6.5 months - solids and milk amount

[BeeAnn]

We started weaning our DD (who is 6.5 months) about 4 weeks ago.  She is currently eating 3 meals a day of about 2oz (2 ice cubes) each plus something like a rice cake after dinner.  She was having 5 x 200ml bottles of milk (generally finishing them all) and we have found that she hasn't cut down on her milk intake at all, despite the solids.  The other babies I know have all started leaving some of their milk. 

Her weight has increased a bit (from the 75th percentile to midway between the 75th and 91st percentile) so we are a bit worried about over feeding her!!

So we are currently cutting down the dream feed - now at 140ml with no impact on her night sleep, and I am hoping that we might be able to lose it completely in a week or so.  In the BWSAYP it says to add the amount you cut out of the dream feed to the other bottles but it also says that you need to reduce the milk so that they have room for solids - seems contradictory?? If we are seeing no impact to her night sleep then do you think it is ok not to increase the other bottles?

What would an average sized meal for a 6.5 month old be?  In the FAQ's it says that you can cut a bottle when you have three 'decent' sized meals but don't know what that means!  I was thinking of offering a yogurt after lunch and then maybe a cube of fruit puree after dinner, and maybe adding an extra cube of the main food but again am worried about her eating too much!  Or do I need to increase her solids before she starts leaving milk? 

If she doesn't start leaving any milk would we start cutting down the size of her other bottles once we lose the dream feed - I think that she may be the type to eat anything that is put in front of her!!

[Haribo2012]

Hi, 6.5 months is quite young to be on 3 established meals, milk is still the most important thing until a year really.
My LO stopped getting a DF around 6 months but still had 4 daytime bottles of 8oz plus mid day meal, then stopped the mid morning bottle around 8 months when breakfast was more established.
I honestly wouldn't rush loosing the bottles at 13 months we still have a BT bottle and have only just got rid of morning one.
If LO is happy just go with it and let the food be an exciting taster rather than a filling meal for now :-)

[creations]

In the BWSAYP it says to add the amount you cut out of the dream feed to the other bottles but it also says that you need to reduce the milk so that they have room for solids - seems contradictory?? If we are seeing no impact to her night sleep then do you think it is ok not to increase the other bottles?

I can see how that would sound confusing.
LOs don't always increase the other bottles straight away when you wean the DF.  I didn't see an increase in the morning bottle for several days or maybe even a couple of weeks, it's fine.  At each of your day time bottles you should make/offer enough so that LO can feed to her fill and still have about an oz left in the bottle, this way she refuses the last bit and you know she's had what she needs. Babies dont' generally overfeed so you can always offer to her fill on milk and even on solids.
There are a couple of different occasions when things change, which might explain why it seems contradictory.  If your baby was several months older (lets say 9, 10 or 11 months) and still taking lots of milk and also refusing solids it would be an indication to reduce the milk (or offer solids before milk) to encourage her to try the solids and begin to move towards a more grown up diet.  This isn't the case for you as your LO appears to be enjoying her experience with solids.
The other point is to not rush to drop the milk too quickly.  I wouldn't be thinking of weaning or reducing anything other than the DF for now.  In 2 or 3 months you could drop to 3 bottles in the day (replacing the 4th with a snack and sippy drink of water), then down to 2 and finally around 12 months wean the bottle altogether.  Please note though many people choose to keep 1 or even 2 bottles for a while after the first birthday. So long as LO is not sucking on it all day and so long as teeth are brush after the BT bottle there is no problem.  You will likely see for yourself when your LO is starting to get ready to drop a bottle because one or two of the bottles won't be fully taken, you are a ways off yet though.
It's also normal to start solids and not drop any milk either because they are not taking enough solids to impact or because they are getting a bit bigger and more active and need those extra few calories they are getting form the solids.

I think I answered all your queries. Apart from the average sized meal for a 6 months old. This is really hard to say because some take to solids like they have always been eating them and some are not so interested yet. Just offer until she refuses, don not try to encourage one more mouthful or to finish a serving as this can teach her to ignore her full signals.  So long as the food offered is balanced and healthy then there is no limit.  The only time to limit would be if her milk intake dropped too low, like pp said milk is the most important food until she is 1yo, if it is overtaken by solids too early she might not actually get the calories she needs.
You might also consider introducing some finger foods now as the guidance is from 6 months and she might enjoy playing with and exploring the textures and feeding herself.

I hope this all makes sense. Do ask again if you need clarification.  Sounds like you and baby are doing fine so just keep going as you are