Are we ready to drop a bottle?

[becky1969]

LO is 33 weeks, 7.5 months. We JUST got rid of the dream feed about a week ago, so he's down to 4 bottles: 7:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM.

He's starting to eat less of his 12 pm bottle. It actually happened rather suddenly - the last 2-3 days he's only taken 4 oz. I was worried it would lead to night wakings, but so far so good! He still takes a full 8 oz. at 4 and 6:30 PM. Do you think I should just drop that bottle now? Or since his last 2 bottles are 8 oz each I should just offer it to him and just plan on making less formula?

[LŠuren]

Becky Sounds like he wants to drop to 3 bottles, you can either

go cold turkey and offer 3 feeds over your day e.g. 7am + 1.30/2pm + 7.30pm

or

reduce the amount you offer at the 12pm bottle and gradually bring the 4pm bottle forward so you end up with 3 bottle.

I personally went cold turkey to 3 bottles, his intake did decrease slightly, however I had to increase his other bottles because he started draining them - so it wasn't like I had lost a whole bottle - hope that makes sense.

Lauren

[becky1969]

that DOES make sense, except he's draining all those other bottles so I can't increase them. Do you still think I should drop? He would be getting 24 oz., which is probably plenty at this age, right? Also, I have mostly stopped adding formula to his solids, but I can to avocado or banana to give him another oz. or 2

[*Natasha*]

At this age the range is anywhere from 21-28ozs.

[becky1969]

Well, looks like that cutting back was a temporary blip. He was back to draining all 4 bottles today! I think he's teething a bit, so some days has trouble with those bottles. Looks like we'll be doing 4 awhile longer. Fine with me -- I'm just happy as long as there's no night wakings!