🍑When should I worry about how much my baby is eating?

🤯How much should my baby eat?

This is a question I get asked aaaaaall the time in clinic. It’s impossible to give an answer which suits all babies individual needs. But understandably people need something to gauge what they should and shouldn’t be doing and ensure they are on some sort of track!!

So here’s what I usually say:

🆕In the beginning you are expecting baby to get more food on themselves and the floor than in thier mouth. They are learning a new skill and they aren’t going to master it on day one! Start by allowing baby to just play with the food and explore with thier fingers and mouths to begin with. Milk will continue to be the main source of nutrition.

⚡️Around 6 months: first foods! Tastes and food exploration only! Milk is the main source of nutrition!!

⚡️By 7-9 months:

Depending on how YOUR baby progresses, you might build up from 1 to 3 tastes per day (or even small main meals if your baby is eating lots!). Milk feeds generally continue to be the main source of nutrition!

⚡️9-12 months:

It’s usually around this time that something CLICKS and babies solid intake tends to pick up, and you see them eating more of what you put in front of them! Babies have usually developed the pincer grasp which means they can pick up and manage smaller pieces of food!

Between 9-12 months you will likely be progressing towards a normal family style meal pattern - like 3 small adapted family meals per day!

That said- all babies are different and will progress in their own time, so don’t panic if they aren’t fitting in with where you think they should be! It can take time.

If you are worried please book in to see me in my virtual clinic and we can have a chat and see where your baby is at and put a plan together to optimise nutritional intake and growth!