How much does your baby eat?

[heartonsleeve]

I'm looking for a little bit of reassurance - I think I'm worrying too much about how much our DS does/doesn't eat.

He is a 27 weeker, now very almost one (!), so 9 months corrected. He was exclusively breast-fed up to six months, then had Similac High Energy formula prescribed as a breast milk supplement as his weight gain wasn't great. We started weaning at 5 months, and he took to food like it was out of fashion. Once he got up to three puree meals a day, he was still troughing away, and this continued up until about end of May.

However, he then started to refuse the spoon, and we started him on a more BLW approach. And it's from here that I've got a bit concerned about his weight gain.

A typical day looks like this; four breast feeds over 24 hours plus three quarters of a Weetabix for breakfast (with Similac), Similac feed mid-morning (about 100ml - the rest of the breakfast bottle), not much for lunch (today he ate one Yorkshire pudding), then tea today was 3 chicken nuggets (I know, I know!), a few sultanas, a bit of cucumber, a few bites of nectarine and a little bit of a digestive biscuit. However - for tea the other day, he ate 20 pieces of pasta with home-made Bolognese sauce.

Does this sound okay? Too little? His weight gain had tailed off a bit last month (300g p/m as compared with 500g/600g in previous months), and he's due to be weighted on Weds this week. He is still under Paediatrician and Dietician, and is due for 1 year appointment at end August.

I'm also struggling with knowing what to feed him; I guess I'm in a bit of a rut. For me, puree was easy as I cook from scratch every day, and just buzzed it up. We do give him what we're having most days, but I worry he doesn't get enough protein.

Is it normal at this age to be a bit hit and miss with eating? He is teething too, and it's hot here at the moment. Will it get better? Will the magic "I love food" switch be flicked soon? Please reassure me! I'm trying to be relaxed about it, and not force feed him anything, but I'm churning up inside with not knowing whether I'm doing this right!

[callamia]

It sounds like you've done an incredible job so far, and I sympathise with the sudden switch in eating. I have a nine month old who is currently teething and isn't interested in food, but I think I am breastfeeding more again at the moment. I look forward to these teeth coming through.

I'm not familiar with expected weight gain for prem babies, but weight gain for term babies will tail off about this time. Are the percentiles in the red book applicable to your son?

I wonder if you would feel better if you knew he was getting protein and vitamins? Will he eat minced turkey/lamb/beef? Have spears of roasted veg, or steamed broccoli? Does he like scrambled egg? I cook lentils in pretty much everything for iron, and make pancakes with porridge to get protein in at breakfast.

It's good that you're still under the paediatrician, and you might get some reassurance at the weigh-in. Good luck!

[Summerdaydreams]

I have a 27 weeker who is now 2.5. She has always been on the small side, just hit 10kg but has always followed her percentile line.

Some days she will eat like a horse and other days she won't eat hardly anything. I get anxious but lately have tried to take the attitude that she has hungry and non hungry days and just go with the flow which is sometimes a but hit and miss !

Eggs are a great source of protein, quick easy meals. dd loves them so scrambled, omelette, pancakes for breakfast or pancakes with cheese and ham for tea?
I usually had a good sprinkling of cheese to add calories and protein.

Anabelle Karmal and Gina ford receipe books give good Ideas which I batch cook and freeze into pots for days when we are not eating as a family.

[FraggleRock77]

DS ex 29 weeker, now 9 months and nearly 7 corrected. I have the same issue so will be watching with interest. DS has gone from happily eating massive bowls of purée to refusing to be spoon fed. Totally BLW now, not by choice! Although it shows he is very independent. DS is really good with finger foods and is able to get a good amount down. He has increased his milk intake though. I'm trying to go with it as soon he will be able to eat more and it will balance out. I'm currently offering snacks along with meals. He loves scuttling around in his walker eating toast/oat cakes/crumpets etc. Such a worry though especially when you're programmed to feed feed feed prems xxx

[Gurke]

Completely sympathise with your worries, but it sounds to me as though he is eating brilliantly! I think my DS at 21 months/ 18 corrected doesn't eat as much as that in a week...

All babies go through phases of eating a lot, eating very little, eating great variety, eating only one or two kinds of things. Reading 'My Child Won't Eat' reassured me a lot. It doesn't deal with premature babies specifically, but does make the point that neither forcing them to eat nor worrying about what or how little they eat really improves anything (for them or for you) - babies generally eat what their bodies tell them they need, and generally that's a sensible rule for them to live by.

So try not to worry too much: your DS seems to be doing so well! I know that's easier said than done - my DS has been dropping centiles and seems to be getting smaller rather than bigger, but I'm hoping he'll catch up at some point.