Feed times for 6-month old - (long-ish!)

[Stagiaire]

I haven't posted on Mumsnet before but have found some of the threads really helpful so thought I'd try to get some advice on feeding routines. I'm currently weaning my 6-month old daughter from breast to bottle as well as giving her solids 3 times a day. I'm a bit confused about how to structure the milk feeds and solids. Our current routine is:
7am - milk feed
8am - breakfast
9-ish - nap for around 45 mins
10.30-ish - milk feed
11.30-ish - lunch with some water
12-ish - nap for 1-2 hours
13.30-ish - milk feed
15.30-ish - sometimes a nap of up to an hour
16.30-ish - half a milk feed (i.e. 1 breast) and tea with some water
18.30 - last milk feed
19.00 - bed

My main concern is that the milk feeds don't correspond with the meal-times. Is this a problem? Also, I'm wondering if she's getting the right quantity of solids v. milk. She currently eats about 4 ice-cubes of puree at each meal. I've got no idea how much milk she drinks at each feed because I'm still breastfeeding for all feeds apart from the 10.30/11am when she takes about 6ozs.

I'd be interested to hear other feeding/sleeping routines of babies around the 6-month age group.

[FairyMum]

Mine is 8 months and I am afraid I am not as structured as you. Your structure seems fine though. I think as long as happy and healhty anything goes, no?

[mmmmchocolate]

Hi, I have the i have the same worries as you, My DD was 6 months last friday but looks like we have a simular routine, so unless we are both getting it badley wrong i think it is fine:

7.30am Milk feed - 6oz
8.30 Nap about hour
10.30 Milk Feed - 6oz
12.30 Lunch
1.30 Nap 2hours
3.30 Milk feed - 8oz
4.45 Dinner
7.00 Milk Feed + Bed

I have no idea when to introduce breakfast and what time, i tried last week to give here breakfast at 8.30 and she just blew raspberries at me..... and if i do it once she is awake again it interfers with her milk intake. But unless we are both doing it wrong i think we have the right ideas.

[mmmmchocolate]

wanted to add that it seems i am just feeding her constantly through out the day but had drummed into my head should still have 600ml of milk and this is only way, if i do after meals she not interested at all.

[charellie]

I followed the Contented Little baby book. I know her reoutines can be quite rigid and wouldn't recommend following everything she says but I found it really helped give me confidence to know that my twins were on the right track.

At the end of the day it is a personal choice and if you feel it is right then that is all that matters. You know you child better than anyone and they soon let you know if they aren't happy

[charellie]

Just for info. This is the routine my girls were on
On waking 7oz milk followed by breakfast
11.45 - 12 noon lunch (no milk)
2/2.30 7oz milk
5pm tea (no milk)
6.30pm 7oz milk

Not sure if this will work for you but hope it helps a bit

[Stagiaire]

Charellie - I have looked at Gina Ford's routine and the one timing I was confused about was expecting a baby to wait almost 5 hours between breakfast and lunch. Did your twins not get hungry or thirsty for their milk in between?

[KathH]

this is what do -
6.15 - 6oz milk
9 - breakfast & 5 oz milk (includes milk to mix breakfast)
11 - small drink water
12.30 lunch - oz milk to mix veggies & 2oz to drink altho over next couple of weeks will swop to juice
2.30 - water
4.15 tea & 5oz milk
7.15 - 6oz milk

[HappyDaddy]

Stagiaire, I can't breastfeed, so spoke to my healthvisitor at 6 months, regarding how i should structure dds solids. Was told that 3 solid meals a day with milk in between was fine. Your schedule looks fine to me. I know what you mean about it feeling like you're feeding all day.

[strawberry]

Also not a Gina Ford fan but her weaning advice worked for ds at this age. Your dd's nap times coincide with GF's. Remember this is the routine suggested for 6-9 months so early days for your dd.

The time to drop a milk feed is when you have introduced more protein and iron-rich foods. Remember you can include milk used in cooking to get up to the pint per day target.

If your dd is accepting all the food/milk you offer then she is obviously keen! If you find food is rejected, this could be related to too much milk.

[MamaV]

Hi, I'm going back to work in a couple of weeks and am trying to wean of breastfeeding my 7 1/2 month old. Unfortunately my ds will not take milk from any other source (bottle or beaker) I just try to make sure he has some dairy at every meal - milk in his breakfast, youghurt with lunch and maybe a cheese sauce with his dinner. Our current routine is similar to Charellie's but will change to KathH's when I go back to work as I will not be able to give 2.30 feed.