How Much, How Often?

Starting your baby on solids is an exciting journey for both you and your baby, but it is also a journey full of questions.  One of the main questions asked is, "How much solid food do I give my baby and how often?" 

When you first introduce your baby to solids, between 4 and 6 months, there is no need to worry about how much solid food your baby is eating.  Right now, the idea is to get him used to swallowing food from a spoon and excited about mealtime by feeding him a variety of yummy purees.

   

For that first meal, start with a teaspoon or two of a single grain baby cereal or a fruit or vegetable from the approved 4-6 month food list, like pear, banana, peas or sweet potato.  As your baby gets used to the idea of swallowing food from a spoon, you can introduce new foods and larger portions, before you know it, those teaspoons will turn into tablespoons and then into ounces!  In the beginning, it’s a good idea to demonstrate how to eat from a spoon so your baby can see what he is supposed to do.

Offer a solid meal once a day for about 2-4 weeks, then, if your baby is ready, you can bump it to 2 solid meals per day.  The rest of your baby’s feedings will remain the same, either breast milk or formula.  The size of the solid meal will depend on your baby.  He may only take a few bites or he may devour the whole thing and want more.

The first year, your baby’s primary source of nutrition is breast milk or formula so be sure to offer a bottle at mealtime (roughly 32 ozs of breast milk or formula daily at this stage).  However, don’t wait for her to finish the entire bottle before offering some puree, because she will be full.   Let her take a few sips and then offer the first bite.

Keep in mind that it’s not about “cleaning your plate” it’s about enjoying the new experience of eating food.  Follow your baby’s cues, he is finished when he turns his head away, starts spitting the food out or swats at the spoon.  Just like us, sometimes babies are really hungry and sometimes they aren’t.  Never try to force feed, mealtime is supposed to be an enjoyable experience and you don't want your baby to attach any negative feelings towards eating.  However, if your baby shows signs of a serious decrease in appetite, consult his pediatrician.

This is an exciting time - enjoy the journey!

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