6 month old on 2 meals a day question

[makka]

My lo is 1 week over 6 months and has been on solids for about 1 month now, started off on rice cereal 1 teaspoon at 5 and half months then when she was 6 months i started her on pumpkin, sweet potato, pureed apple, pureed pear. My lo is now on 2 meals a day, has breakfast and has lunch meal, on about 1 half teaspoons each meal.

My lo consumes 4 bottles a day these are the times, this was actually her first day of A time increase by 2 half hours to 2 hours 40min, as she was only napping for 1hour 30, but after today did both naps at 2hours

7am wake, feed at 7.15 feed bottle 200ml
8.30am rice cereal
9.40am sleep (2hours approx)
12pm wake feed just after 200ml
1.15pm pureed fruit
2.40pm sleep (2hours approx)
4.40 wake, feed at 4.50pm 200ml
Activity low key, then bath and feed at 7.10pm 225ml, normally drinks about 250 but because last bottle so close together did not drink that amount only 225ml
7.40pm sleep

My question is when my lo is ready to have her next meal introduced what time do i give it to her? would i give it to her at 4.50pm instead of her bottle at 4.50pm? and then give her bottle as per normal at 7.10pm? this would mean she is having one bottle less and i dont want to do that, so how would i fit in her solids for dinner between both bottles at 4.50pm and 7pm

thanks

kirsten

[lilisuze]

hi makka, I think i would try and keep the bottles as they are for now, you dont want to drop to any less than 4 at this age if she is happy. For now i guess she is doing just fine with 2 meals, when you are ready to increase (ie she seems hungry!) you might be able to make the lunch one a bit earlier, and then do a small tea at about 5? But this might not be for a bit yet. As she is on asuch a nice 2 nap schedule, i think i would leave it be fore  now.

Is she STTN?

[makka]

Hi there

yes she is STTN, and has been since she was about 3 months old, with the odd wake up for dummy to soothe her back to sleep but was on a last feed around 7pm, and would sleep till around midnight, then feed at midnight and then managed to get through till about 5, then decided to do a dream feed at around 3 months old at 11pm, then reduce to 10, and with that she did not wake at midnight, would go through til at least 6 or 7, so then when she was not taking much during the df we just did a cold turkey, and then all of a sudden she started taking more formula during the day. ANd now she STTN with no prob, on the odd occasion she might stir around 5 but puts her self right back to sleep, the dummy has gone now.

Just trying to sort out her day naps, but its all great, just need to sort out her solid feeding. She has one bottom tooth coming through and a top one too.

Is carrot safe to give at 6 months, pureed carrot? as i have not introduced it yet.?

So when she seems more hungry with her solids during the 2 meals that she consumes them, i then increase the amount, and what is the maximum, ive heard when the get to about 1/4 cup then you introduce a 3rd meal? but i know this wont be for a while, just curious. ANd can i say give her breakfast now and instead of lunch can i give her tea instead just to mix it up a bit?

thanks

[Shiv52]

Hi

Looking at your routine when you are ready to do a third meal I'd do it about 5.45pm, so continue with bottle at 4.50pm then do a small solid meal then bottle for bed as normal at 7.10pm.

As pp says though its ok to keep taking it slow.  We weren't on three meals a day until about 8 months.  Although i remember at that stage you feel if you're not giving milk you are preparing or feeding solids!  Like they are eating all day long!!  

HTH

[Shiv52]

Replied at same time.

Pureed carrot is fine for this age. 

And yes its fine to vary the times of day you give the second meal. In terms of amount I always gave about 2 ice-cubes (big ones), not sure what that is in grams.  I never really worried to be honest about amount.  My LO always stopped when she had had enough and always had a fairly big appetite.  The important thing is to make sure solids aren't taking away from milk so sometimes it is easier to give 3 meals of smaller amounts than increase the volume at the other two meals as it doesn't have as big an effect on the next bottle IYSWIM. 

HTH

[lilisuze]

my lo loved puree carrot seemed like he ate it for every meal at one point!
Shiv - just noticed a new ticker in your profile!

[Shiv52]

Funny how they all have such different tastes....Maeve didn't like carrot at all on its own!  After a few weeks I started combining foods (thanks to Annabel Karmels baby cookbook!) and her all time fav was and still is spinach and sweet potato!!

Shiv - just noticed a new ticker in your profile!

Bit of a surprise but a welcome one!!

[First Time Mom]

Wow, good for you with getting a good routine going with your lo and it sounds like the solids are going quite well! I just wanted to add that I would perhaps introduce new foods spread out every 2-3 days, this helps rule out any allergies or tummy upsets. It looks like you've introduced 4 new foods in one week if I'm reading your post correctly(?). Also, when introducing them do so in the earlier part of the day. My dd hated carrots when she was a baby but now eats raw carrot sticks like a bunny!