Hi Emma
My LO was still on 4 milk feeds until about 8 months- I was guided by her cues (and lots of sound advice from Paula & Lauren!
) as to when to drop a bottle. She was having bottles at 7,11,3 and 7pm and having solids at 8am, 12.30pm and 5.30pm. Basically she was initially having 8oz bottles, then over time as she got more interested in solids between 6 & 8 months old she started to drink less and less milk from her 2 bottles in the middle of the day, and particularly the 11am one. When it got to the point where she was only having 4oz at 11am and about 4-5 oz at 3pm I decided it was time for one bottle to go. Now she has her middle bottle at about 1.45pm. Since going to 3 bottles she is actually having more milk as she is hungrier for it- about 9oz each time!
I do offer her water with each solid meal but she never has more than about an ounce.
I would certainly not drop a daytime bottle until you have successfully got rid of the dream feed otherwise you might find you are up in the night again! Suggest to start weaning df and once that is gone for good watch Lucas's cues to see when he is ready to drop another bottle.
From reading lots of other posts about this it seems most lo's are on 4 bottles until around 8 months so I wouldn't hurry to follow your HV advice unless you are sure he is ready. They still get most of their goodness from milk until 12 months, solids are to add bulk & texture to the diet.
hth
kathryn x
