Portion Sizes

[Juicyg]

Hi there,

I posted something on the weaning page yesterday about portion size.

I asked how much should a nearly 6 month old be eating. I measure my food in ice cubes as I prepare it all and freeze it this way.

Well I spoke to my hv and she said to give as much as he would like but for starters up it from 3 ice cubes to 4 ice cubes per meal.

So I did this today and out of curiosity I thought I would give him 5 ice cubes for dinner. He ate the lot! And asked for more!
So I gave him 2 ice cubes more and he ate it!

He had a portion of sweet potato,regular mashed potato,courgette,cauliflower and Swede. Then for dessert 2 portions of melon.

He is a big boy weighing in recently at 20lbs 15oz and measuring 71cm but I worry about over feeding him and him throwing it up again.
Is this possible??

 

[Noo]

I guess it depends how long he has been eating. I'll be starting with 1 ice cube only for a few weeks then build it up. Mainly though because I want him to remain taking a decent amount of breast milk.

 

[Juicyg]

He has had babyrice since about 18 weeks old. Proper food since about 5 months. I was doing 1 cube but then hv said to up it to 2. Then to up to 3. Now to 4! And to give him what he wants!
I worry that if I carried on feeding him he would just eat and eat and eat! Possibly then throwing up!

Lol x

 

[Nevaie]

I was told that before the age of 1, they can have as much as they'll eat only if it isn't causing a decrease in how much breastmilk/formula they take. If you notice a decrease, then you're supposed to cut back on food as most of their nutrition is still supposed to come from milk. After 1, it changes and they can start decreasing on milk, but not before. Other that that though, they can eat however much they want unless you're told otherwise for health reasons.

 

[Juicyg]

He still drinks his milk that's for sure. He is eating milk around 5-7 times a day too. I always give him his milk first then he has food around an hr after milk. He has even been waking at 11pm this past week for more milk which he had stopped doing, hence why the hv said to up his food.

I just worry he is gonna eat and eat and eat lol x

 

[LynseyPynsey]

LO definitely decreased his formula intake waay before one, he only has 2 bottles a day now instead of 5/6 at 6 months.

 

[sezzolou]

Sounds very similar to my lo at 6.5 months. He's like a little bird opening his mouth for more. Still drinking al of his milk also. He has been sick/possettes a few times after solids and milk but nothing out of the ordinary for him...it just stinks of sick now he's on solids, yuck! We are on porridge or weetabix for breakie, half a jar or 4 ice cubes of veg followed by same amount of fruit for lunch and tea. Today he may have had less for lunch as he had scrambled egg and toast which he eats bits of but drops alof of.

 

[Juicyg]

Sezzalou...it sounds like our boys are cut from very similar cloth lol! When you said about him opening his mouth like a little bird...that's what my lo does! He also makes a noise that tells me, mummy you aren't feeding me quick enough. Oh and he has his arms out straight at the sides too whilst waiting for his next mouthful!x

 

[sezzolou]

Sezzalou...it sounds like our boys are cut from very similar cloth lol! When you said about him opening his mouth like a little bird...that's what my lo does! He also makes a noise that tells me, mummy you aren't feeding me quick enough. Oh and he has his arms out straight at the sides too whilst waiting for his next mouthful!x

Haha, they do sound so similar 😊 my lo grunts between mouthfuls like I'm not going fast enough and when he's eating toast which he loves he makes grunting yum yum noises the whole time lol. I'm going to see if he will settle without a night feed at tonight's 1/2am waking as he's now on 3 meals a day and 30oz of formula in a day. I'm quite sure it's habit but he does drink a 7oz bottle if offer it in the night, I've been gradually reducing it this week as the night feed seems to be making him squirmy and isn't really settling him anymore. Think it's more a self settling issue now.

 

[catty]

Im a bit confused as I was told to decrease the milk he has when he starts solids, does noone else do this? He was having 8oz every 3 hours and now hes eating 2/3 meals iv managed to stretch it to every 4/4.5 hours.
I dont measure in terms of ice cubes, I buy little containers and freeze it in there so not sure on measurements, but he can have 3 quarters of a regular sized banana and then have something like a finger of toast to nibble on or a rusk.

 

[Rachel_C]

If you're being baby led about it (i.e. no trying to get him to finish a certain amount, I don't mean BLW) and you're not going over the top with praise, just feed him what he wants as long as he's happy and healthy. As you said, if he eats too much he'll probably throw it up anyway, then you'll know for next time.

If you're worried though, why not let him feed himself? I would imagine it is easier for a baby to over-eat when spoon fed, the same as it's easier for a bottle-fed baby to take too much milk. Feeding himself would slow down the food a bit at first, giving his body time to interpret the 'full' signals from his tummy, if he is getting full. There's no reason he would need to be fed (unless he has medical issues or a disability that would prevent it) and there's no reason you need to be worrying about how much he eats as long as he's okay. Look at the baby, not the food, and let him be your guide

 

[Rachel_C]

Im a bit confused as I was told to decrease the milk he has when he starts solids, does noone else do this? He was having 8oz every 3 hours and now hes eating 2/3 meals iv managed to stretch it to every 4/4.5 hours.
I dont measure in terms of ice cubes, I buy little containers and freeze it in there so not sure on measurements, but he can have 3 quarters of a regular sized banana and then have something like a finger of toast to nibble on or a rusk.

No, you shouldn't be decreasing his milk intake at all, especially at such a young age. Until a year old, milk should still be his main source of nutrition. Ideally, you shouldn't ever drop a feed or 'stretch it out', it should be HIM that drops a feed when his body is ready. Whoever gave you that advice doesn't know what they're talking about!

 

[sezzolou]

In the last couple of days my lo is taking a little less each bottle feed now by himself after a few weeks of weaning. Not much, has maybe dropped about 1 or 2oz per bottle, he was originally on approx 5 8oz bottles. I still make 7oz each time but he doesn't always finish it. I usually mix the rest with his food or put it in a sippy cup for after his meal.

 

[catty]

He was taking too much milk before though sometimes over 56oz a day! So thats why we were recommended to try and space the feeds out slightly by feeding meals inbetween. So now he has dropped a night feed and seems to be having milk every 4 hours rather than 3. I have been told this by health visitora and the doctor?
Maybe its different if he was having too much milk before though?

Edit- he wants to go 4 hours inbetween im not leaving him cryig for it or anything