milk and weaning

[JRmumma]

My DS is 20wks and im starting to think about getting ready for weaning (to start at around 26 weeks). Lately he has reduced the amount of milk he is taking and although im sure its a phase, it got me thinking about the amount of milk he needs whilst weaning.

Assuming that at first, the amount of milk they need/take is the same, but less at 1yr old, how do i know what to give and when? How much food does he need to be taking before milk feeds are reduced? Or does it just happen naturally?

I'm probably over thinking this!

It happens naturally- some babies take to food more readily. Foods for fun until they're one! Milk reduction may be due to ill health or teething?

Thanks. Yes he has been poorly and i also suspect has his first teeth coming (red cheeks, hands constantly in mouth) so that's maybe why he is taking less. Only took 3 x 7oz bottles today and one during the night last night. He is taking a full bottle, but having quite a gap between (6 hours this pm, all other bottles 5hr gap).

My son had 4 bottles a day all through weaning until we got to 3 meals a day. Then he dropped one of his milk feeds mostly down to time constraints-3 meals & 4 bottles was a lot to fit into a day. I didn't reduce the amount in his bottles, sometimes he finishes them, more often he doesn't but he's been a pretty good eater so I don't worry about it-x-

I might be wrong (forgotten so much) but early stages of weaning are about getting DC used to the sensations of eating / tastes of food and the amount they actually eat is minimal so milk intake remains close to normal. Once they are eating cereal for breakfast, cheese and yoghurts then a drink of milk a day is about enough I think. I remember a HV provided guidelines on how much milk per age tho

Just give him solids once a day at first, building upto 3 times between 8 and 9 months and until he's one, always offer solids roughly an hour after his usual milk feed.

Have you read the Mn weaning info? It's very good

My 7 month olds day goes like this

6.30 bottle
7/7.30 baby porridge
10.30 bottle
12 lunch
2.30/3 bottle
4.30/5 tea
7/7.30 bottle

All bottles are 6oz and he usually finishes them.

He obviously naps inbetween and we find when he wakes from a nap he is usually really hungry so has a bottle then and meals an hr or more after that.

I started weaning around 5 months thinking it would help ds sleep better it didn't it actually his sleep was worse for the 1st month and he's just started sleeping better as he's got older and can go longer in the night without a bottle he wakes up ready for his bottle in the morning!

Thanks yes im confident about the food bit of weaning, i just wasn't sure about the impact on milk. I guess bottle then food makes sense once they are on 3 meals and with one before bed makes 4 which sounds about right.