Is 20oz per day too little formula for a 9 month old?

[sevenofnine]

My daughter is 9 months old. She was exclusively breasted for the first 6.5 months, and then we started adding solid food slowly in addition. Around 8 months, I slowly weaned her to having only night-time nursing, and she had bottles of formula during the day.

The whole family just got over a horrendous stomach flu, in which she basically night weaned herself from nursing, so we're just on bottles during the day now.

She was never a big eater, but I am wondering if 20oz per day is too little? She only has ever eaten 4oz at a time, and has 5 bottles a day currently. If I try to feed her more, she refuses.

She just had her nine month check up this past Wednesday, and is 15lb, 15.5oz (she lost a little bit of weight with her stomach flu, but the doctor isn't worried as otherwise she's in great health and well hydrated.) She is just about 27 inches tall. She has always been following her curve.

Should I be worried about the 20oz meeting her nutritional needs? She normally would also have 3 "meals" a day, but doesn't eat too much since she only self-feeds finger foods, and doesn't generally let me feed her anymore. (She hasn't had solids since Sunday because she was refusing them due to the flu, but we're going to try lunch after her nap today!)

Thanks!!

 

[Saphira]

That sounds great! My 9 month old also drinks around 20oz a day, some days less. She's always been a snacker and will only take 3 - 4oz on average per feed. As of last month she's 27in and 16lb so your lo's size. Some days she eats lots of food, other days is just interested in milk.

 

[GracieGoo]

My lg is 9.5 months old, but for the last few weeks she has dropped to 2x 9oz bottles per day. She does proper food 3 x per day as well. I wouldn't worry too much though, if she is following her line and dr isn't overly concerned it sounds like she is doing great. My lg was os 22lb, but she was born at nearly 10lb... so never been exactly small! lol

 

[ttcnewbie123]

My LO was having less than that at 9 monts but wa having three proper meals. He weighed about 20lbs at 9m x

 

[ruby09]

At 9 months old my son was also having about 20 oz a day plus 3 meals. It's natural for babies to gradually decrease their milk intake as they increase their food intake. It's their way of preparing for toddlerhood when most of their nutrition comes from solid foods. It's wonderful that she's following her curve, that's a sign of a healthy baby.

 

[aliss]

If she has always been following her curve as normal, I'd say roll with it. She's petite, so naturally, she will eat petite meals too. A tiny girl will eat less than a bigger one, no matter what age and babies are no different.

You know I giggle to see her at 15lbs and 9 months, because I was reading OH's baby book and he was the same (a little less actually). He's 240lbs now

 

[Beccaboop]

Yeah i was told that once they are on 3 meals a day the minimum they need is 21oz a day.

My 10 month old has 2x8oz and a 5oz bottle a day. He was having 8oz before bed but kept throwing it all up all over his floor so we cut it down to just 5oz so he gets 21oz a day as well as 3 meals a day.

 

[sevenofnine]

Thanks everyone!

I figured she was fine since that's all she wanted, but I just wanted to make sure it wasn't seriously low!

She is eating her lunch right now, her first "real" meal other than small snacks since she was sick. She has eaten 1/4 of an avocado, and a teeny bit of cheese, and some fruit. Needless to say, she's feeling MUCH better!

For such a petite girl, she can pack in a good amount of solid food!

 

[aliss]

Some babies are just bigger into food than milk anyways. My first hated solids. My second drinks less milk than yours. Both the same size, large babies, it's more of a preference really too. Personally I enjoy my boobs taking a break and like it this way instead!

 

[kristy87]

sounds great my LO is 8 months and eats solids well but most days will only have one 6oz bottle. shes never been very interested in milk. i dont worry because she is still thriving

 

[MindUtopia]

My daughter is 9 months and has about 21-24 oz a day, plus 3 meals and a snack. We do BLW so don't really know how much solid food she has, but she does eat well. But she's also a little bigger, probably about 18.5 pounds now (was 18 lbs 3 oz at 8 months). Really you just need to feed on demand and let her decide. She'll know when she's hungry. The only thing to think of is it's often recommended here to put babies on vitamin drops when they dip lower than 500ml a day (17 oz). So nothing to worry about yet, but if you want to do that, might be something to consider in a few months time once she drops a feed or so. Otherwise, I think that sounds pretty normal. My daughter was never a big eater either and I think it only seems like a small amount because some babies eat a lot and that seems to be all you hear about.