To think my 9 month old doesn't 'need' snacks

[Flamingogirl08]

My friend who has a one year old is shocked that I don't give my DD snacks. MIL has made similar comments. I'm not against giving her snacks but right now she's happy having her meals and bottles. I don't see the point in introducing snacks yet.

For example yesterday she had,

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and tomatoes

Lunch: Pasta with veggies and some strawberries

Dinner: Chicken curry and rice

She also has 4 7oz bottles a day.

Happy to be told if I'm wrong, please let me know if you think that's not enough. She's a good weight and a happy little thing so AIBU to not offer snacks just yet?

By 9/10 months both mine were on only 2 milk feeds a day and had water / snacks between meals instead.

Part of weaning is that they have more solids than milk, might be time to look into starting some snacks

She's having milk rather than snacks. It's fine.

I found at that age snacks are just a little activity or a distraction if needed. Not essential though.

The milk is her 'snack'

You’re doing fine. Milk is the main source of nutrients under one year and the food gradually starts replacing it. Some children eat more, some less. Some drink more, some less. If your child is thriving and a good weight you have nothing to worry about. Do what works for you and your child.

It looks like she is snacking on milk so 🤷‍♀️

Depends on the baby really

The NHS advice is that you're doing exactly the right thing.

www.nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/what-to-feed-your-baby/7-9-months/#anchor-tabs

My 9 month old is the exact same. If I felt she was hungry then I’d provide a snack but she isn’t needing it just now.

I don't think snacks are advised at that age. They need to be taking plenty of milk still. You will know when she starts needing snacks probably in a few months around age 1 as milk intake naturally declines. With the caveat that all babies are different - there will be some 9 month olds that do want snacks and others that are still not really eating any solids.

It has been a while but mine would have been on less milk at that stage - maybe just check what the current official guidelines are. When mine were young the official advice from the HSE in Ireland was three meals - two snacks and two small bottles, but this probably has changed.

I would be adding a little morning and afternoon tea in there. Nothing much, a piece of cheese, soft pear, a crust of bread. Either before naps or after, whatever suits you. If baby is hungry, it will eat. If it would rather be playing, it will say that, too.

There tummies are still so small that little and often is good. Growing and learning does take a lot of energy.

Kids don’t need ‘snacks’ as a routine thing (yep, ready to be torn apart for that). It’s just become an engrained culture. If they’re eating 3 good meals a day and drinking plenty and their BMI/weight is good there is simply no need. Obviously if there’s an unusually long gap between meals they might need something but not as routine. Sounds like you’re doing great.

Lots of great comments thanks everybody. I think for now I'll follow her lead as she still absolutely loves her bottles not sure she's ready to drop any just yet. She has literally only just turned 9 months so ill see how we go and if I need to up the food intake I will

I think each to their own and everyone does what is best for their DC. I think it’s odd someone being shocked by whether you do snacks or don’t - I couldn’t even tell you if my friends gave their babies snacks or not! Let alone have an opinion on it 😂

I’d just do what works for you and your DC and don’t worry what anyone else does or thinks 😀

What do they mean by snacks? You definitely don't need to give her over processed branded baby snacks, ever. Milk is much better for her than that.

Haha true. I think it's just because we go the park and for walks alot together and her little girl eats snacks while we're out and mine doesn't. Her little one is older though and has moved on to cows milk and only has 1 or 2 bottles a day.

Milk is her snack ATM. Don't worry about it

No I think as you phase out the bottles you replace them with snacks.

I have a one year old who doesn't snack, he just has three meals a day. I mentioned it to our GP, and he said it was fine 🤷‍♀️ you could talk with your GP or maybe the HV if you're worried.

I will say whilst he doesn't snack, my son does eat a very healthy amount at meal times 🤣 he always has done, so I assume it's just what works best for him.

They should still be having around 24oz of milk at 9 months. Replacing milk with a snack isn’t advised, the nutrition from the bottle is far more important than those you’d get in a snack!

Totally fine OP. She’s a good little eater isn’t she!!

My almost 10 month old has today had:

6oz bottle - left a bit
Bit of toast on the school run
4oz bottle
Vegetable soup and a chicken goujon 😄 and a tiny Yeo valley mango yoghurt
6oz bottle
Took some rice cakes on the school run but she didn’t eat anything. Having some of her brother’s pretzel sticks at the moment.
salmon and something for dinner and a 6oz bottle at bedtime.

She does vom a lot so think it’s too much milk really!

Milk is her snack right now which is perfect at 9 months old. However, when they turn 1 you’re supposed to ditch all the bottles and one of the easiest ways to start to do this is to swap daytime bottles of milk for food snacks somewhere between 10 and 12 months.

Each child is different, my eldest was very good oriented from 6 months, wanted meals and snacks and dropped milk quickly, coming off formula completely by 1. My second however loved his milk and couldn't give a fig about food, we had to fight to get any solid meals into him until he was 14 months when he decided he's tortured us enough 🙈.
If your DD is happy and healthy then stick with what you're doing as it's clearly working.

I think you're following the NHS guidelines, and if your friend's baby is older, she could also be following the guidelines because they change. As I understand it:

• Milk (breastmilk or formula) is supposed to be the main source of nutrition until they're one, but the quantity does gradually decrease between 6m and 12m.

• 7-9 month olds who are fully formula fed need about 600ml a day (which is 21oz). By 10-11 months this might reduce to 400ml, so you could drop one bottle and increase the amount of solids again.

• From 12 months onwards they can have whole cow's milk instead of formula to drink. They need 350ml milk per day, or two servings of dairy. They should be getting most of their nutrition from food now including plenty of fruit and veg, at least one serving of meat or eggs or beans for protein a day, and a variety of carbs. You might want to add a couple of snacks at this point to make sure their diet is nice and varied, and that they're not hungry.

My 9 month old has 3 meals a day, 2x 5oz bottles and 1x 7oz, and we also breastfeed a few times a day. Between the ages of 11 months and 13 months I plan to replace the smaller bottles with snacks and the bigger one with a cup of cow's milk. This is what I did with his big brother at that age, and he's now 3 and still eats in that same pattern.