellechiasson]

Do you think I should be giving her a mulit-vitamin drop since she dropped the breast milk?

[tylersmommy]

IMHO, I don't think so, if the rest of her diet is balanced. The biggest concern up until around 18 mo is iron intake because it's so necessary for brain development. Since she's not into meat yet, iron fortified infant cereal or even adult cereal (like cheerios) can take care of that. If she isn't getting iron from cereal or other sources, then you might consider it.

[Lilah'sMommy]

The iron issue is another reason to limit cow's milk... cow's milk actually blocks iron absorption in the digestive system, which is why parents are told to hold off on it until 1 year.  I agree that you should make sure there's a good iron source in her diet, like infant cereal or Cheerios.

Children who are still getting breastmilk or formula don't generally need a vitamin supplement, but as you are starting on cow's milk a bit early, I might ask your pediatrician if you need to add one.

[daniellechiasson]

We are alternating from Weetabix & infant oatmeal in the mornings. She does get Cheerios as a snack & when I put her in the highchair while I'm making lunch/supper etc.

My preference was to keep her on the BFing but she had other plans and I had tons of trouble with pumping. At this point I am not sure if I could get her back on the breast for another 2 months, will have to check if my supply is totally gone or not.

I dont want to do anything to jeopordize her development though. If I do give her a supplement, will her body take what it needs and get rid of the rest or can she get too much?

Thanks, Danielle

[Lola]

I, too wouldn't think she would need a supplement. If she is eating well with a lot of variety, I don't think she would need that. M has now transitioned to 2 cows milk a day (at brekkie in cheerios) and lunch (in a sippy) -sometimes she doesn't finish the whole thing and I will give it to her at snack time with crackers. She is still 1 bottle of formula at night (we had to wean at 6months as I had to rtw).

You won't hurt her development ..I would check with your Paed on the supplement thing. Oversupplementing can't be good either imho. My doc says M doesn't need anything other than what I'm feeding her bc she will eat anything. i can't get infant cereal into her anymore tho

Egg yolk is a good source of protein too. HOw bout chicken broken up into really small bits? I know this will sound gross but I steamed her chicken at first to get her used to taste/texture. SHe's her father's daughter because she LOVES a good steak

At the point where your dd is Danielle, M wasn't using formula as her mainstay anymore, she was eating everything by then. But that's just me-I know that probably isn't right but we are doing well and growing like a weed   Don't worry so much..go with your lo's signs of what she wants and just give her loads of variety. Check with your doc about the vitamins.
Laura