Bottles per day--6 months?

[Aarismom]

Hiya!

I've been trying to figure out whether to cut down the amount of bottle feeding my lo needs. She's 6.5 months now, and on solids. She has her solids for morning, lunch and dinner, but I always offer the bottle first. Right now I give her a bottle at wake up, and stick to giving her a bottle every 4 hours.

However, lately she's been taking less and less due to the amount of solids she has. She'll easily down a half a jar of baby food, and if I don't stop, she's willing to eat more, I'm sure. My DH gives her quite a bit of oatmeal in the am.

I know in Tracy's book she suggests a bottle in the am, one as a snack before lunch, and one before bed (3 bottles). Is this more for older babies (9 months or so)? Should I stick to 4 bottles? She only seems to be taking in 5 or so oz. per feeding, sometimes less because she's not hungry. I know that milk is supposed to be the staple of her diet until she's closer to 8 months I think.

Note she seems content with how much she's eating, and she's in the 95th percentile in weight, so she's gaining weight as she should. I just want to make sure she's getting the milk she's supposed to get.

Should I cut back on the amt. of solids I'm giving her in order to make sure she's getting enough milk?

Any advice?

TIA!!

*HUGS*
Sonya =P

[Noelle]

AT 6.5 months, I think the norm is closer to 4 bottles.  7,11,3 and 7.  I would try to keep to 4 bottles ( what pages did you read that in the book, I'm curious as to me that seems not quite right  ).  Keep offering the solids too.  Sometimes kids just aren't big milk drinkers. If she's gaining weight - all is fine 

[Sandrine]

My dd1 was on 4 bottles a day at 6mths. She also didn't like solids, but i did try to get hr to eat some a bit.

HTH

[notenoughshelfspace]

At six months my little one was on four bottles a day. Breakfast, just before her morning nap, after her lunch and at bedtime. Lately though ( she is seven months now) she is loosing interest in her post breakfast bottle; I keep offering though and probably will until 9 months.  We shall see how it goes though.

[Tammy: Ethan & Kaden's Mom]

At 6 months, I was offering 5 bottles - 4 daytime and 1 df.  But I got ds weaned off the df, and we were at 4.  I would stick with 4 daytime bottles.  Also, if you find that your dd doesn't want the bottle that much, you can offer it later.  I personally offer solids first, then follow up with the bottle about 30 min to 1 hour later.  That way he'll actually drink some of it!

I think as long as your dd is getting probably 24 ozs a day, she should be good to go.

And I don't know about this - but my ped told me to let ds have as much solids as he wanted first, and then to follow up with the bottle later.  So, that's what I've been doing.

HTH!

[albertasweetpea]

ut my ped told me to let ds have as much solids as he wanted first, and then to follow up with the bottle later.

My pediatrician said the same thing and it's what I've been doing as well. I asked "what if she only takes half her bottle afterwards?" and the Dr. said that was fine. She did mention that we should still be attempting the 4 bottles a day (8 oz. each) until about 8-9 months, when we will then switch to 3 a day.

HTH!