Monday, August 17, 2009

NEEDING ADVICE!!!

I realize this is my second post for the day, but I just have to much to say today. I also am in need of some advice, and I know I can always count on the Blog World! After all, this is what it's for, right?

Since the day Gage was born, Michael and I have had him on an eating schedule that has worked GREAT! The only problem is, now we have started adding baby food and I'm not sure what is normal and what isn't. Until we started fruits and veggies, he was taking a bottle about every 5 hours with cereal to help with his Reflux. Now, he has started eating food, and we aren't positive on how to do his schedule. His Reflux has subsided now, so I want to take the cereal out of his bottle during the day time. Although, I don't want him to be on another 3 hour schedule...I don't think. This is where your help comes in!

For the past month, this is what we've been doing...
  • 7 ounce bottle w/cereal when he wakes up (between 5-7am)
  • 1 fruit and 1 veggie at noon (both stage 1 foods)
  • 7 ounce bottle w/cereal at around 3pm
  • 1 fruit and 1 veggie at around 6-7pm
  • 7 ounce bottle w/cereal at bedtime (usually around 9:30)

This may be the same as everyone else, but I just want to know for sure. I realize he may be eating more than some babies his age, but you have to remember...he's a big boy like his Daddy. He weighs about 23 pounds at 5 1/2 months!

Another question...I went to Harp's last week and they had 2nd foods on sale 3 for $1. I STOCKED UP! I am eager for his to start eating them, but most of them have meat in them. Our doctor sent a sheet home that says not to feed infants meat until they are 8 months old. But why? You know me, I'm not usually a stickler for the rules, but I don't know the reason for this one. If anyone knows, please inform me! Gage is "chomping at the bit" for some Chicken Noodle Dinner ;)

In the past couple days, Gage has really started to change. Before this week, he wouldn't even attempt to stand up. I'm pretty sure he was just simply being lazy, every time I see other kids his age do things that he doesn't do, I get paranoid. I guess maybe it is just a mom thing!

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7 comments:

Tiffany said...

He should be eating at least 24-36 ounces of formula per day to make sure he's getting enough fats for proper brain development. He's pretty close with his three 7oz bottles, but wouldn't hurt to take out the cereal and give him an extra bottle sometime during the day. The reason they say not to give meat so early is because it is very rough on the digestive system, and since he had reflux issues, its probably best to put off meats for a few months.

Leah said...

I always do Perri's solids right after she nurses, as to make a whole "meal" out of it, that way they aren't "snacking" throughout the day. That's what I learned from Babywise and works great for us but whatever works for you! Also, I wouldn't do meat for a while either, since they're digestive systems are still immature and certain foods would probably hurt him right now. He IS a big boy! Perri is only 16 lbs now and 9 months haha. But she is quite small for her age, but a good eater!

Kristi said...

Until a year old they say the most important is the formula, if you have to cut out a little of the babyfood to intake more formula that is the most important. Once you take out the cereal he may take an extra bottle but usually they don't act much more hungry since he is intaking babyfood too. There are lots of stage 2 babyfoods without the meat, I definetely wouldn't try the meat just yet. But really there isn't much difference in the stage 1 and stage 2 so if it doesn't have meat he could probably go ahead and eat stage 2 foods. BTW I can't believe how big he is getting. Yeah Gage, standing is fun!

Anonymous said...

Hey girl!! He is on a pretty good schedule! Lexi's schedule is like his almost!!

1ST bottle: 5 oz/w: 1/4 cup yogurt
2ND bottle: 5 oz/w: #2 veggie & meet or cheese (diced)
3RD bottle: 5 oz/w: #2 fruit with cereal
4TH bottle: 10 oz

She has been on that schedule for about a month now and she loves it!! She normally gets snacks in between if she wants then with some juice!! But always remember that its what he wants!! If he's hungry feed him!! Hope he does well!!

Kristen said...

We did the Baby Wise way when Jayci was little. Like Breakfast she would have food then formula right after, same for lunch, a mid afternoon snack (possibly after nap), dinner (same as breakfast), then a bottle before bed. This also helped us when transitioning her to actually eating food because she was used to the eating schedule. That is just what worked best for us! She stayed full and happy! Eventually as she got older we would drop one of the bottles. I can't remember which one. In all actualty she is still on this schedule at 3 years old. She drinks milk with breakfast lunch and dinner. And also has a morning and afternoon snack. Hmm...never really thought about that!

Cori said...

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Cori

Anonymous said...

Hi Anna, I don't really know you but Gaylen cuts my hair and I think we had babies right around the same time. Gibson was born 2/8 and I think Gage was born on my original due date 2/27??? Anyways, I stumbled across your blog and read it occasionally just to see if what Gibson is doing is "normal" for someone his age. He has had reflux issues too and takes Zantac for it 3x a day. I stopped putting cereal in his bottles when I started feeding him baby food (5 months) because I felt like he was eating so much and thought he wouldn't spit up as much if I cut back on how much he was getting so I eliminated the cereal in order to be able to feed him baby food. He still spits up but not nearly as much as he did. His schedule looks like this:

8:00 - 6 oz breastmilk bottle
9:00 - jar of fruit
12:00 - 6 oz bottle
1:00 - jar of veggie/fruit
4:00 - 6.5 oz bottle
6:00 - fruit and veggie (haven't started meats yet either but he is eating stage 2 foods)
8:00 - 6.5 oz bottle

He basically gets a bottle every 4 hours (for a total of about 25 oz.) and he gets a fruit for breakfast, fruit/veggie for lunch, and fruit and veggie for dinner. He is usually in bed between 8:30 and 9:30.

Gibson is a big boy too. But his weight has kind of leveled off now that he's not getting the extra calories from the cereal in his bottles. For a while he was gaining a pound per week. He was 7months old last week and he weighed 19 lbs. 10 oz.

Hope this helps!

Victoria