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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Creating a routine and weaning... suggestions!

16 replies

almostmummy · 02/09/2014 10:17

Hello mums. I am a first time mum to 4.5 month old twin girls. One of my girls is quite a bad feeder and as a result is a battle each feed to get a minimal amount of milk into her. She is being treated for silent reflux (Omeprazole - 10mg/day) and a cow's milk intolerance (now on Nutramigen AA) and now I suspect the beginnings of teething as well. I have an appointment on Friday with the paediatric dietician and I'm hoping they will suggest early weaning as I know she isn't getting enough from the small amount of milk she is taking. A routine of the following has been suggested to me...

7am - milk
9am - intro 'breakfast'
11am - milk (to eventually be phased out)
12:30pm - intro 'lunch' once 'breakfast' established
3pm - milk (also eventually to be phased out)
5:30pm - intro 'dinner' (again once 'breakfast' and 'lunch' established)
7pm - milk

Potential nighttime feed depending on level of hunger.

I thought that sounded like a sensible schedule and have for the past 2 weeks been feeding on the above milk times including the nighttime feed which has been clocking in around 1am-2am-ish. I flicked through a Gina Ford book and she suggests a different approach regarding weaning. I am interested to hear of how other mums started and continued on.

Thank you!

OP posts:

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 02/09/2014 11:59

3 lots of solids is quite a lot at this age. The nhs guidelines say to move to 3 meals between 8 and 9 months. Before 6 months you can only really give her fruits and vegetables and any that she eats will take up tummy space she needs for her milk. The milk will obviously have more nutrition for her. Just something to bear in mind

NickyEds · 02/09/2014 12:15

I'd discuss it with the paeds but my first instinct is that they're very young for three meals a day. The routine you describe is roughly my DSs and he's 8 and a bit months. Is your dd struggling to gain weight? It must be very hard to cope with

Original poster

almostmummy · 02/09/2014 12:32

Thanks for your replies - my error above. The timing on introducing lunch and then ultimately dinner is quite spaced out with lunch coming in just before 6 months. My littlest twin is small and not gaining as well as her sister who takes her milk no problem. I'm very conscious of creating future problems by rushing this, but keen to understand the 'routine' side of things that have worked for others.

OP posts:

NickyEds · 02/09/2014 12:43

I'll be honest with you, my DS is a very routine baby. I never really instigated this (I'm staying at home with him so no real need for one)but he's fallen into it himself. Having a routine has obvious benefits but it's worth bearing in mind that you're in it too! That said if I had twins I would imagine I'd really want a routine, particularly if baby was struggling. Have you tried asking on the Multiple Births thread?

Wombat79 · 02/09/2014 20:27

I weaned my DS early at 5 months as he just couldn't get enough from milk, I was BF and by 3pm had nothing left to give him. He was however, 8kg and 99 percentile for height (average size of a 7 month old apparently so not surprised he was getting super hungry).
I ummm'd and ahhh'd for a while and read as much as I could to check I was doing the right thing. I really liked Gina Fords early weaning guidelines as it set things out very clearly and didn't rush foods or suggest foods that were difficult for babies to digest.
It worked brilliantly, he is an amazing eater at the moment (almost 7 months), eating finger foods really well and a great variety.
I have no regrets but I weaned for totally different reasons and I had a little boy at the top of his height percentiles and dropping weight because I couldn't give him enough milk. I also discussed this with the GP and she was supportive that it was the right thing to do.
My DS has just dropped his lunchtime milk (at 6 1/2 months) as he eats enough solids but babies need to be getting something like 600-800mls of milk a day until 1 year old (I think). Most of their nutrition should still come from milk so the fact that your little one is a poor feeder may not be a good reason to wean early. The solids may mean she takes even less milk and then mean she isn't getting what she needs.
I hope this post makes sense! I def think speak to your paediatrician and get some advice.
If you do wean early remember milk remains the main source of nutrients and at this age solids are first tastes. For early weaning I found Gina Ford really good however, I am certain there would be many that disagree (because its Gina Ford).

purplemurple1 · 02/09/2014 20:37

I followed the baby whisperer schedule (if you Google noob baby whispered schedule you'll find it) but from memory there were more milk feeds (approx 3 hourly) and only an hour's gap between milk and solids. I weaned at about 5 months.

purplemurple1 · 02/09/2014 20:42

Just to add I also have a big baby (10.5kgs at 5 month's) and was advised he was ready and should be weaned to help limit his milk intake and weight gain. It hasn't worked but there you go, he likes his food, and is now mobile and his weight is fine.
Hope it all works out for your little one.

mumandbubs · 03/09/2014 08:53

Thank you very much for your replies and advice. Wombat you have a very good point re a knock on for my little one taking even less milk, but how do you make a baby drink when they simply do not want to??! Had another nightmare feed this morning, she barely took an ounce before deciding she was full - and that was our first feed of the day! Yesterday in total she only had about 500mls. I understand milk is vital but if she isn't getting that surely some food is essential?? Will check baby whisperer purple - although she doesn't do too well with 3 hourly feeds, gets VERY annoyed at all the fussy to get her to feed. Thankfully my other daughter is 'textbook' - which obviously means she's going to be trouble when she gets older, think that's how it works!

JiltedJohnsJulie · 03/09/2014 16:23

Could it be the milk? Have you asked in allergies to see if there are any other formulas available?

YBR · 03/09/2014 20:59

Do I remember correctly that if baby is consuming other milk products that is allowed as part of the 600-800mls per day?

I am certain that DD2 doesn't consume that (2 bottles of about 5-6oz is normal, plus one BF) but she's been on 3 meals a day for a couple of months now and eats a good quantity of yoghurt, cheese, porridge and custard.

With respect to the OP's question, you could make porridge up with formula milk, but cheese and yoghurt will be a problem if there is a cow's milk intolerance.

mumandbubs · 04/09/2014 16:45

It might be the milk Jilted - I'm going to ask the dietician on Friday if we could try Neocate because at present we're on Nutramigen AA. You wouldn't believe the lengths I have to go to get this little one to drink. Even trying the doidy cup at the moment which is resulting in a huge unsuccessful mess! I wonder also if all this fuss could be something really simple like teething?? Anywho - I'm 4.5 months into it, surely things are bound to start getting easier??!!

mumandbubs · 04/09/2014 16:47

Thank you YBR - that's good to know. I honestly doubt that with the introduction of foods her milk intake will go up?? So yes, perhaps I can get a few extra ounces in mixed with food. What a minefield this parenting thing is - especially when the little ones cotton on to stuff quickly!

Pocket1 · 04/09/2014 18:32

My dd also had cma and silent reflux. But nutramigen and omeprazol sorted her quickly.

I weaned at 20 weeks and she was all the better for it. Is a great eater now and had gained all re weight she was missing.

Ask your dietician about how/when to introduce meals. And if you need any more info pm me and I will dig out the info I had which was great.

Pocket1 · 05/09/2014 21:52

Mumabubs I've seen your pm. And will forward that info to you over he weekend.

mumandbubs · 06/09/2014 12:38

Thanks Pocket - the dietician was useless. Only real steer she gave was to say there is lots of information available on how to do it. Will look forward to hearing from you whenever you get a moment :))

Pocket1 · 07/09/2014 13:33

Just emailed you a whole bunch of info. Really hope it helps. And just email/pm me if you ever need any help. I really don't mind. I was so daunted by feeding a baby with cma, but we now have a thriving little girl who LOVES her food

Ps. Your dietician does sound rubbish. We seem to have been luck with ours so I can always send you the info u have from her...

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