Confused about the 4-3 bottle dropping transition?

[lulu520]

Yeah, I thought the same thing, that 7 mo was too young but others have said that their LO's switched over around this time too (between 6-8 months).  I guess as a mom I am always wondering if I'm doing the "right" thing so it's good to hear feedback.  (Darn insecurities!! haha) Yeah, let us know :-)

[Meggie]

Well today was... experimental.  She seems to have done ok.  7.5 ounces in the morning (6.5 from bottle 1 from breakfast cereal), 6 ounces in the afternoon and 8 for bed, so she seemed to have done ok.  I am going to change the timing around a little bit for tomorrow.  Hopefully after a few days she will realize she is only going to get 1 feed in the afternoon and will drink a little more.

[lulu520]

That sounds like a good first day.  Yeah, I was all worried the first few days b/c she would only drink like 20-22oz total and I was thinking... wow, this isn't good since she was drinking like 28 or so before.  But I think she was just getting used to it b/c now she drinks 8-9 oz in each of her bottles.  It just happened one day and I was like.. okay.. this is going to actually work.  I felt like giving up and going back to 4 bottles a few times though :-) 

[Meggie]

Thats great news lulu!  When I fed her today, she did seem like she was hungry and I didn't feel like I was trying to force-feed her.  She is a very adaptable baby and I don't think she was too upset by the change.  I really hope this is going to work!

[* Paula *]

Sounds like both your lo's are adapting fantasitcally 

[Meggie]

I just thought I'd give a little update after 5 days of 3 bottles/day.  Kaitlyn is doing great!  She is still only drinking 21-23 oz/day, but that is typial of what she normally drinks.  It took a couple days of figuring out when and how much to feed her, but she's doing great and actually sleeping better at night    She is also extending her A times which is making us shift her schedule anyways, so I think this was the perfect time.

Here's our routine (ideally):

7am - Wake, eat (8oz)
8:30 - Breakfast (2 cubes of fruit, 2 tbsps cereal) This could not be any earlier or else she wasn't hungry enough to eat, and then would not take her nap out of hunger.
9:30-11 - Nap
11 - Lunch (1 cube meat, 2 cubes vegetable)
1:30 - Bottle (6 oz)
2-3:30 - Nap
4 - Dinner (4 cubes vegetable and rice rusk)
5:30 - Bath
6 - Bottle (8oz)
6:30 - Bed

Thanks for all the help and information and encouragement.

[lulu520]

Wow, that's great that it's all falling into place.  Congrats on implementing the new schedule!! :-) 
What kind of meat do you feed her btw?  Just curious and always looking for new food ideas!

[Meggie]

I am currently feeding her chicken and ground beef (extra lean and rinsed).  In Canada, where I live it is now recommended to start babies on meat and meat alternatives (theres a post on this board somewhere).  I have been inroducing it right along with the veggies and fruit, chicken was her first food after cereal.  In the next couple weeks we are going to start chickpeas and pork.

[lulu520]

Thanks!  Yeah, I started giving her meats too but haven't been really consistent in doing it.  It's like with all the veggies, fruits, and other foods there are too many things!!  :-)

[* Paula *]

That is fantastic news, the new schedule looks great.  I am so pleased that things are working out for you.