When to offer milk feed after solids?

[AlsOne]

Hi all

We started on solids a few weeks ago when lo hit 6 months. Things are going well, except for I have this nagging feeling in my mind that I don't really have this bit worked out.

The problem is that it seems everywhere I turn there are differing oppinons as to when you switch from offering the milk first, to topping them up with the milk after solids.

I have had suggestions from 7 months, right up to 18 months! I am so confused!

Is it as simple as a month that is recommended, or can I pick up cues from my lo when to make the swap?

TIA!
Alison 

[Purplecattypants]

Hi there 

It is recommended that milk be your lo's main source of nutrition until they reach approx. 12 months. Milk is essential for optimum growth and development at this stage. At this age, solid food is really only meant for practice, and is not high enough in calories/nutrients to sustain them properly.

Around the 12 month mark you can switch so that solids come before milk, but they still need approx 1 pint of dairy per day, be that milk, yoghurt, cheese...and so on.

HTH x

[L76]

Hi there

I was having the same problem! However, I've just gone with my instinct to be honest and it seems to be working ok - the only problem I tend to come across is that she's not so hungry for her lunch but I can't do it too late otherwise she's too sleepy!!!!

I thought it was hard fitting milk feeds in around sleeping and activity but now fitting in a solid feed too - well that's another ball game!!!

Anyway, have posted what I do below incase it helps you. My LO is 6.5 months and have been weaning for a month or so. She's on 4 milk feeds per day now + 3 solid meals.

7-7.30am   milk (BF)
8.30am      solids

10.30am    milk (BF)
11.30am    solids

2.30pm      milk (Bottle) (trying to stretch out to 3pm currently)
5pm          solids (was a milk feed til a week ago when I introduced third solid meal)

6.30pm      milk (BF)

HTH

Leanne x

[AlsOne]

pcp - thanks for your reply, I was sort of hoping the answer would be somewhere in between the 2 extremes! I must admit that makes me glad, I was hoping to bf for at least 12 months and knowing that switching the milk and food would mean less 'boob time' was sort of making me a bit sad !!

Hi leanne, thankyou, that looks almost exactly like our routine!! (except our 3rd meal is a bit closer to the milk). Have you thought about when you will make the switch and give solids first then milk?

[L76]

Hi there

I think I will keep it fairly as it is so that she is having early morning and bed time milk then milk mid morning and mid afternoon - hopefully the lunch will get a bit later on eg 12pm ish.

This is the kind of routine that our nursery have but by about 9 months they switch the milk mid morning and mid afternoon for snacks ie 2 milk feeds a day. I know that some prefer to keep these milk feeds til they are 1 yr though. To be honest, I am just going to go with what my LO wants as and when. For now, things seem to be working fairly well although as she is full from the milk mid morning, she doesnt seem that interested in solids. Have seen a reduction in feeding time mid morning too from about 10mins to around 6 so already she is taking less.

I think they need around 20oz so if they are taking 7 oz in each feed then three feeds a day is ok so I think my LO will end up dropping the mid morning one first in favour of a snack eg fruit or yogurt.

When are you going to swap round?

Leanne x

[AlsOne]

hi Leanne
I think i will make the swap somewhere between 9 and 12 months, given all the info i have. Not really sure yet, will see what's happening when we get there. Just another little hurdle for us to get over!!
Cheers
Alison