When to feed with long activity times

[georgeo]

Dd is 7 months and bf. We're finally getting longer naps by extending her activity times. Problem is if I nurse when she gets up and solids an hour later it's too long until she is awake from her next nap.

Here is what our easy is shaping up to be.

Awake 6:00
Sleep 9:30

Awake 11
Sleep 2:15

Awake 3:45
Sleep (bt) 7

We are still tweaking but this is what we're getting to. When would you feed her? Could she have a snack before her naps or will that mean she will be snacking all day instead?

Thanks:)

[Buntybear]

Bumping for you, I am a little rusty on a 7 month olds EASY now 

[*Ali*]

I just used to do the second BF a bit before the nap and then do solids on wake up and the third BF before the second nap. I just made sure to keep the nappy change and general wind down after the BF so it wasn't associated with sleep.
Or you could move solids to about 7.30 or 8 so she isn't hungry before the end of the nap. My ds2 didn't eat much for breakfast at that age though so that didn't work for us.

[creations]

I fed at something roughly like 7am, 11am , 4pm, 7pm
I remember reading others were giving a milk fed prior to the nap, so bringing the milk early but in our case I don't think it was needed.
I found that with the solids coming between the milk feeds he would manage longer between milk feeds.
I did solids an hour after milk feeds so roughly 8am, 12pm and 5pm.
I didn't introduce snacks at that age but we were on 3 meals very quickly which not all LOs that age are on.

[georgeo]

Thanks ladies. She actually seems to be doing fine with bf then solids an hour to 1.5 hrs later. I am offering bf after solids though. Do you think that's ok?

[creations]

I am offering bf after solids though. Do you think that's ok?

When my DS began solids he absolutely had to have milk after a solids meal (formula bottle fed) even though he had already had his regular milk an hour before plus the solids so in effect had eaten more already.  He really needed it though so I gave it.  After a little while he didn't need it any more.  I saw it as a transitional stage getting used to solid foods.
You should (and prob are) offer water (in a cup) during solids meals as LO may be thirsty and want water rather than milk, but it is ok to bf following too, breast milk is so adaptable that it will quench thirst when needed.

I found as time went on and naps changed the E and S took different paths.  It makes sense really because eventually they drop the naps but don't drop the eating

[georgeo]

I sometimes offer bm in a Sippy and sometimes breast feed her after. Is it ok to give water at this age? I didn't know if it would reduce the amount of bm she has in a day and therefore end up not having enough. She is 7.5 months.

[*Ali*]

Yes, it is recommended to offer water at every meal in a sippy from 6mo. This is partly so LO gets used to having a drink with a meal, partly so they can wash the mouth out and also so they can practise with the cup. She will probably only take small amounts (if anything) at first bit will get better over time.

[georgeo]

She actually took right to the Sippy and will take a full feed of bm from it. That's why I was worried she would have too much. I guess just put a few ounces in it.

That's good news. Water is so much easier to give in a cup than bm.

[creations]

She actually took right to the Sippy

What great news!  So many LOs find it tricky to begin with.
If you've offered water during a meal she might still like some milk after, you could offer both if you aren't sure.

[georgeo]

Thanks I'll do both and see if she ends up not needing the milk anymore.