can't get him to eat enough!

[BabyUrq]

I've been trying bite sized food for him because he never liked purees due to texture....he likes the taste of things cause he always goes back for another bite....BUT i can't get him to eat anymore than a few bites....2, 3, 4, MAYBE 5 bites....i can't imagine he is full after just a few of the small bites he gets...yogurt, ice-cream, and soups he'll lots of....i've done tomato soup and cream of mushroom and loves those and will eat a full bowl....
I need help...i don't know what to do! He's got top teeth now and he bites now and those things r sharp! If he was eating enough i could easily be down to just morning feeds...
Any suggestions as to why or how to fisx this??

 

[coopfairy]

Hi how old is your son?

 

[BabyUrq]

He's 8 months

 

[staralfur]

My LO had literally just started swallowing food at 8 months and wasn't eating much of anything. Milk is supposed to be their main source of nutrition until they're 1, so if he's still having lots of milk feeds I would just assume he's satisfied with mostly milk and smaller bits of food.

 

[chezababy]

He's still really young when it comes to food. My 10 month old doesn't even eat as much as he is so I think he's doing really well. Keep offering the food and he'll gradually eat more. Remember food before 1 is just for fun. His main nutrition should come from his milk whether that's formula or breast so you really don't want to be dropping milk feeds by much. Over time he'll start to drop the milk feeds as he's able to eat more solids.

 

[BabyUrq]

Lots of ppl ween off boob and bottle at this time...i've never planned on breastfeeding for a year and still don't...he's showing signs its time to be off...its become more of soother than for food at some points of the day...other points he couldn't care less...i've been able to do a couple days with no lunch or afternoon feeds where he ate soup and ricecrackers for lunch and snack

 

[staralfur]

If you don't want to breastfeed then you need to be offering formula. A baby that age still needs to be getting a substantial amount of their calories from milk.

 

[BabyUrq]

Dont get me wrong i've enjoyed brestfeeding...but it is time to ween him off...i'm basing this on my baby's behaviour with the breast, his sleeping, and many other things...i know i'm not the only person out there who weens off breast and formula around this age...every baby and parent is different....
Is there anyone one with tips for weening independant of the age??

 

[zorak]

Have you spoken to a health professional about removing breast and not offering formula? The reasons one or the other is required is that baby's nutritional needs are so complex and they simply won't get this from food, as, like you are currently experiencing - they don't eat enough! Also, their is a serious risk of dehydration as they don't drink enough other liquids. Please talk to someone about this - just because others do it doesn't mean it is the smart thing to do.

Is their a reason you won't offer formula even in a sippy cu[? Is it the cost that puts you off?

 

[staralfur]

Sure, every baby and parent is different, but the basic nutritional needs of an infant are pretty universal.

If you're really set on not even offering formula for whatever reason, then like zorak said, please speak to a doctor first. Seems like a risky idea, objectively.

 

[weejenb]

Yes, we all parent differently. People you know may have weaned off milk at right months but that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do, or that there wouldn't be any consequences from doing it.

Food before one IS just for fun, milk has to be their main source of nutrition for the first year so that they get their nutritional needs. My son is 13 months and eats three meals and two snacks a day, he still gets three 8oz bottles of cows milk too. I'm delighted he still takes his milk as I can see the goodness that it gives him.

If you want to stop breast feeding, try introducing formula. But please don't eliminate milk altogether at eight months. There is far more calories and nutrition in milk or formula than there is in food, it's what babies need.

Anecdotal evidence of: 'my friend did it and her LO is fine' isn't real evidence that it's ok to do so. If you think he's ready to come off the breast, give him formula.

If you're still unsure, speak to your GP or HV, they'll set you right.

 

[Pielette]

As pp have said he needs breastmilk or formula until he's 1 at least. Milk is packed with many more calories than solid food and it's full of all the nutrients they need to grow in that first year. One year of it is essential and after that cows milk is recommended if you're not going to breastfeed or give formula.

If you're set on this I'd at least suggest talking to a doctor about it.

My almost 8 month old doesn't eat a great deal solids wise either, we've done baby led weaning and he eats a few bites at each meal I'd say. But he's enjoying learning to eat and the different tastes and textures and at this stage that's what really matters, not their solid intake.

 

[HKateH]

I'm not convinced weaning him off breast milk and onto ice cream or cream of tomato soup is nutritionally what a baby needs at eight months. As PP have said, offering as much formula as he wants will provide him with all his fats and vitamins so that you don't have to worry too much about him only eating a few bites of food.

FWIW my LO is ten months (today) and only in the past month has he started eating enough food to really be getting nutritional benefits from food alone. He still has two bottles (often three) a day though.