Hi there
I'm really hoping someone can offer some advice. My LO is 5 months old and until now has been BF (with the addition of a bottle of formula for dream feed at around 11pm). I have fed on demand and he has always fed little and often. As a result we have virtually no routine (he does nap but this is at varying times). He has always been up every 3 hours throughout the night and recently that has increased to every one or two hours!!
I would like to begin weaning him off the breast and onto bottle feeds, however he will often refuse the bottle or only take 2 or 3 oz at a time. Because we have no routine I feel like there are no distinct feeds that I can drop and replace with a bottle. I have been offering it at various points in the day - sometimes he takes it sometimes not. I have also introduced some baby rice at around lunchtime. He is a big boy I feel that he may be ready for something more than milk, also hoping it will help him sleep better.
I feel like we are in a real mess. I'm not sure what to address frst - the lack of routine, the weaning to bottle feeds, the introduction of solids or all three?! He is bound to be feeling as confused as me and I feel terrible. Would love any advice on how I can give him more structure and help with the transition to bottles. I am returning to work in a couple of months and the thought of leaving hum with anyone like this is making me very anxious!
Many thanks