How much baby food to stockpile?

[crownline266]

I'm trying to figure out how much babyfood to stockpile for DS who is due in a little less than four weeks. I know the best deal is on the 2nd stage jars, so mostly what I've bought it those. I know I'll need to buy some rice cereal, but the cans that I wanted (DHA kind) expired in Dec. so that won't work, but I'll check another store or check back later. I plan on breastfeeding for at least a year...I've heard some BF'd babies don't start babyfood until six months or so. So what is the schedule generally? I know rice for a while to get them used to solids and then introduce veggies or fruit. But how much of each do you think? I realize this is probably hard to answer, though!!

[ladywaterwind]

breastfed or formula, generally start on solids between 4 and 6 months. I started DD a little closer to 6 months, as her appetite never changed until closer to that age.

I started with a little a small bowl of the cereal at each meal, for about a week. Then went on to solid stage 1 veggies, doing just one veggie for a whole week, in case there were any allergies. She had about 4 feedings a day, and when she started the veggies I changed her meals around so the first was a bottle and cereal, and then the other 3 were a bottle and half jar of veggies. So, 3 jars for every 2 days.

We only did about 3 weeks of veggies before moving on to the second foods and going into more veggies and the meals on the second foods. Also, the fruit was too tart, she wouldn't eat and would make faces if I gave it to her, so I started mixing about a 1/3 or 1/2 stage 2 fruits into her cereal, and she loooves that.

We usually kept on the same schedule of half jar of stage 2 plus a bottle, and maybe a bit of extra veggies or something if she was really hungry. I stayed away a bit from the desserts and plain fruits until around 9 months.

Now she's 10 months and still has her breakfast of bottle and some fruit cereal and then 3 other meals of a bottle, half a jar of 3rd stage dinner, half a pack of stage 2 veggies, and maybe some fruit or dessert on each meal. We're in the process of getting her introduced to solid regular foods now, so there's a snack time of a biter biscuit, or instead of her veggies I've been doing the graduates mashed potatoes, stuff like that.

[kurlisola]

Someone made a really good post to me when I got off topic on this thread...helped me out.

http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums...ad.php?t=39798

[TheyCallMeMom]

Milk/formula only for the first 4-5 mos.. but the entire first year

Then I start Cereal only for 1 month, then veggies/fruit.

My six month old gets cereal in the am with 1/2 jar fruit,
1 jar veggie or fruit for lunch
1 jar veggie or fruit for dinner
juice x1 day formula/milk x3-4 day

at about 7 or 8 mos ( or when they get to chewing) I mash up foods we are eating and let them eat regular food as they desire ( bananas, cut up spaghetti, etc.). as mine get about 9 -10 mos if they can grab it they will eat it LOL

So you want to count on jar food 3x day for 6-7 mos... thats 30 days x 7 mos = 210 days x3 jars 630 jars of food..

When you add it up its alot.. but with the Target deal going on that would only be $25 or so if you can get that many in the next month!!!

If you formula feed ( I know you arent planning to- but someo ne lese might read this :) ) I would acct for 1 small can a week as an estimate...
Thats expensive at $10 a can or so thats $520.. of course formula checks and coupons/sales/deals and buying the larger cans you might be able to cut that in 1/2

[wendypsaves]

Both of my kids started solids at 4 months. My daughter is 7 months now. She eats 3 solid meals a day in addition to breastfeeding about 4 - 6 times a day. She usually has 1/2 jar of stage 1 or 2 fruit for breakfast, with rice cereal and yogurt. She has 1/2 jar of veggies with rice cereal and some finger food like avocado, cheerios broken in half, or gerber veggie puffs for lunch. Pretty much the same thing for dinner. So, like a jar and half to two jars a day, right now. I also try, as much as possible, to modify things the family is already eating for her. Our steamed veggies go into the food processor for her. If I'm doing something with frozen fruit for my son, same thing. She's eating bananas, avocados, peas w/out the skin, etc for finger foods.

