Christy 06/19/2010
Question:
How do I know how much to feed my 8-month-old baby? He eats rice cereal, jarred fruits and veggies and baby yogurt, along with bottles. When can he start eating solids?
Dr. Deirdre J. Bernard-Pearl responds:
Great question! Most of the time, a baby is his own best judge of how much to eat. Your job is to offer the healthiest possible foods - organic when possible, free from trans fats and high fructose corn syrup - and allow them to decide how much to eat. And don’t expect it always to be the same amount from meal to meal or day to day!
The rice cereal and baby food purees you are already giving your baby are considered “solids.” You can begin to give very soft and small pieces of food sometime in the next few months. Some good ones to try are avocado and banana. You can vary the texture and shapes, and if he is not ready, you can always mash them up for him!