Weaning 8mo- On 3 meals a day, what next?

[NewMumSept2014]

I'm sure this is probably a really stupid question, so sorry in advance!
I'm in the process of weaning my DD.
She's now 8.5 months and eats brilliantly (most of the time). Usually a small breakfast and larger lunch and dinner, also has 4 bottles a day (anywhere between 5-7oz per feed, I had to increase back up from 3 to 4 bottles to make sure she was still getting her 500mls/day).
She hasn't quite mastered using a cup yet but is making progress.
I'm just a bit confused as to where I'm meant to be trying to get to with this. I mean, at 6 months the aim was to try and get her to eat anything at all and since then we've been working up to 3 meals a day, and now..... what?
Can anyone who's been through this before tell me what I'm aiming for over the next few months with regards to milk and food?
Is she meant to be off formula completely by the time she's 1?

[CornishYarg]

I would expect a baby to still be having milk in some form - breast, cows milk or formula - when they turn 1. Obviously the amount of milk will vary a lot. I guess the general aim as they turn 1 is for the balance to have tipped towards food providing more calories and nutrients than the milk, but not for the milk to have stopped completely.

Perhaps the next stage is to look at the food she's having and seeing if the range of flavours and textures can be extended. Eg if she's mostly having smooth food, give more finger foods or textured food. Or if she's having a lot of baby food, trying to give more family food. But if you're already giving a good range, just keep going! We found a lot of progress was made with weaning around 9-10 months.

[Shelduck]

It's been a couple of years since i went through this, but i see no-one has replied yet, so i'll try to help!

I know exactly where you're coming from, but basically just keep doing what you're doing. What you're ultimately trying to do is get her to eat like an adult, until she can eat the same as you. (A longer road for some than others!) If she's on purees, start giving her more lumpy food, and try her on finger foods and different textures. Also expose her to stronger flavours, like garlic, herbs etc. Remember that at this age, the idea is to get her to learn how to eat - so don't get hung up on what she actually gets inside her. Keep it fun and experimental. Don't be tempted to stick to only the things you know she will eat. You can be like me and make that mistake when she's a toddler instead!

She'll still need milk throughout her first year - and this is where most of her calories will still come from. But you'll find she eventually drops feeds by herself, so maybe just has one when she wakes up and before she goes to bed, and then probably just one at bedtime. You can then replace mid-morning and mid-afternoon bottles with snacks like rice cakes or banana or breadsticks. When she's 12 months old you can switch from formula to whole cows milk. (Hooray! Weekly shopping suddenly gets much cheaper!)

Hope that answers your question! X

[HeadDreamer]

If she's already on adult food then you relax and enjoy. Have a look at
www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/solid-foods-weaning.aspx

There is no need for snacks until 1. At 1, there is also no need for formula but don't be surprised if your DD doesn't like fridge cold full fat milk from the get go. You just slowly switch her over to the cows milk, and introducing snacks mid morning and mid afternoon. Sometime in the first year, I remember we get down to only morning milk and bedtime. Milk isn't that convenient when going out. So a yoghurt as snack is easier. But if at home nothing wrong with cows milk as snack.

[HeadDreamer]

FYI my 8.5mo is on 3 meals of the same food as us. I remember the health visitor asking if DD1 was on family meals at the 12 month review. If you aren't doing that already, definitely slowly move to family food, either mash with fork or just hand over as is.

[squizita]

I follow Karmel for quantities (very reassuring as my 8 m/O is still a taster!) and at 8 months it's 3 meals plus full milk. She says don't cut milk till 10 months and then add (perhaps milk based) snacks.