Need help with feeding schedule for 8 mo old!

[chars mum]

My DD is just over 8 months old and has been eating solids since 6 months, she can now manage 3 meals per day.  We have been introducing new foods VERY slowly as she is Touchy so choices are still a bit limited.  Still BFing 4 x day and DD is finally willing to take some formula from a bottle, she will take anywhere between 2-4 oz once a day.  I am having trouble fitting all the various feedings into 12 hours these days; as such I have some questions:
1) Should there be a greater interval between BF and meals?
2) Should her BFs be before or after her meals?
3) How long should I continue BFing 4 x day? 
4) Should I be cutting it down to 3 at this point?
5) Is yes to above, how do I make up for the fluids/nutrients from the removed 4th BF?

Our schedule currently looks like this:
E 6:00 - wake & BF
A 7:30 - play
S 8:00 - 45 min to 1 hour
E 9:00 - breakfast of yogurt & fruit with diluted juice in sippy
E 10:00 - BF
A 10:30 - play
S 11:15 - 1.5 hours
E 1:00 - lunch of oatmeal & fruit with formula in sippy
E 2:00 - BF
A 2:30 - play/errands
S 3:45 - 30 to 45 min
E 4:45 - dinner of veggies & fruit
A 5:00 - play, bath at 6:00
E 6:15 - BF & FF
S 6:45 - bed

Naps have always been an issue and often fluctuate 
Think will also post on BF boards.  Any help would be greatly appreciated! 

[Freya'sMum]

Hello!

Altho 2 months of solid food introduction may feel like ages in your lo's life to date, in terms of her total lifetime (80 years or so), it's tiny, so I'd continue to take it as slow as you have been so far...

...there is no rush to drop milk feeds, babymilk should be the primary source of nutrition for babies until 12 months, and I often suggest that parents think of milk as the Eat in EASY and the solid foods as the first part of the following Activity period. Also, in your routine, the Activity times seem quite short in the morning, and it seems a bit unbalanced (which is fine if it works for you, btw) which can create bitty naps.

It would mean giving your EASY an almost total overhaul, but it would help you to fit all the feedings and naps in (which is what your query was mainly about right?), so see what you think about this:

6am wake
E 6.30am bf
A 7.30am solid breakfast
S 9am nap
E 10.30am bf
A 11.30am solid lunch
S 1pm nap
E 2.30pm bf
A 3.30pm solid tea
S 4pm(ish) catnap
E 6pm(ish) bf
S bed

but routines are very individual and have to suit you and your family's circumstances, so this might not work for you I do remember this age being tricky for my dd2 'coz she woke early in the morning, before I was ready to start her routine, and it messed the entire day up!

I'm not sure if this has been helpful, advance apologies if not...! I always say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", so if your routine generally works, don't fiddle with it, just continue to prioritise milk for some time yet

Ax

[chars mum]

No no, very helpful!  I like how lovely and even your sample routine is, we will get there...someday!    You actually reinforced the replies I received on the BF boards, they also said to have solids an hour after BF to ensure LO is hungriest for her milk and not filled up with solids.  Figured I would have to do a bit of an overhaul and that's OK with me.  Ya, her A times are varied so routine is kinda all over the place...however it has been working for us up until now.  Have been starting to extend her A times these last few days and seems to be going alright...should help even things out too!
Thanks!! 

[Freya'sMum]

Always happy to help if I can

That routine works best for babies who are nice regular 12 hour sleepers, and older babies, so it is something to aim for - my dd1 was a textbook, loved routine, this was our life, tried to apply it to dd2, she wouldn't have a bar of it so we winged it until she was old enough to easily communicate with, and this is still pretty much our routine now except it only has one nap, and lunch and tea are about an hour later!

You'll be fine

Ax