Portion sizes - BLW vs pouches/pots - am I feeding DS enough??

[u32ng]

So we're doing BLW with 9m DS, but today I was buying some meal pouches just to have in for emergencies and was a bit shocked by the portion sizes.

It's made me wonder if DS is getting enough to eat?? I know the whole point of BLW is that they eat as much as they want and stop when full so we do always offer food until he starts pulling at his bib/smushing food about/hanging over the side of his highchair. But I do have a niggle of worry now.

Not helped by ruddy MIL who thinks BLW is the devil and makes the type of comments that show she thinks he doesn't eat enough. But anyway MIL vs me & DH on the subject of BLW is a whole other story!!!

He sleeps well overnight on the whole and seems happy during the day, plus he gets plenty milk still (maybe 1 bottle too much at the mo to be honest).

Has anyone else been concerned about portion sizes or is it just me? Do they give you more in the pouch so that there's more than baby will need to make you don't run out before baby's full? (Sorry, pouch novice here)

[abigboydidit]

Purely anecdotal but I do think they eat more when there's less effort involved! DS was weaned on purées and would happily let you shovel it in! He would have a mains, yogurt and fruit so the equivalent on 2-3 yogurt pots full at every meal! He's 2.5 now and am sure eats less than he did then! DD is a total soon refuser and seems to eat a lot less but like your DC is still sleeping through and thriving (also on one more bottle than formula tub suggest). I think it just highlights how nutrient dense formula or BM is and should reassure us that we are doing the right thing with BLW

[dontyouknow]

My 7 m is pretty greedy and even so, when he has a pouch it lasts a couple of meals. If I use one I just squeeze out what looks like about the same amount as when he has something I have made (I generally give him mushed up food with some finger food so easier to see how much he eats).

I have been wondering if I should be giving him more but there does seem to be an awful lot in them!

[ceeveebee]

My DTs used to share a pouch on the odd occasion that we used them. They are mainly water btw so not as filling as "real food"

[Tommy]

the thing about BLW is that they feed themselves and stop when they've had enough.
DS3 was the only one of mine to do BLW - he's nearly 7 now and is still really good at regulating his calorie intake. He eats anything but stops when he's had enough

[EllaMenOhPea]

Any time i had a wibble with BLW, seeing how much other babies ate compared to mine, I used to chant the mantra 'food for fun until they're one' (only in my head though!). They get all the nutrition they need from milk (whether formula or BM) at this stage, so don't worry.

[u32ng]

EllaMenOhPea I know, I know you are right about the food for fun bit and I know this but i still keep having my own wibbles every now and again. It's annoying...

DS seems to also be having a bit of a fussy phase (when previously he was not at all) and I think he'd survive on yoghurt and bread sticks just now if I let him!! A teething thing??