Need a feeding schedule for 4 1/2 mo old

[GradysMom]

Hi,

My LO is 20 weeks and at our 4 mo appt, the pediatrician instructed us to begin cereal/fruits/then veggies.  My son has loved every food I've given him so far and has had no side effects.  He has been on a 4 hour easy since 14 weeks and he was eating 5 7oz bottles a day before we started the food.  My question is when does the food replace a bottle and when does it supplement - am I supposed to continue the same amount and same schedule and insert the food feedings in between?  The way I have been doing it, he is only getting about 22 oz of formula a day.  Here is what I have been trying:

7:00 am     I make a 7 oz bottle and mix some with 2-3 Tb oatmeal plus 1/2 container fruit.  After that I offer the rest of the bottle - he is only eating about 4 oz total of the bottle.

11:00 am    1 container of yellow veggies - he does not want any milk this feeding.

3:00 pm     7 oz bottle

7:00 pm     I make a 7 oz bottle and mix some with 2-3 Tb oatmeal plus 1/2 container fruit.  After that I offer the rest of the bottle - he is only eating about 4 oz total of the bottle.

10:00 pm df  7 oz bottle

Is he getting enough formula?

Thank you!!

[binxyboo]

Hi there,

 I am just wondering why your paed recommended starting solids so early when all the research out there recommends on holding off until 6 months. Here is some info to consider http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/delay-solids.html


When lo's do start solids, you definitely do not want it to replace their milk, which already seems to be happening in your case. So, for example, when people usually start solids, it is usually just once a day, a small amount about an hour after breakfast or lunch. And you usually stick with one meal for a while. I nursed my baby, but I am assuming when you are bottle feeding, you do not deliberately reduce the amount of milk, it just naturally happens over time. Given that, I have read about 6 month old babies on here who are drinking 32-40 ounces of milk when they are started on solids, and the milk does not decrease for a while afterwards, until they are well established on solids. I do not think that 22 ounces of formula is enough in a day. More like 32 would be like it. HTH

[Ryan&HollysMom]

i'd have to agree with that. 3 feedings of solids seems like way too much at 4 months old. you're pretty much describing our schedule,and my lo is 8 months old!! even if you were to give him those 3 feedings, milk is SOOO much more important no matter how much he loves the solids. i still feed milk first and solids about 45-60 min. later.