Wondering if I should drop 11am BF

[~inbalance~]

This is what I've been doing with DS for awhile now and it has been working well (give or take 15mins here or there)
7 BF
8:30 solids
11 BF
12:30 solids
3 BF
5:30 solids
6:30 BF

I have noticed over the last few weeks, but especially the last few days, that DS isn't eating much solids at breakfast and now lunch even.  He still loves his BFs and will usually take those happily.  So I'm wondering if he just isn't as hungry for solids at breakfast and lunch since the BFs prior are within an hour and half (as opposed to dinner where he eats a lot of solids, but his last BF was usually 2-2.5hrs prior).

I didn't think I was interested in cutting any of his BFs before he was one, but he is 10 months now so I'm wondering if I should be encouraging more solids by cutting out the 11am feed and doing something more like this:
7 BF
9 solids
12 solids
3 BF
5:30 solids
6:30 BF

Or is it too early still to worry about whether he's eating enough solids and just keep going with the BFs the way they are?  Other things to consider - I recently dropped the last night feed, and DS is slow to gain weight (so maybe keeping the BF is best for now?).  He is healthy but on the small side and gains very slowly.

Just not sure if it's more important at this point for him to be having more BFs, or making more of a push for solids.

TIA

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Breastmilk is still much more important, more nutritious, more filling, more caloric!  So yes, I'd stick with the 4 BFs a day personally - I kept them until well after a year old, myself, and his solids intake should increase naturally over time.

As for the weight gain, etc, you can look at the types of solids you're offering and see what could be altered there. Some great ideas on the solids board.

[~inbalance~]

Thanks!  I will keep it a bit longer...I was hoping to anyways.  Thanks for the solids suggestions, actually I already supplement what he eats with lots of great stuff.  He's gets the best food!  But hasn't seemed hungry enough to eat it lately.  However, as long as he is BF'ing (which he is!) I won't sweat it too much. 

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

He might just be teething or feeling under the weather.  It will ebb and flow throughout his life - as with the rest of us!

[~inbalance~]

Not sure about the teething...he's got the first 8 so now onto molars I think but I'm hoping to get a break before those!  I don't think he's feeling ill, he certainly isn't acting it!  But he could be having an off day, not sure.  He's had periods before where he's not wanted his purees but enjoys his finger foods, but today even with the finger foods he just doesn't seem hungry.  But he has been BF'ing fine which is why I thought he was filling up on BM...not usually a problem but who knows with him!

[A pair of Charlies]

I dropped to 3 feeds a day once my DS got to 13 / 14 months old and dropped to one nap a day. Just works out easier for us to have 3 feeds now and he's fine with it.

DS has hungry phases and not so hungry phases and I try to just go with them and not panic too much. I notice that he goes off his solids a little and is more enthusiastic about BFs when he's a little backed up in the digestive department. Which is logical and very sensible really.

And I agree with Erin's posts - BM is the most important up to a year!