6 mo old starting meat

So Michael is 6 months already! He got 2 teeth and is an avid eater. Today he ate a big bowl of food consisting on rice, chicken, peas, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and carrots. I had to re-fill it twice, hence all the different vegetables I ended adding, because I finished what I had available. I prepare his food with organic ingredients, except for the rice cereal.  
He just started chicken yesterday and I'm not sure how much I should give him in one meal. How much did you start with??? I'm afraid I'm giving too much meat.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

[mami1323]

I don't think you are supposed to give meat until 9 months.  I might be wrong here but I was told to start with stage 1 foods and then move to meats at 9 months.  That's a lot of food at 6 months.  They really should be getting mostly formula or breastmilk.  I started him off with oatmeal once a day and the rest of the day would be formula.  Then slowly increased to twice a day with the stage 1 foods.  Now by 11 months he's eating 3 meals a day and drinking between 16-24 oz of formula.  He is at the 16 oz of formula because my boy loves his food now.  But it's still important for him to get all the vitamins and nutrients from the formula.  

[GNicole]

I would also be careful about adding all of those foods at the same time because of allergies. You should try one food at a time for at least a week to make sure your child is not allergic.

[kellym]

I think it was 9 mo's or a year for meat. Probably 9 mo's. My ds is 5 months and I just started w/cereal and fruit. I give it 3x a day.

[Atlanta Girl]

I've just had the 6 months appointment with the ped and he said to introduce meat.  I have started my boy on solids at 4 1/2 mo and tested all the foods I'm giving now.  He has never had any problem with any of the food he's eaten so far.  He has one meal per day with solid food and the rest is breastmilk. He wants all that he'll start crying if I take the bowl away before he's full! I give fruit after the middle afternoon breast feeding. It looks like he's been handling the meat just fine so I'm fine with introducing protein from meat at this time. But I don't want to give too much... I should have asked the ped...

[peekawho]

Just a teaspoon at first, once a day, if you must introduce it now.  Remember that nutritionally, it is completely unecessary and the big danger is feeding so much table food that the baby will decrease the amount of breastmilk taken in.   Always offer the breast or bottle first, let the baby have his fill, and then let him dabble in the baby foods.  It should never go the other way around.  

Breastmilk and formula are the primary sources of fuel and nutrition for a baby's growing brain.  Cutting down the amount of breastmilk by offering lots of baby food can limit the important nutrients contained in breastmilk and formula.

So that's why the amounts of table food should be very, very limited at this age.  If one is not careful, breastmilk or formula intake can become secondary, and this can be harmful to the baby's brain growth.

Breast or bottle first, then a few playful bites of baby food.  Its only for taste/texture/exploration at this age.  It is meaningless, nutritionally.  

Good luck!

[peekawho]

And I didn't post this directed at you, specifically!  I see that you are offering breastmilk first.

Sometimes, people search for similar subjects and I included extra information directed at others who may be wondering about baby food issues.  

Just wanted to be sure you didn't think I was criticizing you.  

[Atlanta Girl]

Thanks peekawho for your suggestions. I'm indeed offering the breast first but he still wants a lot of solids. I'll add very little meat from now on, though. Thanks!