Is this too much food for my four month old?

Question

I know that some people are going to criticize the way I feed my son so mostly I am asking how much do you feed your child compared to mine.

My four month old son eats a half a jar of baby food mixed with a little cereal plus about 6 oz of formula for breakfast. Next feeding he has 8 oz of formula only. Next feeding he has one whole jar of baby food and around 4 oz of milk then his last feeding he has around 6-8 oz of formula.

What do you think?

Answer 1

I think the amount of solids is fine if he eats it and enjoys it.  You may want to add an extra feeding of formula only (4 oz. or so), or you may want to decrease the whole jar feeding and add 2 more oz. of formula instead.  At 4 months old, his nutrients should be coming from his milk.  The solids are for fun.  :)

Answer 2

I think it sounds just fine. Your baby would be the one to let you know that it is too much. What is good for 1 person's baby is probably not what works for the next baby- and even pediatricians give different recommendations for solids.. these people criticizing you need to get over themselves.  

Answer 3

I think your feeding him too early... and too much.  He needs a bottle more often throughout the day.

Answer 4

At 4 months of age, any food is too much.  But, at 6 months, when I start solids with mine, they eat less than half of what you're describing.  At 4 months, baby's need breastmilk or a substitute of formula.  Even at 6-8 months, they need mostly breastmilk or formula and solids are more for play and experience, not for nutritional value.  I'd say cut out solids until 6 months, and then start slowly with 1/2 jar.

Answer 5

Age: Birth to 4 months

Feeding behavior

• Rooting reflex helps your baby turn toward a nipple to find nourishment  

What to feed

• Breast milk or formula ONLY  How much per day

• See How to Tell if Your Baby's Getting Enough Breast Milk

• See How to Tell How Much Formula Your Baby Needs  

Feeding tip

• Your baby's digestive tract is still developing, which is why solid food is off limits for now.  

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Age: 4 to 6 months

Signs of readiness for solid food

Your baby probably won't do all these things — they're just clues to watch for.

• Can hold head up

• Sits well in highchair

• Makes chewing motions

• Shows significant weight gain (birth weight has doubled)

• Shows interest in food

• Can close mouth around a spoon

• Can move food from front to back of mouth

• Can move tongue back and forth, but is losing tendency to push food out with tongue

• Seems hungry after 8 to 10 feedings of breast milk or 40 oz. of formula in a day

• Is teething  

What to feed

• Breast milk or formula, PLUS

• Semi-liquid iron-fortified rice cereal, THEN

• Other grain cereals like oats or barley  How much per day

• Begin with about 1 teaspoon dry rice cereal mixed with 4 to 5 teaspoons breast milk or formula (it'll be very runny).

• Gradually thicken consistency and increase to 1 tablespoon dry cereal mixed with breast milk or formula, twice a day.  

Feeding tips

• If your baby won't eat the cereal on the first try, offer it again in a few days.

• Get more detailed tips on how to introduce solids.  

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Age: 6 to 8 months  

Signs of readiness for solid food

• Same as 4 to 6 months  

What to feed

• Breast milk or formula, PLUS

• Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, oats)

• Pureed or strained fruits (banana, pears, applesauce, peaches)

• Pureed or strained vegetables (avocado, well-cooked carrots, squash, and sweet potato)  How much per day

• 3 to 9 tablespoons cereal, in 2 to 3 feedings

• 1 teaspoon fruit, gradually increased to ¼ to ½ cup in 2 to 3 feedings

• 1 teaspoon vegetables, gradually increased to ¼ to ½ cup in 2 to 3 feedings  

Feeding tips

• Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic.

• Get more detailed tips on how to introduce solids.  

Answer 6

Well, at 4 months ANY amount of solid food is usually not a good idea.  And since his formula intake (24-26 ounces) is already on the low end, I would be more apt to stop the solids and offer more formula if baby is hungry.

If you must offer solids, I would give a full 8 ounce bottle at every feeding, (32 ounces is a sensible amount of formula for a typical 4 month old)  and then offer a bit of solids afterwards, and let him take what he wants.  

Answer 7

Sounds almost exactly like the schedule I had my children on at that age.  Really, I think if he is doing well with the amount of food and schedule you are on then that is all that matters.  

Answer 8

My son is four months old also...he eats as follows

Wake up (7-8 am) -6 oz bottle...usually only takes 5

3 hours later- tablespoon of veggie, tablespoon fruit, 6oz bottle (about 11is)

3hours later-6oz bottle (about 2is)

3hours later-6ozbottle(about 5ish)

3 hours later-6oz bottle (1/2 tsp cereal mixed with fruit)

Works for me and my son who is 17 pounds

and before the solid food he was consuming over 40 oz a day.

I think I may have worded this wrong...he always eats the bottle first, as this is where the nutrients come from, and if he is still interested in eating, he eats the tiny bit of solids.

Answer 9

I guess every child is different, and we didn't start feeding solids until around 6 months, but that sounds like a little too much.  You may want to try to take it down to half jar twice a day (so just 1 jar of baby food instead of 1 1/2 jars + cereal) and see how that goes.  Good luck.

Answer 10

I'd skip the jar at breakfast.  I'd give him a few spoons of cereal mixed with formula (about 2oz) and the rest of the formula (4oz)before or after that cereal breakfast.  I'd also introduce another feed midmorning after that and before lunch.  And again between lunch and dinner.

Every baby is different but on average babies needs something like:

3 month 30-34 ozs

4 month 35-38 ozs

5 month 39-42 ozs

Or, 2.5oz's per lb baby weighs.  

BUT these are figures for babies who are not on solids.  The reason they don't encourage solids is because the kidneys don't fully develop until 6 months so it's putting a strain on them to function in a way that can digest baby foods.  Obviously if you want to keep him on solids you need to lower the amount of milk, but, you need to determine roughly how much you think that should be reduced by - depending on the size of the meals you're giving him.  And as said, too much can be bad for his development just yet, and none would be preferrable for at least another month.  

24oz's, which you're currently on, is the bare minimum for a 6month - 1 year who has 3 meals a day.  So no matter how you look at it, he's short milk right now.  

At 4 months you should also be offering 5-6 feeds a day.  I know he takes a good 8oz's but it sounds like your son has to go a long time without anything in between and even I would be thirsty as an adult going without something to drink for a few hours.  Just something to consider - sorry if it sounds blunt but hopefully not cutting.  Best wishes.

Answer 11

My5 month old starts his day at 8am. at which point I give him a 6 oz bottle. Then at 10:30 half jar of baby food and 5 1/2 bottle.  At 12:30-1:00 he gets another 6 oz. bottle. Around 3:00 he gets a 6 oz bottle. at 5:00 he gets a 6 oz. bottle and cereal mixed wth 1/2 oz. formula OR a half jar of baby food.. Then his last feeding before he goes to bed at 8:00 is a 6 oz bottle.  He wakes up at 3:30 am-4 am and gets a 6 oz. bottle.

My doc told me no more than 6 oz. in a bottle for a 6 month old. An 8 oz. bottle for a 4 month old is too much for his little stomach. Does he spit up a lot? If so, cut down on the food. And you are offering too much solids for his age. Cut down on it a bit liie one jar of yellow veggies a day and any other solids should be cereal mixed with formula because they need that milk and vitamins.

Answer 12

he needs more formula and no food (so yes too much food).  the formula has nutrients that your baby needs to grow properly.