How Much Should A 6 Month Old Eat?
How much should a 6 month old eat when she is on formula? Also, I’ve heard that this is an ideal time to start my baby on solids. Can you tell me what foods are safe to give her and how much of this food she can eat?
You have heard correctly that six months is the best time to start your baby on solids. In some cases you may read that you can start your baby on solids around four months, but this is generally recommended against by such reputable organizations as the World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics. This is because babies under six months of age have immature digestive systems that can have trouble processing solids. This of course can lead to complications such as constipation and diarrhea, among other things.
However, once your baby is around six months old, his digestive system will be able to handle solids much more easily.
How Much Formula For A 6 Month Old?
Even though your baby is going to be starting on solids around this time, you want to ensure that he is still getting the required amount of formula each day. This is because he will not be getting the required nutrients from the solids alone, especially when you consider that there will only be a minimal amount offered to him in the beginning.
The general rule that you want to follow when determining how much formula to give your baby is to multiply 2.5 times your baby’s body weight. This means that a baby, who weighs 18 pounds, will need 45 ounces of formula each day.
Remember, your baby’s stomach has grown considerably since birth, so at this age he can easily drink 8 ounces of formula or more in a bottle, which means less feedings throughout the day. Some babies may typically feed four times a day at this stage, while others may need to feed more often.
Introducing Solids To Your Baby
When you first introduce solids to your baby, it should be a slow and gradual process. You will want to introduce the solids that you have decided upon, after you have given your baby his formula. Remember, the formula should always take precedence over the solids, as it is essential for your baby’s health.
You also want to ensure that your baby is ready to eat solids on his own. Some signs may include:
- he mimics eating when watching you have a meal
- he can sit up and fully support his neck
- he is no longer reflexively pushing food out of his mouth with his tongue
The first food that many parents give to a baby is usually iron fortified rice cereal. You will want to offer this to your baby with a small spoon, and be prepared for it to be rejected, or spit out as he tries to chew it. Again this is a slow process and it may take you a few days or even a couple of weeks for your baby to get the hang of things.
When your baby learns how to eat the cereal, you can then move on to other foods such as vegetables and fruits.
Safe fruits include:
- pears
- peaches
- avocado
- apples
- bananas
- apricots
Save vegetables include:
- squash
- peas
- sweet potatoes
- carrots
- green beans
You can also try feeding your baby a little bit of chicken or turkey, if he takes to it.
It is important that you introduce new foods to your baby slowly, preferably every three or four days. This will give your baby time to adapt to the taste and texture of the food, and also help you to identify if it is a food that your baby is potentially allergic to. If your baby does not take to a food immediately, do not try to force it on him. Try to introduce a new food and come back to the rejected food again in a couple of weeks.
Related posts: