https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 01:52:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2020233 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 12:39:04 +0000 Mae 2020233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lollipop: interesting! I wouldn't do that without a doctor's recommendation but that does make sense. I feel like 8 mo is a little young for that though. I'd probably try to push something like that off until closer to 12 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2020229 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 12:37:13 +0000 Mae 2020229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Heat the water first in a bottle warmer, swirl it up so it is evenly heated THEN add powder. I do that because we use nutramigen which has live cultures in it to aid in digestion (because it is for mspi babies, but is only partially broken down in the proteins and so the cultures are supposed to aid babies in processing it). You really aren't supposed to heat it at all, and if you do not above 100 degrees. Which sucks since she will only take it if it is right around 100 degrees. We've sort of made our peace with that and do heat it, against recommendation, because it is the only wait she will eat and she seems to be doing okay with that so far. But because of that we never reheat (bc that would kill more of the good bacteria) and we never heat already-made formula because the way the bottle warmer works is that the outside of the bottle gets VERY hot and that very hot liquid mixes with the less-hot liquid in the center of the bottle for an even temperature. So heating already made formula would kill more good bacteria-- thus the only heating water not formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019938 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 10:37:23 +0000 Mamasig 2019938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would give her as much formula as she wants since she's still not interested in the solids too much. It could be a growth spurt - who knows?! Babies are crazy! </p> <p>My doctor did tell me that you can't always go by the number of ounces they drink. Each child metabolizes food different. I can see that with my boys. DS1 ate tons. When he was around 4 months he had about 6-7 eight ounce bottles of formula. Then he started solids and caught on quick. Little brother eats less than he did and is so much chunkier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019900 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 10:23:01 +0000 catomd00 2019900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since low weight is a concern I say feed her as much as she will eat! My 10 month old eats a lot of solids (seriously like as much as I et in a day!) and hasn't cut back on her breastmilk intake much yet. She is on the smaller side weight wise (20th percentile but never has lost weight.) follow babys lead! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019881 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 10:08:17 +0000 looch 2019881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To piggyback on what shootingstar wrote...how do you prepare the formula? Do you mix up a large batch, or do you do it on demand?</p> <p>If you mix on demand, what if you had a warmer next to where you feed her? And then, fill the bottles with water and have formula powder measured out in 2 ounce increments. Warm up the water as she's eating the main bottle, so you don't waste more than necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019880 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 10:07:10 +0000 lollipop 2019880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been following your story for awhile now but have never really commented. So sorry things aren't improving all that much.</p> <p>My daughter was also a very picky, finicky eater and was at the 3% for weight all her life ( and still is at 3 yrs). I remember her pediatrician telling us to limit her formula intake to 16-18 oz per day at her 9 mths appt so that she's hungry and more willing to try solids. I remember feeling shocked at that point because of how tiny she was. Anyway.. Just thought to bring that up just in case you wanted to give the solid route a bit more try. Good luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019866 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 09:50:59 +0000 Little Misters Mom 2019866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If she has a history of not eating and is suddenly showing interest, I'd give her as much as she'll take. If the increase persists for longer than a few weeks, then maybe reevaluate the total amount of formula in a day. But on the whole it seems like good news! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019822 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 09:11:47 +0000 ShootingStar 2019822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a big growth spurt at 8m where it felt like he was eating twice as much as he had been. I remember one day we were out having lunch and I gave him an 8oz bottle of ready to feed (he normally topped out at 8oz) and he seemed so hungry still that I had to open up another 8oz bottle and I think he polished off a good amount of that one too. For several days his eating was like that and then went back to normal - 4 8oz bottles. He wasn't really into solids that much at that point so I didn't try to feed him more table food, it was obvious he wanted more in his bottle.</p> <p>Anyways, I say that while she's eating one bottle, heat up another one. If she doesn't want it, put it back in the fridge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019817 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 09:08:02 +0000 looch 2019817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: tell me about them changing their minds! The story of my son's life!</p> <p>It's a lot of wait and see, trying different things, repeating things that might have failed with different outcomes, etc. Can be very frustrating for the parents. I think as long as she's gaining along her curve, that's a good sign! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019814 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 09:05:08 +0000 Mae 2019814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: like i said, we used to do 5 bottles rather than 4 and she ate significantly less. But i'm willing to try that again because lord knows in the span of a month or two a baby could totally change her mind on how she wants to eat :) We have talked about feeding clinics with her doc back when she was refusing to eat entirely and we were having to feed her asleep. Because she has made pretty steady improvement (the fact that she is eating 32 oz willingly and seems to maybe even want more is a real sign of how far she has come!!) the doc doesn't think feeding clinic is necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019810 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 08:58:07 +0000 looch 2019810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: And you've tried giving smaller amounts more frequently?</p> <p>Have you looked into a feeding specialist or an oral motor therapist? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019808 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 08:53:51 +0000 Mae 2019808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I don't think so? I've never heard of anyone capping the amount of formula a baby could have. I know 24-30 is "normal" but I recall when my LO was eating more like 20-24/day her doc told me that some babies eat more, some less, and 24-32 is really just an average range. I'm more just concerned with not giving her so much at once she doesn't get sick, esp since she has reflux. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019791 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 08:12:20 +0000 looch 2019791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is there a guideline for how much formula you can give your daughter per day? We had a limit of 24 ounces, IIRC. We were on a staged formula, though, where you change it up at 3 months, 6 months, etc.</p> <p>We were on a 4 hour schedule as well, I wasted A LOT of formula during some times, as my son regulated amounts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019772 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 07:46:19 +0000 twodoghouse 2019772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: Oh yeah, I knew she is pretty strict on the temperature, but forgot. That does complicate things. My kids went through a phase where they refused all bottles and when I stopped heating up pre-made bottles from the fridge they went back to eating fine. We don't heat to a specific temp, but since I make 99% of their bottles and do it the same way each time, it does make me wonder when they won't eat for Alex's parents if his mom is just making them a weird temperature. Who knows. These kids like to keep us on our toes! I think the ten million small bottles per day works well for Blake's spitting up, and I am grateful that a rejected bottle just means 2 or 4 oz down instead of a quarter of their calories! But it will be so nice to be done with this eventually! At this rate, probably when we wean from bottles entirely! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019584 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 22:21:54 +0000 Mae 2019584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: I just follow her lead. We've tried a lot of textures (I think?) from full on purees to oatmeal with fruit mixed in (of varying thicknesses) and very soft steamed produce like broccoli and apples to firmer items like fresh raw pear and banana. With things that require a spoon we let her do what she wants. Sometimes she wants to take the spoon and feed herself and we let her (which is occasionally getting the spoon in her mouth but a lot of flinging food around and throwing the spoon), but more often if a spoon is involved she sort of ignores it and then i hold it and try to feed her and thats when she'll usually take a couple bites (like... 3-5) over the course of 10-20 min and then refuses to open her mouth anymore. She just really does not seem to understand/have an interest in eating real food yet. </p> <p>Also we can't really give her most of what we eat because she is MSPI and we are dealing with some other allergies as well (so far avocado and sweet potato) so we need to tread very lightly with absolutely nothing processed, nothing made with butter, and nothing with more than 1 new ingredient at a time so we can check for new allergies. This is certainly not how I thought it would go! I thought the first few weeks maybe she'd be cautious then she'd get into it and we'd just feed her off our plates. Not so much. :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019578 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 22:18:33 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2019578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would probably offer an extra bottle. But 8oz is crazy to me since my LO rarely ever ate more than 4 until at least a year. It took us awhile for solids to really catch on for us too and he never really liked purées. We had more success with meltables (puffs, yum yums) and then foods that were a little more chewable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019576 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 22:17:06 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 2019576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: I was just curious about solids since you mentioned she isn't eating a lot of them because of a lack of interest. </p> <p>Have you tried spoon feeding her the purées? Different textured foods, like pastina or soups (I used to make veggie soup for Chloe then strain out the broth so all that was left was soft veggies, beans and noodles)? </p> <p>I'm trying to think of other things that were a hit at 8/9 months. I never really did BLW because Chloe didn't have an interest and would easily choke. I used to blend a lot of our meals, and would cut up tiny pieces of what we were eating. </p> <p>Mashed potatos and corn were huge hits for awhile too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019564 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 22:01:16 +0000 Mae 2019564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: what do you mean what's the deal with solids? lol We started BLW at 5.5 mo. She'll put most anything in her mouth but makes a sour face and spits almost everything out. She likes pears-- by which I mean she eats approx 1/2 of one slice of pear before refusing to eat more. And she likes puffs okay, which means she's excited about the first 4 or 5 then is over it. I've tried purees with her too recently-- just thinking that since she isn't into eating much with finger food maybe she'd do better with those. Again the only pouch she seems to want to eat at all is the pear/spinach one and she'll take maybe a couple tiny bites then she's done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019560 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 21:57:22 +0000 Mae 2019560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: lol its a little bit of a timing issue on having more made because she's still so ridiculous on temperature. She will only drink her bottles between 99-102 degrees. SERIOUSLY. It's insane but when we've offered her ones we temp at 98 she refuses. So once a bottle is ready its like ZOMG FEED HER NOW bc it cools off so fast. I don't know that I could have 2 oz made and at the right temp 10 min ahead. But I'm thinking maybe either offering bigger bottles or maybe just try to sneak in a 5th bottle somewhere that is a few oz and see if that works for her. </p> <p>Also re: being on so few bottles-- can't lie, it's awesome. I hope your LOs get there soon, though it seems they are just snackers! Fiona has always been a fan of taking more food at longer intervals. I remember once we hit 2 mo and she started refusing to eat at all overnight she was eating only 7 times/day and I was so worried bc everyone says 8+ at that age-- but she's just not a fan of eating often. For all the trouble she gives me, grateful (mostly) for that! The only sucky thing is if we mess something but and she refuses a bottle that is 1/4 of her food for the day she just refused. