Please advise on 6.5 months food routine- thanks

[emmanoellesmom]

Hi there,

My dd is 6.5 months old. We started introducing solids about a month ago. I have just been adding them to 3 of her regular feeds during the day but now realize it is time to be spreading them out. Currently, our routine looks like this;

6:30 wake
6:45 ish cereal and BF
10:45ish fruit and BF
2:45ish veggies and BF
6:30 BF, bedtime routine, sleep
10:30 DF

Emma is eating about 3 tbsp at each meal but I have not really reduced the amount of milk I just let her drink what she would like, which is usually about a 10 min feed...so I am not sure how to calculate and determine how much she should be drinking and eating a day? I have never been very good at measuring the breast milk, just have gone by length of feed. Is it really important to measure of just trust that she will take what she needs and decrease as the solid foods increase?

I would like to start spreading it out ( I think I should have done this already) to a routine like this;

6:30 wake
6:45 BF ( how much??)
7:45 cereal
10:45 BF (how much??)
11:45 fruit or veggies
2:45 BF (how much ??)
4:45 veggies and cereal or meat
6:30 BF, bedtime routine and bed
10:30 DF

So, would it be o.k. to just start this tommorrow or is it best to transition  and is it better to do the bottle right before bed instead of before the bedtime routine especially if we are going to be dropping the DF next month?

Lastly, if this new routine works is it o.k. to stick to it for a few months or do I keep adjusting as she grows?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks so much, Les
p.s. If Emma wakes up at 6:30 is it alright to wait and feed her @ 6:45 or is it best to feed her straight away.

[Mimi 2]

At this age, do not decrease the amount/length of bm she is willing to take.  Milk feeds (bm/formula) are much more important than solids and should be the main source of nutrition until 12 mos.  Milk feeds are easier to digest for their digestive systems and will provide them with enough calories, fats, minerals, and vitamins for optimal brain and body growth.  What you have is fine in terms of the spacing of the milk feeds and solids.  Continue to bf before solids until she is closer to 10 mos, some mom don't even switch the order until 12 mos which is fine.  Follow Emma's cue, feed her as much milk as she wants as solids is just for taste, fun and experience of texture at this point.  Oz per oz, milk feeds are much more important. 

As for bf'ing right upon waking or waiting a few minutes, it is up to you and her.  If she is hungry then feed her if not then wait.  For the last feed of the day, again it is up to you.  either times are fine.

HTH

[emmanoellesmom]

Hi Mimi,

Thanks for your advice that helps alot.
I will give Emma the bm first and just top of with solids for fun. For some reason, the way I am reading it in the book ( solves your problems) it seems more regimented needing to trade ounce for ounce?

When you say the spacing that I have is fine do you mean the spreading it out or it is o.k. to leave it the way we are doing it now doing both bm and solids at the same time...I notice on the board that most mom's spread it out.

Thank you, I think sometimes I make things more complicated then they need to be in fear of not doing something right .

Les

[Mimi 2]

Les,

The spacing of the milk feeds and solids varies so much as some babies are fine with eating solids after a short time others need a bit of time to "feel" the need to eat/try solids.  It is a bit difficult to judge how much bm (as opposed to bottle feeding) she is taking so just follow her cues.  Think of eating the solids as an Activity for her. 

For some reason, the way I am reading it in the book ( solves your problems) it seems more regimented needing to trade ounce for ounce?

If you compare the type of solids a baby can digest at this age, they do not contain all required nutrients and calories as bm/formula.  An ounce of applesauce or pureed veggie is not the same as an ounce of bm/formula.  Solids may make the stomach feels fuller but here's a lot of waste/roughage in solids. 

[emmanoellesmom]

Thanks Mimi,
That makes alot of sense. Emma seems fine to drink and eat at the same time...I like the idea of eating being activity....thanks for your help.
Les