Is My Baby Eating Enough

Real talk for parents who stare at the high chair and silently panic

Overhead view of a child enjoying croissants at a table with a laptop nearby, capturing a cozy breakfast moment.

If you’ve ever watched your baby throw more food on the floor than in their mouth and wondered, “Are they even eating anything?” — you’re not alone. I’ve been there too, standing over the high chair with a sinking feeling in my stomach, wondering if I was doing something wrong.

Baby-led weaning (BLW) is amazing in so many ways, but it definitely messes with your expectations — especially if you’re used to thinking in spoonfuls and empty jars.

 So, let’s talk about it: what’s normal, what’s not, and how to stop stressing over every bite.

1. In the Beginning, It’s All About Exploration

This was the hardest truth for me to swallow (pun intended): food under 1 is mostly for fun.

During the early months of BLW (around 6–9 months), your baby is learning how to eat — not necessarily eating to fill up. That means:
• Squishing food
• Smearing it on the tray
• Tasting, spitting, gagging, dropping, flinging…

All normal. And yes, kind of frustrating. But also beautiful when you realize how much they’re learning.

Milk — whether breastmilk or formula — is still their primary source of nutrition during this time. You’re not behind. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re giving them space to build skills at their own pace.

2. Babies Don’t Need Big Portions

I used to worry I wasn’t offering enough food. Then I realized: their stomach is only about the size of their fist. And their appetite can change daily.

One day they might eat half a banana, scrambled egg, and toast.
The next? A few bites of cucumber and nothing else.

Instead of stressing about portions, we started using a divided suction plate [this is one of our favorite] that helped us offer small portions of:
• 1 veggie
• 1 protein
• 1 carb or fruit

It helped me feel more balanced — and helped our baby explore without feeling overwhelmed by too much on the plate.

3. Trust the Signs — Not the Spoon

BLW encourages self-regulation, which means your baby eats when they’re hungry and stops when they’re full. (Honestly, something most of us adults could re-learn.)

Signs your baby is getting enough:
• They’re alert, active, and growing
• They’re having regular wet diapers and poops
• They’re showing interest in food, even if it’s inconsistent
• They’re continuing to nurse or bottle-feed like usual

What helped me stay sane: tracking diapers and general intake in a simple baby feeding tracker notebook or app. It helped me see the bigger picture instead of panicking over one skipped meal.

4. The Mess Isn’t Wasted (Even If It Feels That Way)

It’s common to think “They barely ate anything!” after a meal where most of the food ends up on the floor. But even tiny tastes and food play help with:
• Sensory development
• Hand-eye coordination
• Oral motor skills
• Confidence and independence with eating

Every squish, lick, and drop has value — even when it doesn’t feel like it.

That said, we saved money and food by offering smaller portions to start, then offering more if they asked. Using a freezer-safe storage containers [this is super useful and microwave safe for reheating too] helped us reuse leftovers safely.

5. If You’re Ever Worried, Trust Your Gut (and Your Pediatrician)

If something feels off — maybe your baby isn’t gaining weight, seems unusually lethargic, or consistently refuses all solids — talk to your pediatrician. They can check weight, iron levels, and give you peace of mind.

You don’t have to figure it all out alone. We brought a photo log of our baby’s meals to one appointment, and it really helped guide the conversation.

Final Thoughts

It’s completely normal to worry whether your baby is eating enough — especially with BLW, where not eating can sometimes look a lot like part of the process.

But here’s the reminder I wish I’d heard more often:

Babies are incredibly intuitive eaters.

They’re listening to their bodies. They’re learning at their own pace. And you’re doing an amazing job just by offering them good food and letting them try.

If you’re looking for helpful tools that made our BLW journey a little less stressful, here are our favorites:

(These are affiliate links — no extra cost to you, and we only recommend things we’ve actually used and loved.)

You’re doing great. Even when it feels like all you did was feed the floor.