Feeling a little trapped by this feeding schedule

[Sadiebird]

My lo is 7 months old today and for the last month we've been following this feeding schedule:

7:00 am - breastfeed
8:00 am - solids / water
9:00 am - nap
11:00 am - breastfeed
12:00 pm - solids / water
1:00 pm - nap
3:00 pm - breastfeed
4:00 pm - solids / water
7:00 pm - breastfeed
7:30 pm - bedtime

The problem is, I never have an opening to go out with this schedule!  By the time I'm done breastfeeding, I only have about 1/2 hour until it's time to do solids, so I have to hang around the house and wait for that time.  Then by the time I'm done feeding him his solid food, I only have about 1/2 hour until naptime, so I hang around the house and wait for that.  Then when his nap is done, it's time to eat all over again.  Someone suggested that I feed him his solid food while out at the park, which would certainly work, but what about when I need to go to the grocery store?  I know an option is letting him nap while I'm out, but he never gets a full nap when I do that and then he's overtired.  Help! I feel kind of trapped and the weather is starting to get really nice!

[tylersmommy]

It's tough, isn't it? I remember thinking "nobody told me I'd be feeding this kid ALL DAY!" We did a LOT of feeding on the go. Tyler's routine was almost exactly like your LO's, and lunch was always our out and about time. I'd pack an insulated tote with his solids and we'd be on our way. He ate everywhere...in his stroller at the mall, sitting in the grocery cart, in his carseat, etc. What I'd do is have everything ready when he woke from his nap so we could race out the door as soon as he finished nursing. I also became a bit more flexible with his mealtimes...if he ate 30 min late one day, it wasn't the end of the world, and he never knew the difference. That allowed me to at least get grocery shopping done, and I could give him solids while we sat in the car. I also took advantage of the big stretch of time in the late afternoon. I'd often have dinner in the crock pot or made ahead of time so I could take it out of the fridge and pop it in the oven. We'd head out to the store after his 4 PM solids and that would give me plenty of time. Sometimes it meant DH and I ate dinner a few minutes later, but it worked out fine.

[Sadiebird]

I was able to make a successful trip to the grocery store yesterday.  You're right.  The trick is to have everything ready so you can leave right after you nurse.  Thanks for your advice!

[Colin Macs Mom]

One thing I always remind myself is that los can't tell time.    If you do something a bit early or late they have no clue really. The feeding schedule at this age is a little tough, but it gets better and you also get good at feeding on the go.