Cereal feedings? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

PrittyGreenEyez · 09-27-2005, 12:32 PM

Hi ladies, I have a question. My son has started on his cereal to which I find so much fun! I get excited at the thought of just feeding him. Well, I have a bit of a dilema. You see, on the box of his cereal it explains that a full serving of his cereal is 5 tablespoons. My son is CERTAINLY not full with that. After he has that he drinks a 6 oz bottle. Correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't the cereal supposed to fill him up a bit more to where he drinks less of bottle perhaps? Or should I just increase his cereal feedings to maybe 6 or 7 tablespoons? His pediatrician isn't much help as they told me to feed him whatever he'll eat. So basically i have no idea what he eats. I dont' want to feed him too much to where he eventually throws it up. By the way he will be 5 months old on the first of Oct....how much did your kido's eat at this age? And how many times do you feed them during the day? My fiances mother said 3 times a day for basically breakfast lunch and dinner and if need be just a bottle in between. I can't belive how lost I am. I'm such a confused mom Thanks a bunch!

awm · 09-27-2005, 12:54 PM

Well, doctors differ on this subject. My doctor had me start him on cereal once a day at 4 months (at night to help him sleep) and then at 6 months he started the 1st foods 3 times a day. I never even measure his cereal I just pour some in a bowl and add water to the consistency he likes. One thing I can tell you is, at least for my child, he won't stop eating because he is full. My son cries when the food is gone no matter how much I give him. Good Luck!

BabyLuv · 09-27-2005, 01:08 PM

Prittygreeneyez, you're not the only one that is lost in the area of baby raising. The sad fact is they don't come with "owner's" manauls, and they shouldn't because these little ones aren't an appliance. I still wish there was some sort of pamphlet or something, seriously it would make it incredibly easier.

Since you're not sure how much you should be feeding your baby right now,we will focus on that for now. Ok, when you are feeding your baby make sure he is comfortably seated so eating is more enjoyable and less strenuous for him. I always prefer to put my little one in a high chair, it was a great addition for night or day time feedings. Some mother'sprefernce would be to feed the baby in the car seat. Anything, that puts you at eye level with your baby is the route to go.

Next, make sure the baby is awake, attentive, and is interested in the food he has in front of him. Just as adults baby can be picky,so that is perfectly natural. Oh,and get those bibs out!!

So, you're feeding baby his cerealhe seems to really enjoy it and he is all smiles. Finally,he starts playing with the dribbles of cereal that plopped onto his high chair,and he is so full of wonderment of how it feels squishing through his pudgy fingers.

So, you're sitting there putting the spoon in front of his mouth, while he is giggling about the fist full of cereal he just threw at the wall. You're thinking in your mind, ok he only ate about three spoonfulls, he can't be full there is no way.

In actuality, he is full, so its time for clean up. He gave several clues that he didn't want to eat anymore cereal. For one, he paid less attention to the spoonful of cereal. Also, he became more interested in playing with his meal rather than eating. So, really there is no certain amount of cereal he should be eating at any of his meals.

I would advise playing it by ear, and be observant of the signals he is giving you so that in the future you will know that he is full. Formula is the best source of vitamins and minerals for the first year of life, so its probably best in the long run tomake sure he finishes his formula, rather than any food you give him.

I hope I was ableto help!!!

Altson · 09-27-2005, 02:19 PM

Babyluv is right, your little honey will give you signs they are full, they lose interest, don't open their mouths as wide, start to play, etc. Gagging is always a good indicator also. Anyone's tummy is about as big as their fist, so you can gauge from that too.

If it's any help, my 6 month old daughter currently eats 1 size 3 jar of fruit with a little baby oatmeal stirred in to thicken in the morning. 1 1/2 jars size 2 veggies or whatever for lunch and 2 size 2 or 1 size 3 jar for dinner (no cereal mixed in with lunch or dinner) 4 oz of prune or apple juice is offered for lunch also because she tends to be a little bit constipated. After about an hour ever time she eats, she is ready for a bottle of formula, and she takes a full 8 ounces. She goes to bed about 8 every night and gets up around 4 for a full 8 ounce bottle.

Every baby is different though and they all go through growth spurts too where it seems as if they are ALWAYS hungry.

Have fun! I love the feeding part, it's a great time to be with a baby!