bottle vs solids

[MadisonC]

DS is 9 months and is currently taking 4 bottles a day and 2 solid meals a day.. sometimes 3 depending on if he drinks all of his morning bottle.  I am not sure if I should be giving him more solids.. if he should be having solids for breakfast regardless if he finishes his bottle or not.  He will eat anything but at 9 months are the solids becoming more important than they used to be? and should I be giving him less formula.. he drinks 22-24oz a day.  First time mom and very confused!

[Texomamama]

At 9 mo, solids are indeed becoming increasingly important.  However, the bottle will always remain most important up to 12 months and I believe they should be taking a min of 20 oz.  If you are giving him 22-24 oz per day at 4 different feedings, I would say continue to follow that course.  You can certainly add a third meal, but you may want to keep an eye out to make sure the bottle amount does not fall below 20 oz. 

What are his portion sizes at a meal out of curiousity.  My 8 mo DD2 normally takes 4 bottles a day (total of about 24-26 oz) and 3 meals of about 4 oz. 

[~inbalance~]

I would not decrease any of his milk yet but you can try offering more solids in terms of times and variety. 

[MadisonC]

He has 3 bottles of 6oz and bedtime bottle of 8oz and some days cereal which contains 2oz of formula.. also yogurt once a day.  Both lunch and dinner he has 2 tablespoons of pureed whatever we have for dinner the night before... usually some type of meat, potatoes, and veggies.  Along with that he has 1 tablespoon of fruit or a yogurt and a  finger food.. sliced banana, watermelon, or cantaloupe.  When he doesn't drink at least 4oz of his morning bottle I give him cereal which contains 2oz of formula so it makes up for it.

[MadisonC]

Sorry adding mistake.. with his 4 bottles a day he takes anywhere from 24-26oz

[~inbalance~]

I still wouldn't decrease his milk.  24oz is the minimum I would keep. 

[Texomamama]

Sounds like you are doing great   Try more solids as long as it doesn't reduce the intake of milk too much, but you seem as though you are offering a very wide variety of foods.

[MadisonC]

thanks everyone!