started solids on ebf baby, still not sure how much to feed? is it too much?

[X-LUV]

Hello everyone,

I started my DS on solids over a week ago and I'm still not sure as to how much I should be feeding and if I am overfeeding? Along with breastfeeding him about 5-6 times per day I am adding about 2 ounces of solids everyday. Here's what our routine looks like (more or less)...

E 6am (just for breastfeed)
S 6:30a - 8a

E 8:00 WAKE up and breastfeed
A 9:30 solids (1 ounce)
S 10:00 - 11:30a (varies)
E 11:30 breastfeed
A 12-3:00p
S 3:00-4 or 4:30p (varies also)
E 4:30 breastfeed
A 5:30 solids (1 ounce)
E 6:30 breastfeed
A 7:00 bath, wind down, and breastfeed just one boob before bed
S 8:00p

Please let me know if this sounds like too much  or if it is ok to feed this much... I'm not sure if I should up the amount of solids I give him. He will be 6 months old next week and has a good handle on eating solids. Thanks!

[jana224]

Hi there,
I had to do the conversion first, so 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons right? That isn't too much for one feeding, once a new food has been introduced with no reaction, but I always played it safe and when I introduced a new food, I offered one teaspoon for the first couple of days to see if there was any reaction.  Then I upped it to a tablespoon and then two.  I think at 6 months, my LO was getting 1-2 tablespoons two to three times and day, at 7 months were were at 3-4 tablespoons, and now at 8 months we do 4-6 tablespoons three meals a day.  There's no perfect way to give solids, just watch what your baby can handle and when he seems disinterested, looks away from the food, pushes the spoon away, then you're done.
Jana

[X-LUV]

Thanks Jana. Yes 1 ounce is about 2 tablespoons. I haven't really changed the amount of times I feed him breastmilk, I've just added the solids in addition to what he was already getting. This is what I should be doing correct? I was just wondering because my sister in law told me that she had reduced the amount of times she breastfed (just 3 times a day of bf'ing) once she started solids. But I'm thinking I should just go with what my lo wants... and he seems to want a lot. 

[jana224]

No I didn't reduce breastfeeding at all... solids are meant to be complementary to milk but not a replacement for the first year.  I was BF my DD 4 x's a day at 6 months, and still am now, but I did solids exactly one hour after she nursed.  Something like 8:30am, 12:30pm and then I moved dinner back a bit to 5:30pm.  I'm watching my DD, now at 8 months, to see if she's ready to go down to 3 BFs a day, but so far, she is not.
Looking at your routine, it looks like you still cluster feed, which you shouldn't need to anymore (if you are looking to reduce a feed), so you could just omit that 6:30pm bf and save it for right before bed.
Jana

[X-LUV]

O.k. gotcha.  Thanks for the advice. I will continue to keep feeding him as I have been (since he seems happy). And I'll try to omit the evening  bf and see how that goes. Thanks! 

[jana224]

Good luck!