How much food for 8 month old?

Thanks for all the replies! Julz- I'm going to try giving water tonight if he wakes between 8 and 4am - cause he loves water, but I must admit that its so easy to feed him and hope he falls asleep on the boob! And because he seems to drink so little in the day, I think he maybe makes up for it at night?

But thanks for all the advice, maybe he is dropping his mid-morning feed then. Will continue leaving milk for him but will maybe also make sure he gets a small snack then too. I really doubt that he's getting a litre of milk a day, so not too worried about that. At a guess, I think he is actually close to 3 cups of solids though, maybe 2-2,5 is what he gets. I've increased his lunch slightly today, will see if he's still hungry!

Hi Kaye

My LG was the same, she was eating every time I gave her food and would not stop no matter how much I gave her. She still doesnt stop so I proportion the foods. I make sure she eats 150ml of cereal and 2 of the no2 sized purity bottles of food (even if cooked by me). That way I can monitor and measure the amount she eats. When she wanted milk feeds during the day I used to try feeding her solids rather and she is now on a routine of 3 full meals a day with 1 milk feed. I give her a treat in between meals sometimes like a different fruit, or custard. She has 3 milk feeds during the night and I think its also for comfort but I dont mind because they need the nutrients that come from milk too.

From what I have read is that an 8 month old should have 3-4 milk feeds and solids are more important. Seems like different experts have different opinions.

I have read that babies should not get more than 1000ml of milk per 24 hours because they can get some sickness, that equals to about 10 milk feeds so I am sure its fine if your baby drinks less than that.

However it is also said that babies need the nutrition from solids so if your baby is eating solids well, it doesnt matter how much.

Kaye hes probably comfort sucking at night - James does it too, but he sleeps with me, so I just let him:)

Milk is most important for the first year, but if hes not really eating his mid morning feed he's probably either not needing it or making up at night when he has the real deal (boobies are sooo much better than silicone teats)

I do BLW, and its only in the last week that I've noticed an increase in the amount of food that James takes in.

My theory is if your child is gaining and meeting milestones then whats the problem!

I dont agree that food is more important, I was irritated with my clinic sister for saying that. I only now, at 10 months, have noticed that food has ALSO become important.
At 8 months he was also eating 3 times a day, and now he eats snacks too, but no where near 3 cups.
Jude still has milk 5 times a day and and if he wakes up at night, (I agree with the because he can, lol, again, I see it's all lb's on this trhead, if my mom sees me on moomie she tells Jude, I'm gossiping about him again. haha)
Anyway.. I've read that at a year, fuel intake from food should be 25%, and too ME this makes sense, because J has only started digesting his food now, (tmi, sorry lol)
I so feel that we have 'finally'' started the weaning process.

Hi Kaye

Important thing to note is that around this age they drop their mid morning feed, that is probably why he is drinking so little at 10am, he isn't hungry then.

My boy dropped his mid morning feed (11am) at 7months, he would also only drink 20ml or 40mls so we stopped giving him the bottle and he is fine, he has 3 bottles of formula a day, morning, afternoon and his last bottle is around 7:30pm.

And 3 meals a day, he is now 9 and a half months.

Hi Kaye, my LB is also 8 months old and the recommended amount of solids is around 3 cups. My boy hates to sit and eat so I try to feed him while he's playing but he doesn't eat nearly enough. He still has about 5 milk feeds (breastmilk) during the day and he wakes up 4/5 times a night but I think that's more for comfort than hunger. Even though he eats less solids and has more milk he's full of energy and a happy and healthy baby.

the night feeding is because he can. You will help yourself by doing away with night feeds. You could give water as a substitue. When I say night feeding I mean after 8 at night.

If he is eating well he may take less milk and if you are still breastfeeding the I wouldn't worry as he is probably getting enough from that.

I suggest if paed is happy then please don't stress!!! You pay them to worry for you.

Good luck.
xx