6 1/2 month old feeds 16 - 21 oz. of BM a day????

[Nani]

My son is 6 ½ months and we are having some issues with his liquid feeds.  For over a month I dealt with his nightly wake-ups and now I truly believe it is a food issue.

This past week, I decided to pump and feed to see how much he is actually taking in at each feed.  Because when I BF, he is only on each breast for 2-3 minutes, then sometimes he screams when he comes off the breast, it’s like he wants more.  What concerns me is that he is only taking about 16 – 21 oz. of BM during the day and if he wakes at night, he only takes about 2 oz. then goes back to sleep.

Tracy’s book says that children ages 4-6 months should take in 6-8 ounces of liquid a feed (which should be about 26 – 38 oz.).  I am lucky if he takes in 4 ounces, it ranges from 3 ½ oz. to 5 oz. at each feed.

Lately, it tends to be spaced out, for example, he will take in 2 oz., then he doesn’t want anymore (usually screams at the bottle or breast) and then an hour later he’ll take in another 2-3 oz.  Why is he doing this?  Is it the solids, because she says that 2T = 1 oz. and 3 tsp. = 1T = ½ oz.

His is very close to a 4 hour EASY routine.  Here is his schedule:

7:30 – Wake
8:00 – 4 ½ - 5 oz.
9:00 – 3 tbsp. cereal
9:30-11:30 – Nap
11:30 wake
12:00 – 3 – 4 oz.
1:00 – 3 tbsp. cereal, 3 tsp. fruit or veggie
1:30-3:00 – Nap
3:30 – 3 – 4 oz.
5:00-5:40 – Nap
6:30 – 4 – 5 oz.
7:15 – 3 tbsp. cereal, 3tsp. fruit or veggie
8:00 – 2 – 3 oz. top up
8:15 - Sleep

[RachelC]

I think there are 2 things going on here.  The first is at 6.5 months, solids should be kept to a minimum.  At this age there is usually one meal (breakfast) and it is maybe 1-2 tbsp.  I think if you drop the other two meals at this point, you will see an increase in the breastmilk he takes in.  Breastmilk has far more calories than any solids you can offer, and that may be why he is waking at night.  He's getting too full on solids to take more milk at a given time.  I suggest you pop over to the solids board (the FAQ section) for more advice for introducing solids.

Also, most babies drop the catnap around 6 months.  Seems like he may be getting too much day sleep, which is interferring with his night sleep.

[daisymelan]

I would have to agree with Rachel.  I would try cutting back on solids and see if that makes a difference.

[binxyboo]

I would agree too!

[Nani]

Thank you Binxyboo, Daisymeian, and PaigeJalyn for your feedback! 

Yesterday I gave my ds solids only twice and only gave him 2 tbsp. of cereal with a little bit of fruit.  He still took in the same amount of BM and woke up 3 times last night, but I only feed him the last time, which was 4:00 am.  Then he went back to sleep and woke up at 6:30 and I waited till after 7 am to feed him again.  He went down for his nap at 8:45, and slept for 40 minutes. 

I must say that he was sleeping better during his naps and during the night when he did have more solids to eat.  I am not sure what to do.  I know that will still try to cut back on the solids for a few more days to see if that makes a difference, but how to I increase them amount of BM he intakes?  Should I BF him more frequently?

[daisymelan]

I would stick with your current routine and give it at least a week.  It takes a while for los to "catch on" to new things.  Regardless of how you change a routine, it all takes time.

Hang in there!