Formula amounts vs. solid amounts?

Ok, went for the 9 month checkup and my pediatrician told us that the twins should be eating a lot more
solids: vegetables & fruit and should be cutting down the formula.

He said their formula intake should be BELOW 24 ounces a day. I said, well, is there a goal, like at least 18-20. He said,
whatever, as long as it is BELOW 24 ounces.

I asked him about the whole "formula being the main source of nutrition for the 1st year" and he said, NO, that rule is birth to 6 months, and now that they are 9 months it should be MORE SOLID--LESS FORMULA.

He said no meats until 12 months, but that I should be starting puffs soon and also can add some cheese, plain yogurt, cut up pieces of soft vegetables and soft pieces of fruit.

I'm so confused.

 

I think you can go either way. Its not bad advice, but if you let your kids guide you on what they want I think it will work itself out. On my old outdated formula chart it says 21-32 ounces from 8-10 months. I know that my boys were always closer to the higher range, if not above it. I think 24 ounces would be closer to the end of the first year once they start getting more dairy from table sources like cheese and yogurt.

 

If you have big formula drinkers then it's not bad advice. Around 10 months old mine started getting really distracted about taking bottles, so it was a struggle to get them to take even 18 ounces in a day. I think if you can introduce more table foods like you mentioned then maybe you could cut down on the formula. But I would be careful about replacing bottles with only pureed fruits and vegetables b/c those have very little calories.

GL and just keep in mind that it gets easier after 12 months when they are just eating regular food.

 

I know when ours started taking solids, our pediatrician suggested to slowly reduce the amount of formula, by the time they reached 9 months on, we were about 20-24 ounces of formula per day. I agree with Rachel, let your kiddos be your guide. I know solids are confusing, me and DH still scratch our head over some things.

 

Around 10 months I started trying to get my girls to eat more food with the goal that by 1 year food and not formula would be their main source of nutrition. I actually had to give my girls less formula so they'd be hungry enough to eat- they would have been happy to drink all their meals

We introduced meats after 9 months, but if you have a family history of allergies than I can see waiting. There are other sources of protein like cheese and yogurt. I'd take your pedi's advice and follow your instincts too... GL figuring it all out.

 

I live in Spain and the aim with solids is what your pedi said. The more solids they eat, the less formula they will drink and mine are doing that. If Im lucky, DD will drink 160z a day but it´s rare. DS drinks about the same sometimes 18oz. They drink water throughout the day if they need it, though that isn´t a replacement for food.

I add cereal to their fruit puree and they eat yoghurt also. Mine eat meat or fish in their veg purees. I´ve been told they can eat white fish, chicken leg, beef and turkey. They need the protein from that as fruit and veg alone dont have enough calories. I also offer them biscuit so they learn to eat. Ive been told to hold back on the table food but I offer them what we´re eating, within reason, eg some bread. Follow your instincts, it´s a litle scary, I know, but you know best. GL!

 

I agree with everyone; let the babies guide you. What do they seem to want to eat more of? My twins eat 3 solid meals a day (no snacks yet) with dessert and they still drink up to 28oz of milk daily! I don't know where it goes frankly but they seem to be fine with it.

I feed them everything we eat - with the exception of fish (want to talk to the ped about that first) - and puree it with enough texture for them to gum. i'm still a little reluctant to try finger foods (1) because their pincer grip isn't that great yet and (2) I'm terrified of them choking on something they can't gum - they have no teeth yet!!!! Well, Hunter has two bottom teeth but that's it!

So go with your gut and what feels right. GL!

 

At our 10 month appointment our pediatrician said that they only need 18oz... he even said we could switch to whole milk already (we waited until 1). I think there are two lines of thought, but more and more pediatricians think that around 9-10 months solid foods should start being more important than formula.