Adopted Dad feeding concerns

[markagm]

Hi,

I don’t know if I’m allowed to post here, being a bloke, but I'm struggling to find sites / forums related to dads and not just mums. My husband and I adopted a 1 year old boy and we’re just concerned that he’s not eating enough, or even what is enough. We’re still waiting to see a health visitor and a Dr in regards to his development.

My son eats:

5-6:30 7oz formula bottle on waking (but then usually goes back to sleep for an hour).

7:30-8:30 weetabix (between 0.5 and 1), he was on Ella’s kitchen baby rice which his foster carer used as porridge, but he seems to have gone off that.

10am snack of Ella’s kitchen biscuit or the puff crisps. I tried him on a recipe of blended dates, cashews and strawberry which he ate a bit of.

11:30 - 12:30 Cow & Gate jar, Ella’s kitchen meal (between 3 spoonfuls to ¾ of the meal), then a banana pouch or Ella’s kitchen fruit pouch (will normally eat all of it).

2:30-3 snack of date bar, or some of the morning snacks.

3:30-4:30 same as lunch really, just a different meal - again eats around the same, pudding is a fruit pouch.

6:30 7oz formula bottle before bed.

We are starting to introduce finger foods and trying him out with other foods, but he has quite a few allergies and health issues which restrict the type of foods we can try him on.

If he's one and only just been adopted there could be possible trauma in his past - even if there isn't, consistency and continuity will be important in the beginning, for his mental health and his gut health. I would continue as you are for the moment, but try to introduce a new food at one meal a day, lunch is probably your best bet, or one of his snacks. Introducing some soft cooked vegetables would be a good start. Once he gets a bit more used to his surroundings, one meal a day could be what you're eating eg breakfast, then slowly introduce the second and third meals. It will probably be a really long process but worth it in the end

I haven’t read the whole thread so sorry if I’m repeating. Yes of course you can post on MN, welcome to the club and congratulations

If he’s used to that diet before you had him, I would keep things as they are for now and introduce change very slowly. If you are introducing finger food, always give him something you know he’ll eat st the same time. So maybe give him a little bit of finger food to play with while you get the rest ready.

Yes, it’s enough food but likecotgers have said, maybe not the most nutritious but you can work on that over time

There are some boards that you might find useful on MN, I’d suggest starting on adoption and when you’re ready to start making changes to his diet weaning although Weaning an adopted child can be very different so you may want to stick to the adoption board

Breastfeed on waking

Someone didn't read the OP 😁

OP, congrats on the arrival of your son. I found that easing up on the milk made a huge difference in my kids appetites at that age.

The amounts sound fine to me.

I didn't give my dc pudding as such at that age. Just a savory meal, either Ella's pouch or something I'd made, I made our normal adult meals but made sure there was nothing in them dc couldn't have. Or say if I was doing a turkey mince stir fry just plain mince, noodles and veg without sauce.

The snacks were bread sticks, rice cakes, fruit, yoghurt.

Toast, cereal (weetabix) or porridge (ready break is just oats) for breakfast.

*like others

*Breastfeed on waking

Someone didn't read the OP 😁*

Or maybe somebody did read the OP and gave the OP the benefit of the doubt that they would read my post saying that it was an example of DD's day and would be intelligent enough to swap BF for formula.

Don’t forget too @markagm that you are best looking at what he-eats over a week rather than focusing on a day or even a single meal. Little ones love to keep us on our toes and one way they love to do this is by eating tonnes one day and hardly anything on other days

Congratulations on your new baby!

You might want to come and hang out on the adoption board sometime (go to talk topics - Becoming a Parent - Adoption)

INeedNewShoes

Sorry, you are right. 😳. I didn’t read your post properly.

No problem LookAtIt. I've done the same myself on occasion!

I note OP hasn't been back, probably been kept rather busy by a 1 year old I hope everything is going ok; it must be overwhelming having all this to get your head around!

My lad’s favourite snack at that age was cheese strawsbut like I said, you may have to stick with what he know for a wee while

Are you giving him a decent vitamin supplement too @markagm?

The Caroline Walker Trust produce an excellent document called Eating Well for 1 to 4 year olds which you and your DH might find useful. I’ve recently read the teen one after noticing how skinny my DS was and it’s helped us to get a better balance