bottle and solids schedule help

[creations]

Don't worry, she's going to need and love you a long long time, finger foods won't stop that

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Sorry...here the recs are 24-32 oz for a 7-9 month old and 18-32 oz for a 9-12 month old so 3 x 8 oz bottles was well within the norm for an 8.5 month old.

[haleytreat]

we are now almost 9.5 months. we are at 3.25 hours A time. looking ahead, how does the routine work when we get up to 4 hours? since she would take a bottle again right when she would be going down for a nap.

Thank you!

[creations]

Often LOs with extend the time between milk to more like 5hrs because they have the solids meal between meaning they are getting some additional calories there.  having said that, some people do a slightly earlier milk feed timing it just before the nap but trying to avoid feeding to sleep.
hth

[haleytreat]

Oh ok. Thank you!

[haleytreat]

We are almost at 10.5 months. What kind of routine should I be looking at now with milk and solids? I want to make sure I am not feeding her too much formula and not enough solids 

routine is basically this:

7/730 WU and milk - 8 oz
830/9 - solids
1030 - 12/1230 - sleep
12/1230 - milk - 8 oz
130/2 - solids
345ish - milk 6-8 oz
4-5 - sleep
530ish - solids
730ish - milk 6-8 oz
8/830 sleep


is this ok? What should I be working towards as far as feeding routine as she gets closer to 12 months?

Thank you!!

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Off the top of my head the max recommended amount of formula per day is 30 or 32 oz, so you are within that but after age one the milk becomes more of a drink than the main sustenance.

By 12 months we were on a more grown up food routine that followed the rest of the family. Milk became a drink with breakfast and we offered mid morning & afternoon snacks and lunch and supper at the same time as everyone else (they were on one nap so that made it easier - when the nap was earlier we did lunch in two parts pre and post nap).

[creations]

Some time between now and 12 months you might notice LO being less interested in one or more of the milk feeds.  At that point you can switch either the mid morning or mid afternoon milk feed to a solids snack, offer it at the same time but solids with a drink of water.  You might continue like that for a little while and then switch the other in the same way.  If it doesn't happen before 12 months then at 12 months just make the switch.
Bottles are recommended to be dropped at 12 months but many people choose to keep them a bit longer to ensure LO gets at least 1 decent milk drink per day, although solids take priority at 12 months LOs often have 1 or 2 milks (depending on the amount) per day for several years.  Of course if LO goes off milk then you'd look at ensuring other sources of calcium were provided.

Most LOs will self regulate on quantity of food so you can follow LOs lead on how much solids at each meal.

[haleytreat]

Oh ok. Thank you!!!!!

[haleytreat]

So at 12 months I stopped formula all together?

[creations]

At 12 months you can switch to cow's milk and there is no need to continue with infant formula (assuming there are no allergies, I think your LO is on regular formula, yes?).  it must be full fat cows milk, LOs can't have reduced fat for a couple more years.

The guidance is to drop bottles at 12 months but like I said before some people choose to keep one or two bottles to ensure a good portion of milk is taken each day, you can put cows milk in the bottle rather than formula.  Or you can switch from bottle to cup or straw.

[haleytreat]

Ok thank you. No allergies so milk will be fine. I just wanted to confirm no formula is needed and to just put milk in bottle if she isn't drinking enough in cup. Thank you!!

[Lolly]

Just a thought, it may be easier to make the transition at 1 if you drop to 3 bottles first.

At 10ish months, most bottle fed babies are on 3 bottles and a common routine is to have a wake up bottle, solids breakfast, snack if needed, a solids lunch and a second bottle just before the afternoon nap. Then it would be a solids tea/dinner and a bedtime bottle. As they are getting more grown up it doesn't matter that solids come before milk as you are working towards less milk anyway.

Laura

[haleytreat]

Thank you!

[haleytreat]

I am on 3 bottles but curious does it matter when I give the middle bottle? Also what is typical time frame for solids after a bottle? 1-2 hours? And then timeframe for next solids after a snack?