How much to feed 5 month old? (formula AND solid foods?)

I feel like my DS would just keep eating no matter how much I put in front of him, but he's in the 95th percentile for weight. I'm trying to balance satisfying my big boy's hunger, while not overfeeding him.

What do/did you feed your 5 month old?

Right now, we're feeding him four times a day, with solid food in the middle two feedings.

8am - 8oz formula only

11:30am -
1 1/2 T Barley or Oatmeal (mixed with about 1oz of formula)
1/2 to 1 container of Gerber Organic fruit or veggies (we're trying a lot of different foods right now and giving one thing for 3-4 days to make sure there's no reaction). I was just doing a half of a container, but he loved the carrots so much at his first feeding today, I let him eat the rest.
Remaining 7 oz formula (I feed this last and he gets upset when I stop to burp half way through, so I know he's still hungry.

3p - same as 11:30am

6:30pm - 9oz Formula only

I feel like I'm feeding him a LOT, but I don't think he'll be happy if I try to take anything away! What do you think/do?

Message edited 1/16/2012 10:29:29 PM.

Re: How much to feed 5 month old? (formula AND solid foods?)

My son is 5 months and I feed him the same amount of solids as you but I do it on the morning and at 6:30. In 2 weeks I am going to add a veggie at lunch and another jar of fruit of he wil eat it. This is what my ped told me to do. My baby isn't a big drinker, maybe 4 or 5 bOtttles that are 2 to 6 oz. at least 2 of the bottles are only 2 or 3 oz because he is not into drinking.

Re: How much to feed 5 month old? (formula AND solid foods?)

Re: How much to feed 5 month old? (formula AND solid foods?)

DS will be 5 mos on the 26th. He gets (5) 6 oz bottles (with oatmeal added to thicken - 13 tsp in the 30 oz total) and a fruit or veggie right before his 11:30 bottle. IDK how much fruit/veggie he gets - I make my own, so maybe its about 2 oz? He's prob about 17 lbs+ and 25.5"? I'll find out for sure Wednesday. So far his weight and head circ have been 75-80% with height only 50%. What's your DS's height %? If he's happy I'd keep doing what you're doing!

Re: How much to feed 5 month old? (formula AND solid foods?)

DS is 5 1/2 months old, and he's still on formula only as per his peditricians instruction. He eats about 30oz total a day. And his day is about 14 hours long

Re: How much to feed 5 month old? (formula AND solid foods?)

Posted by teaforthree

Posted by BeachGal

My son is 5 months and I feed him the same amount of solids as you but I do it on the morning and at 6:30. In 2 weeks I am going to add a veggie at lunch and another jar of fruit of he wil eat it. This is what my ped told me to do. My baby isn't a big drinker, maybe 4 or 5 bOtttles that are 2 to 6 oz. at least 2 of the bottles are only 2 or 3 oz because he is not into drinking.

So, in two weeks, your son will eat solid food at 3/4 meals? If it's okay. I just want to get this straight... in two weeks, your schedule will be:

Morning: cereal and fruit/veggie + formula
Lunch: Just veggie,fruit and formula? (no cereal?)
Mid-afternoon bottle? - Just formula?
6:30 - Cereal and fruit/veggie + formula?

I'm just so confused!
You give formula at the same time as the solid food meals, right? I see some people feed solids about an hour after the bottle, but then it seems he'll be eating/grazing all day!

Also, do you give a whole container of the "supported sitter" fruits/veggies right now at each solid food meal? Or just half?

And how much cereal do you give? I'm giving about 1 1/2 Tablespoons right now and usually mix it with the fruit/veggie because DS seems to like it better.

Thanks for your input!

Re: How much to feed 5 month old? (formula AND solid foods?)

We actually didn't start solids until 6 months (ped recommendation, although we did try a few times before then without success). This time, I won't be starting until 6 months. For DS, he was only on BM and formula then. Solids are really just practice for them, their primary nutrition should still be from breastmilk or formula.

Re: How much to feed 5 month old? (formula AND solid foods?)

DS is 5 1/2 months. He goes to ped for his 5 month visit on Monday... so this may change soon, but as of now, his schedule is:

6 a.m. 6 oz bottle

9 a.m. 7 oz bottle

10 a.m. 2 tbls cereal (oatmeal or rice... haven't tried barley yet) with 1/2 container fruit

12 p.m. or 1 p.m. 7 oz bottle

4 p.m. 7 oz bottle

6:30 p.m. 2 tbls cereal with 1/2 container veggie

7 p.m. 7 oz bottle (bedtime bottle)

This is a weekday daycare schedule. On weekends, he sleeps later so the 6 a.m. bottle is eliminated and we start the day aroun 7 or 8 a.m. instead. The times are all approximate... no strict schedule.

Now I feel like I'm giving him too many bottles.

Re: How much to feed 5 month old? (formula AND solid foods?)

This is helpful because I feel like I'm doing things wrong. My DS is 5 months old today and he weighs 15 lbs. 11 oz. and is 26" long. How are your babies in comparison to that? I'm just curious.

Anyway we do:
8:30 a.m.ish 6 oz bottle and 1 tbsp rice cereal mixed with formula

12 p.m.ish and 3 p.m.and 6 p.m. 6 oz bottle

9 p.m. 6 oz formula and 1 tbsp rice cereal

10:30ish bedtime