For the last month or so, Catherine has been taking 24-28oz of formula daily along with minimal solids (stage 2 puree and dry cereal or crackers). She's small but proportionate and always has been. Over the last few days, she's been cutting out one of her two 4oz night feeds but not eating more during the day. If anything, she's eating a little less in terms of solids, refusing dinner the last two nights.

dh says maybe she doesn't eat solids because she's too full of formula. But she isn't drinking THAT MUCH over the recommended amount of liquid for her age, which is 16-20oz. And with her, it's a "won't eat," not a "can't eat" issue. She also has her formula pretty much spread out evenly over the course of 24 hours; she's not sucking down big bottles and gorging herself.

dh wants to cut her back a little and see if she eats more solids. I, on the other hand, could care less if she drinks all her meals as long as her calorie intake is where it needs to be. Has anyone successfully cut back on formula to increase solids intake and keep total calories about the same? Keep in mind we're talking stage 2 fruits and veggies here. She won't eat table food at all in sustainable quantities.

do you offer food before liquids? is there a certain food she LOVES?











:-)

Solids and liquids are offered separately, hours apart. Solid food she loves? Ritz crackers. She will eat any plain fruit or veggie stage 2 puree. She isn't picky with regard to those.

honestly with solids and liquids offered hours apart I don't see how decreasing liquids is going to help her eat more solids.

Eliana on the other hand was getting 36-40oz and 2 tablespoons of food per day if any at all. I offer foods more often and liquids after. Can't even let her see liquids or she won't eat solids at all.








:hello2:

The feeding team recommended that I stop dream feeding Emma (I was offering a 6 oz. bottle before I went to bed) so she would consume more during the day. When Em was 8 months old, she would DRAIN that bottle. Around 10 months she would only drink 4 or 5 oz. Starting about a month ago, she would only drink 3 or 4 oz. That told me that she was not really hungry, and didn't need the dream feed, but I was so used to counting on those extra ounces. It make me feel better knowing she was getting something at night. Then I didn't stress about her limited intake during the day. :oops: I was doing the dreamfeeds for Emma's weight, and partly for my own conscience. (sp?)

Since cutting out the nightfeed, Emma has gone from 28-32 oz. down to 22-24 oz. per day.

Her recommended solid intake is supposed to be 3 servings of veggies, 2 fruits, 4 grains, 3 dairy, and 2 protein per day. Her formula (dairy servings) are always met, and the dietician said to offer proteins last b/c her formula is already covering that as well. So, basicallly the goal is to get in 4 servings of grain, 3 vegies, and 2 fruits per day. Seems reasonable, right?

She never makes it. :( To get all of that would be having to eat (for example)

2 Ritz crackers
1/2 slice bread
1/4 cup pasta
1/4 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup diced green beans
1/4 cup broccoli
1/4 cup sweet potato
2 T applesauce
1/4 cup melon
2 T diced chicken (offered)
2 T beans (offered)

I know that doesn't seem like a lot to many, but if you actually measure that amount out, it's a lot for her to eat (even split up between breakfast, lunch, dinner, and three snacks).

But, Emma is growing. I can see it. I weighed her yesterday (on our dinky scale) and it said 21 pounds. She was 20 lbs. 12 oz. at her 1 year checkup so I know she isn't losing.

Emma, too, doesn't drink a lot at one sitting. She is averaging 22-24 oz. per day, which is high according to our ped, but okay according to the dietician.

I'm with you, though. As long as the calories are being met, I think anyway they get them is fine. As long as Catherine knows how to take food off a spoon and feed herself (finger foods) and you practice that everyday, then I would wait and see.

I feel like I just rambled....sorry.

Did I even answer your question? :doh:

Eliana's solid intake has increase but she was getting way too much liquids before last week when GI said to decrease. of course she is really into eating off my plate now even things she didn't have interest in before. and FORGET the spoon she HATES it. if you try the spoon she might stop eating solids at that point and just want her milk.









