How do I know if my 7-month old is getting enough baby food? She does NOT like cereal, but we give her fruit, veggies and meat. Is that enough?

As long as she's gaining weight she should be just fine. Like eveyrone else had said, she should be okay as long as she's getting enough milk of some kind. However, I don't think that you are supposed to feed them meat until they are at least a year and a half. Just fruits, veggies, rice and such because their digestive systems are not developed enough to properly digest meat products. I'm not positive if it's across the board but that was what my pedi had told me.

My little girl didn't really eat solids till past her first birthday. She didn't want the spoon or to touch it. She could eat solids she just chose not too. Now she eats all sorts of things...so as long as your baby is glowing that is all that matters...be thankful that the transition to solids was so easy. We skipped the whole baby food thing...especially the cereal!!

Here is a link to a handout I used when providing pediatric nutrition counseling. Lists amounts, but not set in stone. The best bet is to follow your infant's cues.

https://apps.sd.gov/Applications/PH18Publications/ secure/Publications/infant5-8.pdf

If you like this information, you can do a google search for the following:

Steps to Infant Feeding - General Tips, 0-4 months, 5-8 months, and 9-12 months.

All the best,
Lisa

If your daughter reaches for food or acts hungry soon after having a bottle or breastfeeding, she needs the food. Let her feed herself and she will eat what she needs. Just be sure to give her healthy selections, and let her sit with your family when you're eating. Babies naturally want to do what their parents/siblings are doing and it is a low stress, healthy way to introduce little ones to healthy mealtime habits. Not to mention it is a fun family bonding time.
There are other ways to introduce grains into the diet other than baby cereal, such as toast and crackers.
My youngest prefered "real" cereal- oatmeal, cream of rice (that you cook, it is in the hispanic foods section of our store), and cheerios. What does the rest of the family eat for grains? Let her share in the "Baby safe" options. Hold off on the top 10 allergy foods though, like whole wheat.
This is a great reason for mom and dad to make sure you are eating healthy too!
Just continue to follow the guidelines for introducing food...one new food at a time,ect...
I followed this method at the advice of a pediatrition with my second child when she refused her baby food at 6 months. She, and all three of her younger sisters have been wonderful eaters with healty tastes.
My oldest, who was fed baby food only was and still is at 26 years old, the pickiest eater on earth.

From what I understand, your baby's primary source of nutrition is from bottle or breast until she turns 1. The baby food is sort of a "practice food" to get her used to chewing (or gumming) and swallowing. The thing with fruits and vegetables is, she would have to eat massive amounts to get enough calories and her little tummy isn't big enough to hold the amount necessary for her growth and development.

So, is your daughter taking plenty of formula or breast milk? If so, you have nothing to worry about in terms of her nutrition. If not, you will have to talk to her doctor about how to make sure she is getting enough calories. At my daughter's 9-month checkup, her weight gain rate had dipped rather dramatically. I think it is because my milk supply has gone way down since I started working out at the gym (and the stubborn little cow won't take a bottle!) Plus, she just got much more active so she was burning it off at a higher rate. Since she wouldn't take a bottle, her pediatrician recommended giving her lots of high-calorie foods like full-fat yogurt, cheese, and slathering her toast with butter. (You don't have to worry about cholesterol at her age!)

Hope this helps!