07-2-2009 - feeding schedule

My mood while writing this blog: Ok

Dr. VanNorman's Feeding Schedule

FOOD

3 1/2 months:

breakfast: 1-2 T oatmeal cereal

lunch:

supper: 1-2 T oatmeal cereal

4 months:

breakfast: 1-2 tablespoons cereal mixed with juice or milk

lunch: 1/2 jar vegetable, 1/2 jar fruit (1st foods)

supper: 1/2 jar vegetable, 1/2 jar fruit (1st foods)

6 months:

breakfast: cereal mixed with fruit or milk

lunch: 1 jar vegetable, 1 jar fruit (2nd foods)

supper: 1 jar vegetable, 1 jar fruit (2nd foods)

9 months:

breakfast: cereal mixed with fruit or milk

lunch: 1 jar vegetable or meat, 1 jar fruit (3rd foods)

supper: 1 jar vegetable o rmeat, 1 jar fruit (3rd foods)

FORMULA

4 months: 32-36 oz/day

6 months: 22-28 oz/day

9 months: 18-24 oz/day

12 months: 12-18 oz/day

TIPS

* Begin with one food at a time for 2-3 days to monitor for a reaction, and then add new foods as tolerated.

* Some babies prefre a thicker consistency, so cereal can be added to the jar foods to make them thicker, and then cereal alone is not needed after breakfast.

* Juices can be introduced at four months. Begin with apple or white grape and only give up to 4 ounces per day intially.

* Fingerfoods like biter biscuits and vanilla wafers can be introduced around 9 months. They make a mess, but babies love them. Some soft tablefoods than can be finely mashed can also be introduced at this time.

* Remember that there is no right or wrong way to approach feeding an infant. The above information is only a guideline. Find what works for you and your baby.

*You may notice a decrease in the amount or number of bottles an infant takes once solid foods are introduced, and there may be a change in consistency or color of stools.

ADA JOY'S SCHEDULE:

We are working toward these guidelines, but at four months we were taking one teaspoon of cereal at night. At almost 4 1/2 months, we have increased the cereal to a full tablespoon at night. We hope to start with a tablespoon of cereal for breakfast, too, very soon. So, as you can see, she hasn't followed the chart to the T, but we are still using the guideline. She drinks between 32 and 36 ounces of formula per day. I'm just now beginning to try to space the time out. For instance, she drinks every three hours. I'm trying to back it down to 3 1/4 hours and so forth until we get down to 22-28 ounces, plus the food for six months. These are good guidelines, and though we don't follow it exactly, it gives me some idea of what is healthy for her, and as long as I'm pretty close to these guidelines, I feel comfortable.