more advice about 4 bottles to three!

[*Becky*]

Hi,
My LO is 8 months next Monday and currently drinks 26oz of milk (4 bottles a day) He eats solids 3 x day.
I would like to get him down to 3 bottles as of this weekend with 8oz in each so he is only dropping to 24 oz which is well within the guidelines.
The only thing is he shows no interest in dropping any milk and tbh never has done so I have always had to lead him rather than  the other way. I know this is not great and not the BW way but I really do think he would still be on 40 oz plus if he had it his way. He does eat solids but LOVES his milk and so does not eat that much.
Do you think this is ok or should I def be waiting for him to lose interest in a bottle? Just don't want to get to 1 and for him to still be on loads of milk and then  have to wean him off lots in one go iykwim.
Thanks
Becky x

[scucci1979]

Hi Becky

I am going to be following this thread. My lo is 7.5 months and lately has been showing little interest in her second bottle. She normally drinks between 5-6oz out of 8, but her last bottle is usually 8ozs and has three solid meals a day-about 2-3tbspns per meal. I can never get her to drink 8oz at each bottle if I were to drop it to 3 bottles a day. I was told to drop a bottle when los are no longer interested in their bottles. I am afraid to drop it because it will decrease her milk intake. I did start putting milk in her food.
 I would love to hear what others say.

[jana224]

In my opinion, I wouldn't push to drop a bottle feed.  We are still BFing 3-4 times a day at 12 months... and up until 11 months it was  4times every day.  If your baby is giving clear cues for a bottle four times a day, I'd do it.
Milk/formula is the most important source of nutrition and calories for the first year, so I'd let baby lead the way on this one. 
I was worried at 11 months when DD was still feeding 4 times a day, but just recently, she's been taking milk in a cup with breakfast and lunch, and milk just before bed...   You could switch one of those 4 feedings as a cup feeding, to start teaching the sippy cup?

[* Paula *]

Jana has given you some fantastic advice.  I completely agree.  If your lo is not showing signs to drop the milk, I would continue with it.

Once they turn 1 and solids become more important you can look at dropping the milk then, but even then it is not necessary until they are loosing interest in solids.

[*Becky*]

oh ok. My health visitor told me to drop it so feeling a bit confused. We did try today with 3 bottles of 8oz so will see how that goes for 3 days but may switch back as I agree with you guys.
Thanks
Becky x

[* Paula *]

Keep us posed on how things go.

[Mashi]

Personally I think HVs just say things like this because they just have random ideas, they just tell you to do it without taking a moment to ask you about your child, what they are like, what they eat, and then telling you signs to watch for to drop the bottle, etc etc etc.  I'm fortunate in that my own assigned HV really does take the time to TALK with me about things, while the one I see at clinic for weigh-ins does NOT, she just throws random things out there.

If LO is still on 4 full bottles a day, and it's not interfering with solids, then I would keep the milk.  Just because he is 8 months doesn't mean that it is a magical number that he has to be onto 3 bottles.  Milk is far more important to him. He's on 4 bottles today, well, by the end of next week you could notice that he's dropped and is taking only half of his bottles and then you need to drop one of them - it can happen quite quickly, so just because he is a "magical age" doesn't mean anything!   Even if it does start to interfere with his solids, keep in mind that milk is far more important nutrition wise at this age.

You will most likely not still be on 40 ounces of milk at age one, over the next months your LO will start to drop milk and take in more food, even if it is out of the boredom of having to sit and guzzle a full bottle - that takes 10 minutes, which for an active 10 month old, is a LOT of time that he could be exploring forbidden areas of the house, and he will take just the minimum of what he needs and jump off of your lap to get his hands in the DVD........

[*Becky*]

thanks for the advice
We are now doing the 3 bottle thing and he is drinking 3 x 8oz so def getting enough milk for his age and seems happy enough although I am never sure when to give the second bottle - kind of varies depending on when he naps.
I agree about the health visitors. Both of mine say different things. I think the one I saw last time scared me a little as she was going on about solids needing to take precedence now and boys being a little lazy and just drinking the milk becuase it is easy. I do not really agree with her comments I have to say but I always want to do the right thing...obviously and so was a bit unsure.
Thanks for the help.
Becky x