6.5 month old likes BF 6 x a day...likes schedule..help! To cut down

[Clairemary]

Claire is 6.5 months old and currently BF 6 x a day.  I feel 2 x of the 6 she does not eat as much, but used to schedule...how do I cut down on feedings and integrate meals? 

[*Ali*]

When are her current BFs? It would help if you could post her routine so we could advise on moving things around to fit in with her solid meals and naps. What is her solid intake like?

Is she feeding at all at night? If so how many times?

Also is she an independent sleeper or is she using the extra feeds to get to sleep perhaps?

6 BFs isn't a ridiculous amount but when you have answered the questions above let's see what we could suggest if you are finding it too much

[Clairemary]

That's good to know because I thought maybe feeding Claire every 3 hours, some times 2.5 hours at times.  I thought based on the book maybe she would be up to a 4 hour schedule...that and when she nurses 2 of the times they do not feel like much. 

Claire wakes up :5:45-6:30 am (1st nursing)
     -10/10:30 (2nd )  (( both the first and second feel the most)
    -1:00/1:30 pm (3)
    -3:30/4:00 (4)
   -6:20/630 (5) (( good feeding))
   -8:00 (6) ((DF -afraid to give up))

Claire's naps:

-8:30/9 am ( depends on what time she wakes up)- sleeps about 1 hour 1/2
-1/1:30 pm-3/3:30 ( with 3 rd nursing she may fall asleep right after) ( sleeps 1-2 hours depending on how 1st nap went)

Claire gets 3-3.5 hours in naps a day when home to get them both

She falls asleep to my breast at the 6:30 pm feeding and obviously the 8 pm which I know isn't right for the 6:30 pm ( and occasionally the 1:00).  I really enjoy BF my baby, but feel two of the feeding in the middle of the day may need to be combined?  Maybe awake time longer?  Also, not near ready giving up DF as Claire has slept through the night since 3-4 months old and would never want to not feed her enough.  Hoping if Claire doesn't want it anymore she gives it up and not me.

Any help is appreciated. Just thought I had to begin solids at 6 months and four hours between nursings?

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

I think a longer awake time is probably due and perhaps pushing feeds out a wee bit to consolidate the afternoon ones. If the df is working I wouldnt mess with it either! For solids, there is no cut and dry start time, if she is showing signs she is ready you can fit in a meal in the morning an hour or so after her feed (we do baby led feeding so DD3 feeds herself and at 9 months we finally are doing 3 meals, so there really is no rush!).

[Clairemary]

Thank you!  Always encouraging to hear from someone who went through it!  I will try!