I read a great tip in another thread. They suggested stockpiling more stage 2 and 3, because you can always blend them up if your baby is not quite ready for the thicker texture. I thought that was a great idea.

Also, somewhat on topic, I started both of my kids drinking out of a straw at around 4 or 5 months. The suck reflex is strong when they breastfeed, so it's really easy to teach this. My daughter has down syndrome and she picked it up really quickly. Her speech therapist was amazed. Cup drinking is also easy to teach early. My son barely used sippy cups at all, which meant I never had to wean him from them.

Anyway, hope at least some of that is helpful. Congrats on your soon to be new arrival!

Wendy

[MrsPinecone]

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that breastfed babies do not start solids until at least 6 months of age.

BF babies have what is called a 'pristine gut'. A baby's stomach contains 'flora', or bacteria, both good and bad. A baby's intestines are open until about 6 months old...which means that the intestines absorb this bacteria into the baby's system. Breastmilk acts as a barrier against pathogens. Once even an ounce of formula or solids are introduced into the baby's diet, this barrier is broken down and those pathogens are easily absorbed into the system instead of passing through in the stool.

Gut closure occurs around the 6 month mark and certainly long after 4 months...this is why it is recommended by every major health organization that babies are breastfed exclusively until at least 6 months. It helps prevent pathogens from being absorbed.

That being said, we waited until 6 months to start the Pinenut on solids. We began with avocado, then sweet potatoes, then cereal (which didn't agree with him at all in the beginning). Now, a month later, he is still not terribly interested. He has one meal a day of cereal and a veggie or fruit. We are not going to introduce a second meal until about 8 months, then a third around 9-10, depending on how into it he is.

Remember that breastmilk or formula should be the major source of nutrition until 12 months of age. Solids are just for taste and texture, not nutrition.

So basically, count the number of meals per day when you will be giving solids and that's how many to stockpile. Extra fruits can be added to plain yogurt after they are past the puree stage.

Kellymom.com has some great information on starting solids-- when, how much and what order. HTH

[crownline266]

Thanks, everybody! I'll have to check out Kellymom.com also.

Wow, 630 jars...hmm, I better start buying more in my trips! I've made probably four trips and only have like 90 jars! LOL! I just hate conflict and them questioning coupons. Even without manu. coupons it's a great deal, so I should just start loading up I guess and just use the Target coupons. All along I planned to make my own babyfood, so I never expected this great deal. I'll still make some I'm sure and puree what we eat, too. Thanks again!!

[niftyneon99]

I completely skipped the 1st stages with my 3rd baby. I moved him right on to 2nd foods (I stayed with the single ingredients -squash, peas, green beans, ect) but I would dump out half into a bowl and put the rest into the fridge for the next meal. Seemed like such a waste to buy the first foods when I could get so much more with the 2nds. Also, this time around I didn't purchase 3rd foods either, I just started using my mini chopper ($3.88 wal mart black friday special) and pureed potatoes, peas, green beans, ect and gave him those.

[crownline266]

Yeah, I'm not buying any Stage 1 unless I have a manu. coupon to get it free with overages (it's more here than the 2nd stage jars, too). I've heard that tip from others and it makes complete sense! Although I'm finding they don't make the single ingredient jars in Stage 2. They have them in the plastic 2pks, but not the jars...at least at my stores. But i don't mind making some single ingredient foods for a while if I have to.

[Mama Bird]

I was reading the thread on the best price for jarred baby food, and it got me to thinking... I didn't want to hijack that thread, so thought I'd start a new one.

How much baby food/cereal would be a "full" stockpile?? How many jars of each stage?

I fed baby food to my DS#1, but I never stopped to think about how many jars of the stuff I actually bought (didn't coupon much at that point). I've been stockpiling for when DS#2 starts solids (not for a couple of months more), and would love to know how much is enough.

I did make some of my own for DS#1, and plan to again, but I know I'll be using the jarred stuff too.