Phasing out the cluster feed

[AmyRS]

If it helps, I've also posted this thread on the Solids forum:  https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=116503.0

As a quick summary, my DS will be 7 months old on the 24th.  He is a big boy (about 19lbs) and likes to nurse but isn't so keen on the solids just yet.  He has been on them for about a month now, and this Saturday we started offering them twice a day.  We are still clusterfeeding at 5PM and I would like to replace that with the 2nd solids meal, but I'm not sure how to go about dropping it.

The last 2 nights I've offered solids instead of bfing at 5PM and he has been okay at that time, but but bedtime he is STARVING.  He has actually been finishing one side and needing to nurse a little from the other breast which has NEVER happened before!

Here is our current schedule:

7am (or 8 sometimes): BF
11am - BF
Solids some time after
2:30 or 3PM - BF
Solids some time after
Cluster feed at 5
7PM BF
11PM Dreamfeed

A few weeks ago he started to not want the cluster a few nights a week, so I debated dropping it completely.  Then I think he went through a growth spurt because he wants it every night now.  I don't want to starve him but I would also like to get rid of it because it's at a very inconvenient time!

I hope all of this makes sense   Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give!   

[First Time Mom]

It makes sense as solids (especially introductory solids) do not have as much calories as bm. When you say he's starving and feeding from both sides is this during the 7pm feed? If so, there's nothing wrong with him feeding extra during the one feed, he is getting bigger so it makes sense that he needs more. I would be more concerned if he started waking for extra feeds or wanting additional feeds in the day but not concerned with him wanting more during one feed. My dd always fed from both sides and (I hate to tell you this) we were never able to drop the 5pm bf, we kept it for ages! We dropped the 3pm feed first (when she was much older, well established on solids, and dropping bfs), we replaced it with a solids snack, then we dropped the df, then the 7pm feed.