Author Topic: 6mo old, confused on ideal feeding schedule plus gassy baby  (Read 3388 times)

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Offline Tammyj

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6mo old, confused on ideal feeding schedule plus gassy baby
« on: September 11, 2014, 01:03:27 am »
Hey all! My 6 month old gets solids at her 1pm meal with a scoop of oatmeal cereal.  That's it so far. She's doing well so I want to increase to maybe 2 meals.  Because of poor naps at daycare 4x/week, she's on a 3Hr schedule.  How do I transition to 4 hours given that?  Will introducing solids between formula get me there?

Also I've seen so many versions of an "ideal" feeding schedule.  What is best?

Last question - she is a gassy baby - I tried food at 6:30 meal but some foods, esp vegetables caused gas and night wakings.  Did anyone experience this? Will she outgrow it?

Thank you in advance!
« Last Edit: September 11, 2014, 01:11:16 am by Tammyj »

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Re: 6mo old, confused on ideal feeding schedule plus gassy baby
« Reply #1 on: September 11, 2014, 07:44:22 am »
Hi :)
Although all parts of the routine are connected I would probably look at the short naps at day care as a separate issue really. Short naps are more likely to be due to the time she is put down, the wind down routine and environment, or lack of independent sleeping, rather than the need for solids. I really wouldn't expect solids to help her sleep better at day care.
Mine remained on a 3hr E routine up to 6 months as he had silent reflux and smaller feeds more frequently suited him, but his A times and naps still progressed to a suitable routine for his age.  I see you've posted on the naps board for support there :)

The 'ideal' feeding routine really would be what suits your LO and your family.  If she is enjoying her solids meals and her milk intake is stable it is fine to introduce a second meal.  Probably the most common routine is to feed milk at the regular E times, and not change these, then to offer the solids meal (1, 2 or 3 when ready - no hurry though) about an hour after the milk feed, this gives them time to build up a small appetite to taste the new foods without being too hungry or disturbing the milk intake.  It's also fine to introduce finger foods at this age for LO to begin to self feed, you could offer alongside puree food if you want to spoon feed or choose 1 meal per day which is finger food only.

Like any new skill or development food can disturb sleep at first, guts too as they adapt to the new foods.  I'd suggest keeping the last meal of the day much earlier so there is time for her to digest and let any gas out before BT. For this reason you might choose to give breakfast and lunch in the early days and wait until she is older before introducing a third meal in the evening. Feeding earlier in the day also gives plenty of time to notice any adverse reactions to the new foods.
I found the last meal needed to be super early,  around 4pm/4.30pm (an hour or so after the 3pm milk).  If you want her to join you at the table for your family meal at 6.30pm I would probably just give her a piece of finger food off your plate, or a finger of toast, to explore rather than a full meal that way she will enjoy the social aspect of the meal without taking in too much to make her gassy at night time.
There's no harm in keeping some freshly cooked vegetables from the evening meal and offering them to her at breakfast instead.

FWIW my 3.5 yo still has early dinner, we eat between 4.30 - 5.00pm for our evening meal as this suits his needs (6pm start BT routine, 7pm sleep). It does feel too early for the adults but we have a supper later on if we are hungry.


Offline Newbie mum

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Re: 6mo old, confused on ideal feeding schedule plus gassy baby
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2014, 09:19:47 am »
Hello, just joining the conversation on the gassy 6 month old part, if that's ok... My 6 month old has a fantastic appetite but like your baby *tammyj* it is making her very windy at night which sadly wakes her. Thanks *creations* for the advice on the earlier tea time, we brought it forward last night and will bring it even more forward, as you say, tonight. Problem we have is that when she sees us eat she wants some too! But we are trying to eat when she has her last bottle of the evening. *tammyj* fingers crossed they will grow out of it (I'm sure they will).. Do either of you know of any natural product that might help with the gas? Or I wonder if infracol might work? ....

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Re: 6mo old, confused on ideal feeding schedule plus gassy baby
« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2014, 17:28:44 pm »
Sorry don't know of a produce to help gas but you can do gentle tummy massage and leg cycling. I could literally pump to the trumps out of mine by gently bringing his legs up toward his head one side then the other.


