solids and milk: together or separate?

[courtneyandmiles]

How many of you feed babies 6-9 mos. with solids and milk together versus solid meals w/ milk snacks in-between (4 hr. EASY w/ 3 meals a day)?  I would prefer that my 8.5 mo. Dd eat solids and milk together so I feed her less frequently, but I find both types of routines all over the net and among my friends!

The routines look like this:
wake:  milk
b'fast:  solids               VS.    wake: milk
lunch:  solids and milk              b'fast:  solids
dinner:  solids and milk             snack:  milk
bedtime:  milk                        lunch:  solids
     5 times                             snack:  milik
                                           dinner:  solids
                                           bedtime:  milk
                                              7 times

I'd rather do the former solids + bf every 4 hrs., but I don't know how to get my Dd there, since she's on the latter routine right now, eating 8 times/day. thanks!

[lisi's mum]

I bf 7,11,3,7 and give solids at 8.30, 12.30 and 5.30. Feels like I spend half my life feeding dd, but it's the only way I can get her to drink enough milk. I want to keep bf the whole of the 1st year.

[tylersmommy]

It really depends on your LO...babies at this age have tiny tummies and can't hold much food at a time, so feeding more often works best for some. It also helps ensure that babies are getting plenty of breastmilk and/or formula. The 4 hr EASY with "snacks" in between actually reflects how most toddlers eat after they've been weaned onto whole milk...again, because their tummies are small and most need to eat more often. You can try and condense your LO's feeding routine and see how she does with it. It does work for some babies!

[Mum-of-Two]

This is my question, just described differently -- I'm so glad I found it!

My 6 month old is just now entering the 4 hour routine.  Previously she had eaten every 3 hours which equalled 5 meals between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. -- it was great.  BUT, now that she's moving towards the 4 hour routine she's trying to drop that last bottle.  She's slept through the night since 6 weeks old (was BFing then) and hasn't had a dream feed in months.  All of a sudden, we're back to dream feeds just so she gets her last bottle.

I'm not sure what to do.  She only eats about 6 oz in a bottle at a time.  If I give her food inbetween I don't know how that would work.

Good luck!  I can't wait to see the other responses.
Jill
Mommy to Elise 12.14.05

[Mum of girl, boy, boy]

hi there,

This was kinda my question as well. I have just started solids at just past 6 months. I haven't a clue how to do it this time round as I struggle to get 4 milk feeds in without solids some days and lo still sleeps. I am concerned that if i introduce solids his milk will taper right off. I don't want to bung him up and I certainly don't want to overload him.

Today I bf him at 7ish. Gave 1.5 tablespoons of carrot at just gone 9am and then bfed him at 12.30 and he didn't take that much compared with normal. I guess that is to be expected. i know I should give it to him closer to the first feed but he takes such a big feed I don't think he would be that hungry an hour later. Anyone know how quick they get up to 3 meals. I've heard people say there little ones are on 3 meals but I think that would mean they would cut right back on the milk. I am all to aware of my own feelings of wanting him to grow up in this department. For me it would make life easier knowing I didn't have to get boob out with a toddler on my hands but I know I have to listen to DS.

Over here in the UK the health visitor was kinda telling me that I had to start solids because he needs to get the variety. I want to start but I don't want to over load my lo. I am sure there are mums moaning at how often there lo's feed but I am the opposite. I want him to be hungry for feeds. Thanks to the EASY routines he rarely cries for food.

Any advice would help.

j

[Mum of girl, boy, boy]

That makes sense. I kinda knew he wouldn't take so much at his 2nd feed today and  I did it on purpose because I was taking my DD on a birthday trip and didn't want to feed. Bad excuse I know.

Would you wait longer to start the solids. He's taken to it well but I am not sure he needs it for filling him up. I have been reluctant to hold off past the 6 months because of what the hv said to me and every one here seems to be weaning at 4 months (definately too early for my little one). Perhaps i should wait another couple of weeks.

Thanks for your help.

J

[linfran]

my lo is 4 months old and has been on solids for the last four weeks (weighed 17lbs 15oz at 15 weeks).

I give him his solids at lunch and dinner (pureed fruit or veg and a little baby rice) with his bottles.  He's on 4 hour EASY and I give him about two thirds of the bottle first because he's getting crafty and won't drink his milk if I give him the grub before the bottle.  He then has the rest of his 8oz bottle to wash down his meal.  He then gets an 8oz bottle at breakfast and bedtime.