:hello2:

2 Ritz crackers[/SIZE]
1/2 slice bread
1/4 cup pasta
1/4 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup diced green beans
1/4 cup broccoli
1/4 cup sweet potato
2 T applesauce
1/4 cup melon
2 T diced chicken (offered)
2 T beans (offered)

That's for ONE day???? Any 3 of those items would be all Catherine would eat in an entire day. Probably not even that much.

Catherine sometimes doesn't really want her 11:00pm bottle either (4oz) but I cram it into her. Without that, she'd be down to 20oz a day, which without making up the calories and nutrients elsewhere, is not enough. (In my Google U med school opinion.)

Amanda... if I go by the list of foods you've given, I'd say that Lauren doesn't even meet that, and I consider her a decent eater. She drinks a ton though, right now she gets 24 oz. of milk/Neocate plus another, I bet, 16-20 oz. of water/juice. She pees constantly and fills a diaper w/in 2 hrs. Then I get to thinking about diabetes... excessive thirst and frequent urination are two "symptoms" of type 1 diabetes. DH says she pees alot b/c she drinks alot. I'm still gonna mention it to the ped.

Anyways, sorry to ramble. I too agree Lesley, let her get the calories she needs anyway she can.

That's for ONE day???? Any 3 of those items would be all Catherine would eat in an entire day. Probably not even that much.

Catherine sometimes doesn't really want her 11:00pm bottle either (4oz) but I cram it into her. Without that, she'd be down to 20oz a day, which without making up the calories and nutrients elsewhere, is not enough. (In my Google U med school opinion.)

Yep, that's one day (and that's the low end...there can actually be 2 more servings of grains and 2 more veggies, if the kid eats it). :tongue9:

Emma only eats a little of that, if we're lucky.

I agree with you, Sandy. That seems like so much. Emma's not eating hardly any of that and still growing.

I'd like to meet a one year old that can actually eat all that!

Any takers? :smt047

She drinks a ton though, right now she gets 24 oz. of milk/Neocate plus another, I bet, 16-20 oz. of water/juice.

Hmmmm ... Catherine drinks nothing other than formula. I've never given her anything else. Didn't want to fill her up!

I bet you Zac man could....LOL!! He's a big eater.. right Sara?

Thank you, Lesley and Sandy, for saying that's a lot of food for one day. The dietician made it sound like ALL 1 year olds can eat that, plus drink 16-20 oz. of milk. She made me feel awful. :(

I don't feel so bad, now.

Thanks. :hug:

(sorry to hijack, Lesley)

Lauren might eat that in 3 days... maybe.

You know, I've quit worrying... well, for the most part. As long as they gain weight...

I think that sounds like a ton of food for a 2.5 year old, too. The most D ever has in his stomach is six ounces of formula. That (I mean, the list) is about two cups worth of food -- and then there's milk on top of all that!

Wow thats a LOT more food than my nutritionist said is needed for a one year old...are you sure thats not for a week? :wink: ALexys is a pig , and she doesnt eat that much either.

Um...that's a lot of food, Amanda. Cady's a huge baby, but has never eaten that much in one day. I think if I measure all of her food in one day, I think a total of 1 - 1.25 cups of food, including everything. She drinks 24 ozs. of rice milk and doesn't even remotely come close to everything there and I certainly won't try to get her to eat that much. She'd explode. She grows perfectly fine on what she does eat and her rice milk.

Thank goodness all of you replied! I thought I was doing something wrong b/c Emma doesn't even eat a third of that....

Whew....thanks! :hello2:

Lesley, our Ped GI told us to cut out the night feeds completely and I have cut out 1 but have felt unable to cut out both. I don't feel confident that she would compensate.

Amanda, Aaron my ds at the age of one took 16oz of milk this was what I was recomended to give him. Also he didn't take anywhere near that amount of food maybe in three days! But he always gained weight just fine. I think these recomendations seem like a lot.