My baby is getting bigger all the time and doing it mostly on breast milk. Not surprising except when you consider that he’s nearly seventeen months and weighs over thirty pounds. Some days are better than others for eating solids, but he probably averages an 80/20 ration between breast milk and solid foods.

I keep telling him that he’s old enough and has the teeth for more solids. He recently acquired two molars on his left side which I pointed out facilitated the intake of more solids. He wasn’t impressed.

For anyone who knows me, you know that I am passionate about breastfeeding a baby. That being said there comes a point. Three o’clock in the morning when I just nursed him ninety minutes previously is that point. Last night I was so happy that he went three hours between feeds from one to four. Most nights it’s every two hours or less! I’m tired – not of feeding my baby – I need a break. He still nurses like he’s three months old and my body is begging for a break.

I went to my local La Leche League meeting on Wednesday night and one of the leaders said it’s not unreasonable to expect my toddler to go longer between feeds than he did a year ago.

It’s not that we haven’t tried interesting him in food. We offer him everything we eat and more. Some days he eats like a champ – he did yesterday and he slept three hours in a row last night. Other days he just isn’t interested in solids unless they come in cookie form. He has a major sweet tooth already. ☺

About a week ago I started researching what goes into “toddler formulas”. I came up with a recipe based on my research because…

1. those things are way too expensive and
2. most of the ingredients in them can’t be pronounced and the ones that can I’m suspicious of.

It’s very simple. I make a double batch in the morning, and he gets a sippy cup full in the morning and another in the afternoon. This schedule gives me a bit of a break so I don’t feel like I’m nursing all. the. time.

In case anyone else – for whatever  reason – is in need of a similar drink for their toddler here’s what I came up with. I use 2% milk for the base because that’s what’s in our fridge, cream for the fat, protein powder to add some staying power, cocoa to flavor and honey to sweeten the cocoa. This amount makes enough to fill his sippy cup twice. I put the extra portion in a canning jar and store it in the fridge until he’s ready for it.

Does anyone have any suggestions for getting my baby to eat. more. solids? ☺

Linked to: Art of Home-Making, Made by You Monday, Titus 2 Tuesday