The transition from milk/formula to solids

[hannamaren]

How do you get your child to eat more solids/decrease milk (formula)?

My baby (10mths next week) eats well with solids but not a lot. She enjoys picking things up and feeding herself. However, I feel like the amount hasnt increased and her formula isnt really decreasing. Over 1-2 mths, it has stayed the same.

So should I introduce more snacks?somehow get her to eat more?

She will shake her head "no" at the end of a meal even if I try to feed her or offer her something new that she loves (cheese) so I know she is done. But then 30-45 minutes later, she "asks" for the bottle. (it is usually close to sleep time). Should I try to give her more food then? If yes, should I put her back in the high chair or just give her some snacks?

Any tips to up the food and decrease the formula?
Will it change when I introduce cows milk?

[Deleted]

You wait. You don't really have to do anything. It's a natural progression that children do in their own time. Offer her good food 3-5 x a day and offer her however much formula she seems to need.

[curbsideprophet]

I agree, I would not push it, esp at 10 months.

[hannamaren]

Good to know. Thanks

[anna7602]

Aug 26, 2012 21:06:56 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

You wait. You don't really have to do anything. It's a natural progression that children do in their own time. Offer her good food 3-5 x a day and offer her however much formula she seems to need.

Ditto this. DD started letting me know when she wanted food instead of milk. It was closer to 13 or 14 months.

[karinothing]

Someone on our BMB posted these sample menus which I thought were helpful. Although obviously every kid is different. DS doesn't eat anywhere close to this much food even at the 8-12 month range (and I think 3 oz of meat is a lot for a little kid! I think these are from the AAP.

For 8-12 month olds it looks like this:

Breakfast: 1/2 c. cereal or mashed egg, 1/2 c. fruit, 4-6 oz bm/formula

Snack: 4-6 oz bm/formula, 1/4 c. diced cheese

Lunch: 1/2 c. yogurt or cottage cheese,1/2 c. veg, 4-6 oz bm/formula

Snack: 1 cracker or teething biscuit, 1/4 c. yogurt or fruit, water

Dinner:1/4 c protein, 1/2 c. veg, 1/4 c. noodle or rice, 1/4 c.fruit, 4-6 oz bm/formula

Bedtime: 6-8 oz bm/formula



At one year it changes:

Breakfast: 1/2 c. cereal or 1 egg, 1/2 c whole milk, 1/2 banana, 2-3 strawberries

Snack: 1 slice toast with cream cheese or yogurt with fruit, 1/2 c. whole milk

Lunch:1/2 sandwich with sliced turkey, 1/2 c. green veg, 1/2 c. whole milk

Snack: 1-2 oz cubed cheese, or 2-3 tbsp fruit with 1 c. milk

Dinner- 2-3 oz meat, 1/2 c. veg, 1/2 c. pasta/rice, 1/2 c. milk

[Deleted]

Those menus are like 3 x the food my son eats at 15 months. He is so not into food.

[ijack]

each kid has their own schedule - some kids like food and don't love milk as much, some kids love milk and don't love food, some kids love it all. She'll let you know what she wants, don't worry

[karinothing]

Aug 27, 2012 9:01:31 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Those menus are like 3 x the food my son eats at 15 months. He is so not into food.

I know right? That is what I was thinking. I mean my kid can eat like a small handful of cheerios. Maybe we should blame the AAP for obesity rates ha ha. I just looked at it more like how many times a day food should be offered vs how much.

[Deleted]

Wow those menus are alot. I thought DS was a big eater, but I guess not!

His day is like

Wake up 8-9 ozs formula
Breakfast 1/4 cup oatmeal ( made with 1/4 cup formula) a large Gerber Fruit 10-20 Cheerios
10:00 snack 3-4 ozs formula
Lunch Larger Gerber Vegetable, and Fruit in Mesh Feeder ( like 1/3 a peach or half a plum) 10-20 cheerios
3:00pm Snack 7 ozs formula
Dinner Beech Nut Meat, 1/2 container of coconut yogurt with 1/2 large gerber fruit, or 1 large Gerber Vegetable, and 1/2 large Gerber fruit 10-20 cheerios
Bedtime 2-5 ozs formula

He cut down from 30 -35 ozs of formula to 20 -25 right at 9 months when we introduced a third meal.

[mrshandy]

Aug 27, 2012 9:01:31 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Those menus are like 3 x the food my son eats at 15 months. He is so not into food.

Lol. I would say the same for my 2-year old. I swear the boy lives on air, milk, and yogurt.