How much milk does a 9 month old baby need?

[**Clare**]

Hi there, my baby has dropped all his bottles apart from the morning and evening bottle of 7 oz.  I was happy with this as he is a very good eater and has lots of yogurts, milky puddings and cheese on a daily basis.  Im a little concerned after reading various posts that this may not be enough.  Some people seem to be feeding there babies four bottles still at 9 months? Harvey refuses any other bottles, hes developing very well and is a good weight at 21 lbs. 

Please help! Whats the 'norm'?!

Clare xx

[Leah's Mom]

If he is happy and is gaining weight - he is fine!  Do you try and give him formula in his sippy with his meals? When he goes to cow's milk at one year he will have milk with meals. You may want to try and put some formula in a sippy or mix it with cereal if you don't think he is getting enough. I think the "average" is 24 ounces of milk at this age, but if he is getting cheese, yogurt etc. and he is gaining weight I'm sure he is just fine! And think.....you are down to two bottles already - weaning him off the bottle will be a piece of cake for you! 

[*Natasha*]

My 7.5month old has 8ozs morning and night and often refuses her lunch bottle drinking anywhere from 4-6ozs but this often a struggle. She also has a tub of yoghurt a day, custard with her lunch and i am giving her cheese as an afternoon snack or i sometimes put it in her dinner. She also is a good eater having plenty of fruit veges and meat for vitamins and iron. I might try Leah's Mum idea and give her some with her lunch instead of water to get a bit more into her.
Clare when did your DS drop his 3rd bottle?

[**Clare**]

Hi Natasha, he dropped it at about 8 months.  Imglad to here your lo has a similar feeding 'pla' to mine! I was getting abit worried! I think I may introduce a small bottle in the afternoon again just to see if hes changed his mind! Or maybe give it to him in a cup at lunch time, thats a nice idea! I like to have milk with my lunch too!

He has a tub of yogurt a day and I usually try and give him cheese at some point in the day also he has a small amout of butter and a milky pud at tea time like rice pudding or banana and custard.  Im happy with what hes eating just wasnt sure if he should be having more milk, ideally id like him to but you cant force it on them, he used to be sick after his afternoon bottle which I think was probably a sign he didnt want or need it!!

Clare xx

[*Natasha*]

Thanks Clare i think that is what i am going to have to do as well give it to her in a cup at lunch. Today intead of water i gave some formula in her cup and she drank a bit so i am hoping when she gets use to the cup she will drink more. She is teething at the moment so a bit off her food.
My DD also has a tub of yoghurt a day, custard and fruit with lunch and have just started giving her some cheese as an afternoon snack.
My DD has never been a big formula drinker dhe dropped to 4 bottle at 2 months and then 3 bottles at 5 months. I am guessing she will drop her lunch bottle before 12 months but will try and keep giving her some in a cup with her lunch. She is also a good weight putting on between 100-200gms a week and as of day weights in at 17.5lbs.
Have you started on cows milk yet or still formula?

[**Clare**]

Hes still on formula but a progress milk so what he does drink has more nutrients than the previous milk! I will introduce cows milk at a year, though he has cows milk on his cereal in the  mornings! Hes  never been a milk drinker really, used to be a battle to get hm to drink his bottles when he was tiny, kept messing about and chewing the teat! Used to worry me back then because thatwas his only source of nutrients! Now im not really to worried thou like i said earlier ideally id like him to take one in the arvo.

Hes a big boy weighing in at 21 lbs so is definately not under fed!

Like someone said on here at least we wont have the problems some people have of weaning them off bottles! Harvey loves drinking water out of his cup so giving him milk in it hoprfully wont be a problem!

Clare xx

P.S Your little girl is gorgeous!!

[*Natasha*]

Thanks Clare we think she is a stunner as well
No my DD was never a big drinker either never drank the recommended amount which worried me so much i got PPD. Now i am not worried anymore she LOVES her food and usually wolfs down her meals.
Catherine also loves drinking water from her cup, i tried a bit of milk in her cup for lunch and drank some so i am hoping she will just eventually have her milk with her lunch and not worry about her bottle afterwards.
Thanks for all your help and input 

[LeslieG]

My DD just had her month check -up last week and the dr said she should have 20 oz of formula a day. I think both of your LO's are likely getting enough.  My DD is drinking about 7oz in the morning and 7-8 oz at night and during the day I give her formula in a sippy cup and she usually has about 3 oz with her lunch and usually a small bottle before her afternoon nap (4oz). 

How many oz of food do you think you LO's are eating total during the day?  Since my DD is eating no puree's anymore I am wondering if she is getting enough food.  She doesn't wake at night but her meals seem small.  Just curious. 

Leslie

[*Natasha*]

What do you mean she isn't eating anymore Purree's are you saying no solids?
My DD has:

Morning: 8oz Bottle & 2ozs with 4tablespoons cereal and small tub of yoghurt
Lunch: Starting Giving her 1-2ozs in a cup with lunch which is 2 tablespoons of fruit with 3-4 tablespoons of custard. Then approx 5ozs Bottle.
Afternoon: Just started giving her a biscuit or cheese and 1-2ozs of formula in a cup.
Dinner: 2-3 tablespoons of vege, 1 tablespoon meat and sometimes 1 tablespoon of rice or pasta. Then before bed 8ozs bottle.

So in total about 25ozs milk a day.

[LeslieG]

No she eats solids but only finger foods.  She eats things like frozen blueberries, chunks of pear or apple, broccoli, pasta, etc...