Routine for a 7 month old on formula and solids?

[Laura1983]

My son doesn't seem to be eating enough. How much does your baby drink and eat and what is your routine (if not a routine how does your day go)?
I feed him 4 bottles a day but he only drinks about half a bottle (120ml) every feed and will rarely eat his solids. How come my son never seems to be hungry?

[amberj]

Laura, if it helps, my baby is almost exactly the same.

He is much the same age, just turned 7 months. He has 5-6 bottles in a 24 hour period and will usually drink 100-150ml. Usually its like one feed he will have 100ml and the next 150ml. Sometimes he gets super hungry and eats 250ml. Despite being a big kid (he's 9kg now), he's just never eaten as much as "they" say he should. He's obviously healthy and putting on weight, so I try not to worry.

Now about solids, Peter is the same as well- he just doesn't seem to eat much! Its really like he could take it or leave it. If I forget or don't get time one day to feed him solids, it just doesn't seem to make any difference! I fret about that too. But then I try to figure he will eat when he's hungry and ready.

As far as schedule, what I TRY to do is feed him some fruit either around breakfast or morning tea time and then some dinner when we eat. So this usually means he gets up at 7am and has a bottle, and then I try to give him solids at about 8am or so. Or if I miss that, after his next nap and bottle. I try to leave like an hour between his bottle and giving him solids, but it still doesn't mean he's very hungry! He eats his fruit ok, but he hardly eats anything at dinner- like three spoonfuls maybe. Sigh.

Wish I could be more help, but at least be reassured you are not alone! Hopefully our little ones will eat more soon, but as long as they are happy I guess we just have to wait for their own schedule. Think how much it saves us in formula

[Sammiejane]

Hi Laura,

Regardless of whether your baby is breast or formula fed, the main source of nutrition needs to be coming from the milk... there is a saying 'food is fun until their one' and this really should be kept in mind.

Babies will rarely let themselves starve and so will take what they need.
A coupe of questions...
Is your baby putting on weight?
Does your baby have wet nappies (at least 6/day)
Does you baby act hungry, crying or irratable?
When did you start solids?

At this age your baby should still be not that interested in food, its more the learning experence of new tastes, textures, smells, feels and temperatures... when MJ was that age, there was very little consumption of food and a lot of playing.
We did Baby Led Solids and it was great as it stopped me worring about how much food she was having, as she controlled her intake.
Even now she has days that she eats very little and a week later she makes up for it.

I hope this helps

[Madham]

Hi Laura

Well my son is 7 and half months
He doesnt always stick to a routine but this is about on average what he has
7 am bf
8.30 half a weetbix & drink water
12 custard w banana or fruit
1.30 bf + 100ml formula
4.00 bf
5.30 vegetable (carrot, zuchini, pumpkin, sweet potato) & water

7.30 formula 200ml

This sometimes varys but on the morn that is what he would have. As you can see he was fully bf up unitl a few weeks ago but due to my supply i have to supplement with formula.
I hope this helps

[Laura1983]

Thank you so much for your reply. It has really reassured me. My is son is also 9kg and is a very happy and content baby, so i guess that is all that matters. Thanks