Advice re weaning !

[smsuckley1975]

Hi there

I wondered if I might get some advice re weaning - primarily to do with how the routine changes & the feed times & when my little girl should also have her milk. I am a bit lost as to what she should have and when ! And also worried I may over or under feed. She is 4 months at the mo and bottle fed & will probably start to wean in next 6 weeks. She hasn't ever had a huge appetite - normally drinks between 120 and 150 mil per feed and has 6 feeds a day. She sleeps well - for the past few weeks from 11pm dream feed to 7.30am. Roughly our routine at the mo is:

7/7:30 wake up and feed

8:30/9:00 morning nap

10:30 feed

12.45 midday sleep (normally she only manages 45 mins)

1.30 feed

3/4:00 afternoon nap - good 2 hr nap

5:30 feed

7.00 bath

7:30 feed and bedtime

11pm dream feed

Thanks !!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I'd wait until she was 6 months, there's no need to rush. When you do start I'd offer some solids at roughly 11.30ish. Just once a day is fine for the first few weeks. Then you can build upto 3 meals a day between 8 and 9 months.

Between 6 and 12 months the minimum amount of formula per day is 20floz. But I wouldn't expect her to start dropping bottles straightaway.

[smsuckley1975]

Thanks so much - so I keep as normal but introduce one meal at 11.30 - the others when I get to that stage will be early morning & dinner time then? And what about water / juice - I have read that babies don't need water on its own until 9-10 months as otherwise it's v dangerous. Thanks again !

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Mist people do offer water with solids but you don't have to. Just a little in a sippy cup is fine, especially if you are offering solids after milk.

You don't have to start with lunch first, it's just from your schedule that looked the easiest.

Think the NHS recommend moving to 3 meals a day between 8 and 9 months, so there's no rush