Offline Tammyj

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Re: 6mo old, confused on ideal feeding schedule plus gassy baby
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2014, 02:21:22 am »
Creations, that is the most comprehensive and helpful post I've read! Thank you for taking the time to spell to out! I will definitely try the morning and lunch meals, and stay away from the dinner.  I think that makes sense, plus it works for our schedules (a bonus!) I also appreciate the advices for offering the solids one hour later. I wonder if that will help her move to a 4hr schedule? When her naps are short (at daycare) she's 3hr EASY, when home it's 3:30/4hr EASY. 

Offline Tammyj

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Re: 6mo old, confused on ideal feeding schedule plus gassy baby
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2014, 02:22:40 am »
Newbie mum, I used Lil Tummies drops.  They are natural herbs, and easy to use drops.

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Re: 6mo old, confused on ideal feeding schedule plus gassy baby
« Reply #6 on: September 13, 2014, 07:24:26 am »
offering the solids one hour later. I wonder if that will help her move to a 4hr schedule?
Mine took to solids keenly and after a short while his milk feeds moved to 4hrs rather than 3 as he was getting those solids meals between.

Glad you found something helpful :)


Offline Newbie mum

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Re: 6mo old, confused on ideal feeding schedule plus gassy baby
« Reply #7 on: September 13, 2014, 20:18:06 pm »
Hello, I'd like to second *TammyJ* in thanking *creations* for good advice  :)
Yesterday we fed my dd two meals rather than three, big breakfast and a lunch and no solid supper. Also, kept her up longer after her last milk of the day (normally keep her up for 20-30mins before bed) and she had one feed at midnight and then slept until 0720  :) I really, really hope that happens again...
I think we were going to fast with solids as she has such a good appetite, so I think we'll work up to three meals a day a bit more slowly.

One question, her overnight feed is getting earlier on in the night. At one time it was as late as 0400, then moved to 0200ish and now moved to around midnight. Does that signify anything? I wish I had been brave enough to do a dream feed, do you think it's too late now?

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Re: 6mo old, confused on ideal feeding schedule plus gassy baby
« Reply #8 on: September 14, 2014, 17:34:58 pm »
I wouldn't introduce a DF now, it's around now (ish) that people start to drop the DF.


Offline Newbie mum

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Re: 6mo old, confused on ideal feeding schedule plus gassy baby
« Reply #9 on: September 16, 2014, 15:58:08 pm »
*TammyJ* do you live in America?

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Re: 6mo old, confused on ideal feeding schedule plus gassy baby
« Reply #10 on: September 16, 2014, 16:01:16 pm »
Thanks Creations..I've started working on the 3-2 nap transition today as she is waking a bit earlier than normal and wanting a feed then so will see how that affects sleeps and night waking. Today, is the first day of the 3-2 transition and so far she has done really well. Last nap ended 1620 (slept for 2hrs 10mins) so will do without the cat nap and keep my fingers crossed she lasts until bed time (which normally starts at 7.30, asleep at 8pm so will probably have to bring that forward?)... Will wait and see...

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Offline Tammyj

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Re: 6mo old, confused on ideal feeding schedule plus gassy baby
« Reply #11 on: September 20, 2014, 12:28:31 pm »
Newbie mum - yes, I do!

Offline Newbie mum

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Re: 6mo old, confused on ideal feeding schedule plus gassy baby
« Reply #12 on: September 22, 2014, 12:03:22 pm »
 :D Hi Tammyj, reason I asked is that I went into Boots (a drug store in the UK) to ask for lil'tummys and they searched and searched on their computer then they realised they are only available in the USA! (I live in the UK) and then it dawned on me that BW isn't just in the UK!... Made me giggle

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Offline Tammyj

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Re: 6mo old, confused on ideal feeding schedule plus gassy baby
« Reply #13 on: September 27, 2014, 00:57:07 am »
Haha. I didn't know either!  ;D