Tell me it gets better after formula!!😭

Even with formula, you shouldn’t be having a hard time leaving ? I just bought formula holders that were exact bottle measurements, room temperate bottle water - I don’t think I was ever home. I don’t get why moms think they are glued home when there’s a thousand options to be able to travel with formal. You can also make sure a bottle is dry and pre fill it with powder and fill it when needed and shake. Bottles don’t actually have to be hot/warm. Ontop of bottles I used to bring squeezes and baby crackers and other small goods and depending on age fruit like banana in a smushed avocado chunk way

Until baby is weaned entirely from bm or formula, food is just for fun up until a year. 3 blw meals a day is A LOT. One quality meal plus a snack or 2 smaller meals is plenty! Don't stress about it for every meal. It's totally ok to feed the occasional squeeze pack too as a meal replacement even. Once in a while won't ruin them!

@Danielle this is actually not true and it’s a dangerous misguided thought. Food isn’t just for fun, it actually teaches hand mouth co ordination, it teaches and helps build a gag reflux, rules out allergies etc it’s a long list. There’s a reason why DOCTORS tell you to start between 4-6 months depending on baby. If that was just for fun they wouldn’t give an age to start.

With babies, I spent a lot of time away from home with a lunchbox and ice packs. I packed purees & bottles and did picnics at the park. With two toddlers, I eventually upgraded to an insulated backpack. Now, we mostly do snacks and naps in the stroller. You can pack your blw snacks. 4oz Tupperware fit in cup holders. Maybe get some bigger bottles. That's a lot of washing every day!

@Jasmine what I meant is that it's not their main source of nutrition. It has LOTS of other important functions, like you listed and more. My favourite source for blw is led entirely by science (solid starts) and they preach that even 1 quality blw meals per day is hugely beneficial. Because if it's done right it takes TIME... and a lot of patience on our part.

@Danielle it’s actually a source of nutrition as well, it’s supposed to be food food than bottle the older they get. Your information sounds very outdated

@Jasmine I dealt with pediatricians and an occupational therapist for my daughter and her issues during the transition to solids. Only a year ago. My kids are happy, healthy, and eat very well 🤷‍♀️ As moms we put entirely too much pressure on ourselves to be perfect, especially when it comes to what our kids put in their mouths. We all deserve some grace and concessions... Because having a mom who's engaged and present is much more important to them than having 3 meals a day before a year old. Life is too short to stress about perfection. Especially when kids are this young.

@Danielle so have I but yours sounds all outdated, you can see a doctor next week and it can still be an outdated view lol- who said eating the right way and recommended way is putting too much pressure to be perfect? That’s not being perfect that’s being a responsible parent. And LOL you just sound like a bad mom “being present is more important than my child’s health” good job

@Danielle didn’t realize trying to feed your child to live was striving for perfection lol no one said anything about it being top notch organic growing on your own farm type foods LOL Lordy

@Jasmine you mother your kids how works for you. I have never and would never call another mother "a bad mom" for any reason, especially directly to her. We are all struggling to do the hardest job in the world. And offering support and advice based on what works for us is what exactly what this community should be. @Leah I've been where you are. It does get easier... And harder 🤣 every age offers a different challenge in leaving the house. If you want to go out to do something, it takes some planning, but also some flexibility in schedule. At least it did for me. You are not alone 💙

@Danielle you’re a bad mom for saying to be more present and basically screw drs who say they need food that isn’t just for fun. Maybe it’s a country difference but providing basic needs shouldn’t be “striving for perfection”

Okay, this turned into something it shouldn't have... she is looking for advice, not an argument and name calling. I have a toddler and an 11 month old. The baby is on formula, and until the last couple months, refused to drink it at room temp. I bought a portable bottle warmer. As for food, I will make sure there is something ready to go before we leave, whether it be something I actually cook beforehand, or just leftovers from the night before. When we go places I will take snacks and drinks. I'll do a meal once we get home. Naps is where mine always get tricky. Both my kids will only sleep in their beds, or do little naps in the car on the drive back (I call them micro naps because they are 10 minutes or less). So I do have to plan my day around their nap schedules, so it definitely makes going places super hard! If you'd like to chat more, feel free to message me! 😊

@Jenna Thank you🩷 and yes I really was just looking for someone in a similar situation or someone just getting out of this stage. It didn’t need to turn into an argument. It’s sad that this should be a safe place to post advice or questions and people will just fight. My little girl LOVES to eat and even just loves to play around and explore the food. So being home is quite necessary for her “meals” she gets bored and loves being in her high chair eating. Shes also 95th percentile for her height so she’s a growing girl 😅

@Leah both my boys are in upper 90's on the percentile for height and weight too. They are both big eaters. So I completely understand the struggle!! I think there is a common ground between the previous commenters. While I agree that good nutrition is super important, it shouldn't be completely controlling your life. Maybe do 2 BLW meals and the rest in snacks so there is some flexibility. You could do breakfast and lunch so that your afternoons are free to be out, or do snacks for breakfast so that you can go out first thing in the morning, then do lunch and dinner as full meals.

My son is 9 months this week. Hes been eating 3 times a day for the past 1 and half months and drinks 5 bottles too. So he eats 12oz of food and drinks 32 oz a day. I give him a lot of snacks, it helps lol. I usually go out right after he’s fed. Hes good for 3 hours and if im still out, i just bottle feed him again and go on with the errand. He’ll fall asleep in the stroller.

My baby drinks whole milk out of a bottle and or sippycups. It does get better trust and belive. At first is it difficult but once they get the hang of it everything will be more smoother.