I am a bit reluctant to go on a routine like that because basically it creates 7 meals instead of 4. Also, our pediatrician recommends 4 meals...
Did you do this with your LOs?
Yes this is exactly the routine (give or take to fit around naps) that I did with my DS and is the 'standard' routine we see on BW most often. This routine helps to ensure that milk feeds are not interrupted by solids and that LO is neither too hungry for milk to take solids or not hungry enough for either milk or solids.
A routine of only 4 meals per day is more of an adult routine than a child's, baby's or toddlers routine. LOs have very small tummies so need to eat more frequently.
Even at 4.5 years old my DS still takes 6 'meals' and some this age still take 7, it is perfectly normal, toddler groups, nurseries and schools also accommodate to this number of feeding times by offering morning and afternoon snacks as well as lunch.
Here is my DS's current routine at 4.5 years old
7 milk in a cup (not all children have milk here but mine does and it is still normal)
7.30 breakfast and water
10.15/30 ish snack time - fresh fruit and milk are provided at school (my DS does not take milk at this time as he has milk in the morning)
11.45/12 lunch and water
2.00 snack time - fresh fruit is provided at school
3.15/30 (on a school day he often needs a snack after pick up or when we get home because he is physically and mentally tired and needs a boost of calories to get through to dinner, he doesn't need 2 afternoon snacks on a weekend)
5.00 Dinner
(some kids also have a supper before BT which is also well within normal. Mine used to have supper from between around 12 months to maybe 2.5 years old)
It is normal even for much older children to have breakfast, a mid morning snack, lunch, a mid afternoon snack, dinner, and supper which is 5 or 6 meals.
Doesn't it tie you to the kitchen and reduces the freedom of going out?
Not at all. when taking mid morning and mid afternoon milks I would take a carton of ready to drink formula out with me, some mums take the powder, a sterile bottle and a flask of hot water out with them to make up bottles as needed.
When the mid morning and mid afternoon milks switch to snacks it is quite simple to pack a little tub of food such as:
- wedges of fruit
- cold steamed veggies as finger food (maybe something left over from the night before at dinner, I used to throw in a few extra carrot sticks and green beans etc to steam then pack them in a tub and leave in the fridge until the next day, just throw the tub in my handbag for going out)
- a couple of small crackers
- a bread stick
- cold toast or pitta bread fingers
or if you like to home bake and batch cook to freeze then:
- mini fruit pancakes
- mini muffins (sugar free made with fruit/veg)
- mini meat loaf
- mini oat chews (like flap jack but with no sugar/syrup/honey, just oats and fruit)
- mini bean burgers/falafel
I often lifted a couple of oat chews or bean patties out of the freezer the night before or the morning of going out and just put them in my bag. By snack time they were defrosted and ready to eat.
Also, our pediatrician recommends 4 meals...
Are you sure your paediatrician suggests 4 meals *total* in the day or could it be he recommends 4 solids meals in the day plus milk feeds? I've never seen or known a baby to be on so few meals. I can imagine 4 solids meals at 10 months (breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner) but in addition to 3 milk feeds (WU, mid afternoon, BT).
I do feel that your LO may be so hungry by the time the meal time comes around that he is trying to skip the solids and get directly on to the milk. His body knows it is a quick and suitable source of calories and fat where as a steamed carrot stick or a bowl of puree is likely less satisfying when he is so hungry.
Maybe I made a mistake of putting this question here? Maybe it should be in a diffeent section? more to do with behaviour?
It's fine here. Perfect. This issue and behaviour is around food, solids and eating routines. I could always move it if needed anyway so you do not need to re-post on another board.