Feeding FAQ: 6-9 months – Weaning/Solids

My 6mth daughter weighs 18lbs, is generally a very happy baby and has always slept well during the night. I am concerned about the amount of solids/formula she is having, as I have been advised to keep an eye on her weight.  I would like to know the average amounts of solid food she should take for her age.

My 6mth daughter weighs 18lbs, is generally a very happy baby and has always slept well during the night. I am concerned about the amount of solids/formula she is having, as I have been advised to keep an eye on her weight.   Her weight has increased quite a bit over the past few months since I stopped breastfeeding at 6 weeks and switched to formula. It has gone from dipping below average centile range to now hitting 86th centile range. She always seems as if she wants more milk or solids than I give her although she does not cry for it. At present she is taking Hipp 1st stage formula milk, which I am intend to change to 2nd stage.

Feeding details

7.30am – 5-7ozs formula, followed by 3 cubes fruit and 1tsp baby rice
11.00am – 4-6ozs formula, followed by 2 cubes of sweet potatoes with 2 cubes of peas or 2 cubes of carrot and 2 cubes of parsnips
2.30/3pm – 6ozs formula
5pm – 2 cubes of potato and 2 cubes of broccoli, 2ozs water
6.30pm – 7ozs formula

Daily Milk intake – 23-26ozs

At the age of six months a baby needs between 500-600ml (18-20oz) of milk a day, inclusive of milk used in cereal and cooking.  At this stage the total intake should ideally be divided between three feeds a day. By six months your baby will have used up most of the stores of iron with which she was born.  It is important, therefore, that her diet provides the right amount of iron for her needs. During the process of weaning you should ensure that she has a varied and balanced diet, including animal protein, beans and pulses, and other iron rich foods such as leafy green vegetables and fortified breakfast cereal.

The 2nd stage or “Follow on” formula that you mention contains higher levels of protein, calories and some vitamins than the 1st stage formula.  Provided your daughter is taking the minimum amount of milk and eating a varied and healthy diet, there should be no reason for her to move onto 2nd stage formula milk.  Some mothers have told us that giving these milks to their babies has resulted in them cutting back on the amount of solid food they take, which causes problems establishing a routine of three good solid meals a day. If you have any concerns about which milk would be most appropriate for your daughter we would advise you discuss it with your doctor or health visitor.

Since your baby is over six months it is essential that you progress with her weaning quite rapidly now, so that she increases the amounts of solids she is taking.  While all babies are different in the amount they eat, we have found that, on average, a baby of six months would be taking approximately 6 cubes of pureed vegetables before protein was introduced. We suspect that one of the reasons that your baby is getting fretful is that, at 11am, she is not getting quite enough solids and too much milk, which is not fully satisfying her appetite. We would advise that you start to use the “tier method” of feeding to decrease the amount of milk that your baby is taking at 11am.  This is described in both the CLB and CLBW books. In order to ensure that she increases the amounts of solids to the amount recommended in the book, you may have to work through the stages more quickly than recommended.  Until protein is introduced at lunchtime continue to give your daughter breakfast cereal and vegetables which contain iron.

We would also recommend that, over the next couple of weeks, you increase the amount of solids that your baby is taking at 5pm and, on alternate days, include with her vegetables some baby rice that is fortified with iron. To help you structure your daughter’s diet, and introduce new foods, look at the CLBW which has many recipes as well as guidelines to follow. The Baby and Toddler Cook Book also has a wide variety of different recipes. Each of the recipes contains the right balance of protein, carbohydrates and vegetables to ensure that your baby’s meal contains all the right nutrients.

Keeping an eye on your daughter’s weight is sensible if she seems to be gaining too fast, but you also need to take into account how mobile she is. If she is not yet moving around very much she will be using up less energy than a baby who rolls around the floor and is making attempts to sit up or get up onto their knees in preparation for crawling. Give her plenty of floor time and encourage her to roll from side to side if she is not already trying to do this. Providing her with a varied well-balanced diet and allowing her plenty of opportunity to move around means you should not need to worry about her becoming overweight.