8 months and still taking 6 bottles a day! Ahhhh!

[Austin's mom]

my little monkey has been chugging some milk lately! He is eating 3-4 good portions of solids and table food plus consuming EASILY up to 40 oz. of formula a day. I'm trying desperately to get rid of either the DF or early morning feed (about 3-5am), but he is just a hungry boy.
 
I'm am about to try diluting his early bottle, to see if that helps... I think anyway. It may be easier to drop the DF first, especially when he doesnt get that early morning feed, he tends to wake at 6, instead of 6:45/7. And Then he doesnt eat full bottle. Weird.

What is the furthest you suggest spacing out the bottles, so he will drink, 9 or10oz maybe. instead of 7/8, to maybe drop a bottle? He is doing 4hours right now, But I'm afraid I wont get enough in during the day, if i move it out any further.

He is taking bottles at roughly, 4,8,12,4,6:30,11. Would love to ditch the first and last... but don't know if that is possible yet.

Also, can anyone give advice on stage 2 formula, (or "hungry baby")? (Not sure if ds would handle it, due to him taking RTF types better, but i'm not sure). Would that keep him fuller, with out being on too much calories?

Also... we have switched to solids first, due to the large quantity of liquid vs. solids.

Ok thanks for your thoughts!

[Lolly]

Wow that's a lot of formula - about double the minimum he needs . Have you tried increasing his solids more to fill him up? It's not normally suggested because you don't want milk intake dropping too much yet but I don't think that's an issue for you!

Hungry baby formula is a different composition and made to be harder to digest so it could be an option as he is used to digesting a range of foods now. The stage 2 formulas are not much different from stage 1 they just contain more iron generally (and are a marketing ploy to get around formula advertising laws). If you wanted to switch, hungry baby would probably be your best bet to fill him up and cut the amount a bit so you could stick at the 7/8oz rather than increase that amount. I would check with a health professional before switching though.

I think the DF maybe your starting point - the milk and calories he is getting *should* get him through the night!

What solids is he getting - can you include more filling things like protien and foods naturally higher in fats?

What do you think?

Laura

[*Liz*]

Sorry - but what do you mean by RTF types? I'm trying so hard to translate but just can't quite manage it  .

What sort of solids is he having? Has be started cereals and protein yet?

I agree with Lolly that I would push the solids now as you do actually want to get rid of some of that milk (mama needs to sleep  ).

Also is he independent to sleep? Where are the bottles WRT the naps? ust wondering if he has any milky sleepy associations going on as well  .

[Lolly]

Liz - RTF is ready to feed - the pourable stuff in cartons I assume!

Laura

[*Liz*]

Oh - I would never have got that - was trying to be far too clever  . I call it ready made (for no real reason other than I decided to!).

[Austin's mom]

ok... the bottle times have sort of become dictated by his day care. But thankfully, he goes to sleep just fine, with out a bottle. They are being kind of difficult to work with at the moment. (which is a different issue I'm dealing with all together...ugh)

And yep, sorry RTF is ready to feed (-:

I have been trying to drastically up his solids... He has been eating meats, egg yokes, cereal, pasta, beans, lentils, avocado, many veggies and fruits....everything I can think of. I'm doing a mixture of jarred baby food and table food, hoping to get as much in him as i can. I tried bits of cheese tonight... guess we will see how that does. I am gonna start trying to use olive oil and cream cheese and yogert some. Maybe I should try some fish? He really likes finger foods... anything he can pick up and shove in his mouth! lol

Not sure if you remember but he has been super intolerant to dairy corn and soy. But I've noticed a huge difference in how his digestive system has matured in the last month, so we are trialing dairy. A few weeks in, he seems to be ok...fingers crossed.

I did peek at the stage 2 formula today... you must be right... I expected a bit more protine, but they were practically identical.
I'm not sure that they sell "hungry baby formula" in the US? correct me if I'm wrong, but i can't seem to find any.

[*Liz*]

I'm not sure about hungry baby milk in the US - let's see if Lolly knows and if not I know someone who will!!

I did remember he had some intolerance - but wow - how far he has come  .

And what a hungry man!!

In the UK the 6mth plus follow on formulas are supposed to be slightly more filling as they have a different caesin to whey ration - so might help  .

[MLK]

Yes I'd try upping the fats in his diet so he gets more calories for the same volume - fruit/veggies/lentils are relatively low-calorie per volume.

[Austin's mom]

Well it is working!! yay!! Last night he dropped his 11:00 feed with out any help and didn't wake up for the morning one till 5... and then slept till 7! 12.5 hours of sleep!

I fed him some shreaded chicken and an egg yoke and a few other things for dinner...it seemed to work like a charm! fingers crossed for night #2!

[Lolly]

Good news! Hopefully a bit more food will help!

Laura