When has baby had enough food?

[Lesley1980]

This may be a silly question but here I go....how do you know when to stop feeding your baby?

My heath visitor suggested I give my baby porridge just to get her used to a slightly thicker mixture & eating off a spoon. My baby is only 4 months 3 weeks & isnt a big (20 centile weight, 50 height)or greedy baby. I gave her some porridge today & the only reason she stopped eating was because I ran out-about 8 spoonfuls,with none being spat out & crying when she couldn't get more! Most weaning pages say baby will probably only take one spoonful so I was a bit shocked when she just kept going. If my baby is still hungry then I obviously still want her to keep feeding but I don't want to stuff her full of food or make her fat & greedy. Is there set amounts I should be feeding her? If she wants more than this can I just let her feed until she is full? I don't want to wipe out her milk feeds because she is full of food. She only drinks around 700-900ml milk as it is.

Tbh am not sure but didn't want to read and run. But if the HV has suggested it for texture only I would only give a couple once a day. I think most people will say the milk is more important at this age.

So maybe give the milk as normal then about a hour later try a few baby spoons. Am not sure why the HV has suggested it for texture purposes hopefully someone with more experience will come along and help.

Weird your hv gave you this advice when I was told by mine not to wean until 6 months. I've also been told that porridge is not a good 1st food because the oats are not good for undeveloped tummies. I started with baby rice and fruit puree. 1 teaspoon of rice a day gradually building it up. One month on and he's having breakfast, lunch and dinner. He always cries when it's finished but I don't give him more because he gets very uncomfortable when he is too full and doesn't regulate himself. I always give him water when I feed him and I am now introducing finger foods but he is 6 months.

Just wondering why you've been advised to start solid food already?

Sorry not porridge, I mean baby rice...doh! My HV was just talking about weaning during last visit & I told her I was not planning to start until 6 months but mentioned that if I drink or eat when holding her she always goes to grab the drink/food & opens her mouth like she does when she wants a bottle. I told her I don't believe a baby watching you is a sign of them needing weaned & she says some babies are psychologically ready to wean & suggested the food. She also said it may help a little with her centiles going down(her centiles dropped when she had whooping cough at 4 weeks & hardly ate).

I had planned to wait until around 5.5 or 6 months to wean & had actually expected her to reject food. We have a couple of paediatrician friends & they don't agree with the current recommendations for various reasons so I'm not 100% against doing it early.