Ok, DD has been in the 95% in weight since birth. Her growth has been pretty constant (length too...she's always been 95% for length too). When I wanted to start her on solids, her doctor gave me a chart that has about how much formula and what types/how much food babies should get on average at what age. After about 8 months, though, it just has what types of foods you can introduce, but no portion sizes.

We've recently started giving her what we eat for dinner (as long as it's age appropriate, like cooked veggies and tender chicken) since she'll cry the whole time we're eating or trying to get into our dinner while we eat (even if she just ate her baby food).

My question is, how do I know how much to give her? This kid will eat and eat and eat as long as I keep giving her food. I make these HUGE quesadillas (think the biggest tortillas u can find at the store), and she ate more than 3/4 of one at dinner tonight. I think she would have eaten the whole thing if I'd let her. Sometimes (even though I think she's gotten a good serving), she'll cry when it's all gone if she wants more. I don't want her to gain too much weight from table food, but it seems like she wants to eat all the time, and it doesn't matter what it is. The night before last she woke up with horrible gas pains because she ate so many veggies during the day-it took gas medicine AND mylanta to help her enough for her to go to sleep. So I'm cutting back a LITTLE on the veggies. It seems like she wants to eat all the time, whenever she sees food (doesn't matter what it is pretty much), and there's no filling her up. I've only seen her get full once and it was as much food as my 5 year old brother eats.

So how do I know what a good food portion is so that when she switches from formula to milk I know I'm not starving her but also not giving her too much?

Try this site

http://www.wholesometoddlerfood.com/pyramid.htm

But basically as long as she isnt over weight like the kids we see on talk shows, she will be fine. If you are worried about how much shes eating limit her higher calorie foods to only the suggested servings and offer her extra fruits and veggies. This will help her later on in life too. Just remember, there are no good and bad foods, only good or bad diets. If you start teaching her at a young age that poptarts and the like are "bad" it could turn into an eating disorder quicker than you think.

Also, with the amount that little ones play its hard for them to really over eat. She needs to learn when she feels full but she also needs to know what it feels like to be hungry. If she isnt eating constantly all day, and going 2-3 hours in between meals and snacks, more than likely you are doing a good job helping her to self-regulate.

Also, once her body gets used to eating the veggies the gas will go away. Try more fruits for a while but dont cut out the gassy veggies like broccoli ;)

Thanks, I'll check out that site.

She does go that long between meals and snacks-she would eat constantly if I let her, but I don't. I let her have a taste of "bad" food or like one banana cookie. I limit those but do let her have them.

She's been eating veggies since she was 3 months old (I started her on veggies only)-I just went overboard that one day because she just wanted to keep eating. I'm not cutting out veggies, just not going overboard with them like I did that one day (she had a LOT of veggies-mostly peas that day). And too many fruits give her BAD diarreah (she won't even drink juice-her choice) so I limit those too (but make sure she gets them each day).

I think I'm doing a pretty good job about WHAT I give her for the most part (a quesadilla probably wasn't the best choice but it's rare for her to get something like that), just want to know how much is too much?

For children under 2 there really isnt guidelines. Many are still nursing or on formula. They are growing so rapidly and need to eat a lot. But I wouldnt give her much more than the 2 year old suggested servings. It sounds like you are making good choices for her and she just loves people food. A little baby fat is good because when they start running around all over the place they tend to lose it, become less interested in eating, and more interested in exploring.

Looking at that site, DD ends up eating almost the portion sizes of a 2 year old and that's with me limiting her! Except substitute milk for formula and her having 8 more ounces of formula than the recommended amount of milk. :shock She'll be weighed again next week, so I can see how much she's gained since we've started feeding her table food since her last weighing last month. I guess that'll help tell me if I'm feeding her too much. She's only 9 months but is almost or about the height and weight of an 18 month old, so I guess her eating should be about right if she's eating that much. Right?

she just loves people food

Ya, she does. She wants to try EVERYTHING if she sees we have it. lol

BTW, that is a GREAT site and helps a LOT. Thanks!

My 19 month old is in the 75% for height and NOW 25% for weight, but he was always in the 5% for weight.. that kid can literally eat more than me. They will stop eating when they are full normally.

Every baby is different.

Aiden ate and ate and ate!!! :shock He did not really snack and ate FULL big meals!

Gwen is finicky and snacks, only really eats 2 full meals per day.

Unless she is obese, I wouldn't worry! :D

Yep I agree with Jen, all four of my kids were different--bay was an jar food baby eater--she ate 2 to 3 jars a meal and was still hungry but was not to happy with real food.

Kayt ate snacks and such really was a small eater. CJ never really ate(he is my picky eater still)

Logan eats eats eats all day long and has regular meals too.

my neighbor's kid ate constantly, she was always in the higher percentages for weight and height. once she started to run around more she thinned up.

kids are growing and use a lot of energy so i wouldn't worry, especially if she's consistantly growing and is in the high percentages for both weight and height.

My pediatrician says that kids under 3 are programmed to only eat until they are full. They won't overeat. As long as you are feeding them healthy stuff and she is staying proportional you are okay. Both of my kids are bottomless pits.

Here is better info in a great format.

Eating plan for 1 and 2 year olds (http://www.nal.usda.gov/wicworks/Sharing_Center/WA/wic1-2.pdf)