The size of her bottles does seem big, but I don't think that is necessarily a problem.
Obviously babies are all different sizes and smaller babies are not going to need to eat so much and bigger babies are going to need to eat more - guidance on feeds is going to usually be some mid point but not a once size fits all amount.
You mentioned her weight centile, on the higher end of the scale which is totally normal. Is her length also on the higher end? So looking at proportion the HV doesn't seem to have mentioned any problem there?? (such as height being several centile lines lower than the weight cetile line) and head circumference is okay too?
I would suggest that if there *is* a large disparity between weight and length then I'd be asking the GP for a referral to a paedi to have her checked over.
If there *is not* that sort of disparity then she's just a big girl - and I'd guess you and/or your DH are tall/bigger build and she's just growing as expected.
I can see guides on-line for milk intake at 7oz 5 or 6 times per day which is a total of 35-42oz. And it looks like your LO is taking about 40oz. Unless you also have some night feeds which you didn't mention in your post?
Whilst she is still younger than the recommended age for finger foods I see that you feel confident in her ability to take them. She is also younger than the recommend age for introducing grains such as wheat (bread sticks) but you've obviously considered all the developmental and safety aspects and feel comfortable about her readiness.
With that in mind I wonder if you might consider offering some different foods to increase the fats and proteins in her meals which could help to fill her for longer? That could help keep the milk intake as it is or drop a little if necessary.
For example eggs are high in good fats and protein, usually recommended at 6 months but some on-line sources say it's fine to give them when ever a baby is ready and keen (4-6 months) and as you are in the UK you can easily obtain lion mark eggs which are free from salmonella (I often think eggs are safe than formula in this respect).
Some advice on allergen risk foods (wheat, eggs, nut butter, cows milk solids, fish) says you must wait until 6 months and other sources say it is more important to wait for LOs readiness to eat solids and then introduce them. So, you can decide for yourself on each food item, as your LO is obviously one of those babies who was "ready" at 4 months rather than 6 months.
Other foods high in fat/protein are:
fish (check all bones are removed, cook through well, whizz to a paste and serve as dip/mush or spread on toast), fatty fish is going to be higher in good fats obviously, such as salmon or mackerel (I would use fresh not tinned as the salt content in tinned foods can be higher) both are pretty easy to check for bones and offer in flakes as finger food or whizz to double check bones are ground down.
meat (large chunks of meat for finger foods give her a good handle to hold whilst she sucks an gums on the meat). Or whizz to a purree and make into patties or meat loaf)
beans and lentils can be whizzed into a paste (such as humus or any type of bean paste/mush/spread)
avocado is high in good fats and can be served as mush/guacamole or as finger food
adding oil or butter to foods can increase the fat content
I'm interested in why you wouldn't make the suggestion to swap one meal round - do you think she is still too young?
I don't think I've ever suggested swapping milk and solids around even for a 1 year old. I see no need to. Yes sometimes a toddler might be refusing breakfast or taking very little and at that point dropping the morning milk could be the answer or switching to solids first with a cup of milk after breakfast or milk with the mid morning snack instead but that's really only for toddlers who need to be taking solids as their primary food. Not for babies whose main food is milk.
Generally I advise sticking with milk at the usual EASY routine times (4hrs which extends naturally a bit longer, say 5hrs) when naps come in the way, LO is a bit older and solids are coming between milks)
milks: 7, 11, 3, 7 (DF or NF)
solids 1hr later: 8, 12, 4/5
Then rather than switch to milk first I go with switching one milk to a solid snack when LO is ready, usually either the 11am or 3pm and then a little later the other one (it does depend on LO but lets say 10-12 months). This leaves a routine at 12 months (or a little earlier) of approx:
7 milk
8 breakfast
11 snack
12 lunch
3 snack
4/5 dinner
7 milk
I just find this is an easy way to know when to feed LO as it fits with the routine we are used to and LO is used to. it just removes confusion over what time to gives what and the whole milk or solids first thing doesn't even come into it.