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019557 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 21:54:40 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 2019557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: what's the deal with solids?</p> <p>As far as a bottle goes, I vote give her more. I FF my oldest and if she acted Hungry, we made more in 2oz increments. She's always been on the small side (and still is) so if she wanted food we never, ever said no (that goes for now too!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019549 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 21:43:10 +0000 Greentea 2019549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sure, why not give her more? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019522 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 21:11:05 +0000 twodoghouse 2019522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd have an extra 2 oz ready to go after her regular bottle and give it to her if she shows the still hungry signs? I'm jealous you're on so few bottles! My kids are still taking bottles 10x per day and nursing after or between those times. I've gotten Alice to take 6 oz once or twice but usually I'm pushing it with a 4 oz bottle. Blake is refusing bottles right now and I just have to push 2 oz all day long. I feel like I spend all day making bottles! Not to mention the insane amount of dishes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019498 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 20:45:05 +0000 Tanjowen 2019498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: I think around that age we entered a growth spurt with LO. We would make up another 2 oz if he still was sucking on the bottle and offer it, and sometimes he finished it and sometimes not.</p> <p>I remember a few days we had like 9 dirty bottles from different attempts during the day as we tried to figure it out. :shocked: It lasted a few weeks and then we moved to four 8 oz bottles once we got through it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019485 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 20:29:24 +0000 Mae 2019485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Champagne: I considered adding this as another option but didn't want to because it is hard enough to plan around 4 bottles, let alone 5! lol. Also my kid seems to really like 4 hour spacing. When we were doing 5 bottles per day she was only eating 24-26 oz/day and when I moved to 4 bottles she almost immediately started eating 32. But I guess that was a while ago now so I could try it again and see if things have changed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019484 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 20:28:47 +0000 MrsH 2019484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like growth spurts. E did the still trying to eat from an empty bottle during growth spurts. We'd usually give her another 2-4 ounces once a day if she did that. One day when she was 8 or 9 months she had 14 ounces (she would normally drink between 6-8). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019481 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 20:26:07 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2019481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't FF but my friend does and I think she does 5 bottles a day and they are 6-7 ounces. Would adding another bottle in there help do you think? Her daughter is almost 8 months. She also isn't big on solids and has a bit of cereal once per day. </p> <p>Good luck :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-feeding-my-8mo#post-2019477 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 20:21:18 +0000 Mae 2019477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To make a very long story short-- we have had a lot of feeding issues with our LO up to and including bottle refusal and then her eating only with a lot of requirements (like, only I could feed her, only when she was swaddled, on when she was tired but not too tired, only when I was sitting in one specific chair in one specific room and the fan was on.. etc). Point being she is not a kid who will just "eat when she's hungry" and she is not generally excited for food.. ever. </p> <p>About 6 weeks ago we dropped to 4 bottles per day, every 4 hrs, and we were giving her 8 oz at each bottle and she was actually doing great and finishing almost every bottle. Which was amazingly awesome because she has generally eaten on the lower end of normal and suddenly she was taking 32 oz/day. And this is extra awesome because she has been steadily dropping % in weight-- not enough to be too concerned about but definitely she could stand to gain a bit. </p> <p>Then 3 weeks ago she started refusing bottles again (like refusing entirely, not just not finishing) so we dropped to feeding her two 8 oz bottles and two 6 oz bottles and suddenly she was eating again. So we think maybe she needs to be really hungry to eat? </p> <p>But then last week she started acting like she was still hungry when she was done with the bottle (holding onto it and trying to pull it back and keep sucking even once it was gone) so we moved back to four 8oz bottles and she has been doing great. </p> <p>Now she's doing the bottle-holding thing with the 8oz bottles though. So I think maybe she is still hungry? But moving up to 9 or 10 oz bottles seems like too much at one time for an 8 mo right? </p> <p>I am guessing most babies at this age are eating more solids for calories but she just isn't interested yet. I offer at least once/day but she hardly consumes anything. </p> <p>So do I increase the size of her bottles to 9 oz? Or leave them as-is and keep offering solids hoping that at some point she'll get hungry enough to eat more? I do want to encourage solids, but I don't want her to be hungry (although at 32 oz/day and less than 17lbs it seems like she shouldn't be STARVING). </p>