Need guidance setting up routine for 6 month old

[Nessamommy]

I'm really not sure what to do. My 6 month old is eating solids...quite well actually. He was eating his cereal just at breakfast, but my doctor has recommended that we start eating meals 3 times a day. We have been doing this over the last couple of days and all is going well. When I asked the doctor if we could start getting on a routine, she said yes, but I'm not entirely sure what this would look like. I'd really like to hear what some of you do at this age with your children. What times are acceptable wake up times (mine has been getting up at 5:00 am for a feed then having problems getting back down). What time do they go to sleep (mine is layed down at around 7:00 with bath and bed time routine starting at about 5:45)? What about naps? When do they do this?Or meals in terms of when they eat solids and when they breast feed? I'd really appreciate some direction with how to set this up.

Just a quick question first:

Why did the doctor recommend 3 meals a day, bearing in mind that milk should remain the staple in the first 12 months?

As for routine, carry on with the b/feeds on waking, mid morning, mid afternoon and evening, plus any other time he wants it.

Fit meals in around that. There doesnt need to be set clock times until you actually need to run to a clock ie to go to work, or, to get him to school

Nessa, are you happy with your DS going to bed around 7.00pm and getting up around 6am, does he seem well enough rested and lively during the day ?
Is he gaining weight appropriately on his chart ?

If yes to both of these then I'd keep on doing what you are doing as effectively you have a routine anyway.

Hmmm...I think she might have recommended 3 meals a day because I've been breastfeeding soooo often! That is good to hear Veni, in terms of when you think I should bf because that is pretty much what has been happening. I also told her I was kind of tired of bfing just because of the freedom aspect...he doesn't take bottles (we're working on the cup). She may have recommended feeding 3 meals because of this???

I think you could try offering solids at normal breakfast, lunch and dinner times, just to start getting him used to the idea, but e'll still need milk far more often than that - milk should still be his main food source for the next few months anyway.

And - I hate to say this - but generally doctors are not the best people to advise on looking after babies! I would stick with what you're doing if it seems to work. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Okay, your GP sounds like a bit of a nob, tbh.

Unless there is a specific reason, you dont have to ensure regimented 3 meals a day, unless you want to, or your DS wants you too.

You are b/feeding and this is the very best mix of nutrients (and no, the iron in your milk is sufficient and far more easily absorbable than any other way of getting it in to him).

So, carry on with the b/feeds, and, just do a basic breakfast about an hour after the morning feed.

give lunch in between the morning and afternoon feeds if he wants it, and then a tea if he wants it before a nice big bedtime feed.

The point is, be relaxed about it, enjoy it and take your time

When my dd was 6 mths (she's now 8mths) she was on 3 meals a day. Not taking them too well as she was still bf, so I weaned her off the bottle - i too had had enough of bf - and her day looked and still looks like this:

Wakes up 6.30 / 7.00. Lays in cot, talking and chewing on toys until i get her up and get her ready.

8am - has breakfast (weetabix or porrodge and fruit) and milk.
9.30/ 10am - nap of 30-45mins
12 noon - lunch of casserole / pasta / pureed roast dinner plus pureed fruit or yogurt (No milk)
Between 12.30 and 1 - Nap of approx 1.5 hours
3.30 ish - 7oz of milk
6.15 - Bath, followed by milk and bed
10.30pm - milk 'dream' feed of 2oz

Must add my dd is very easy and content and really always has been! she likes routine and this routine fits in well with me and my 3yo

good luck!

Thanks Keira! You've really helped me out! That's pretty much what we've been doing for the most part so it makes me feel a bit on track. We don't do a dream feed though but he gets up at 4:30/5:00 am for a feed lately. I'm glad to hear your baby was eating 3 meals a day too...my baby is loving it and eating lots!

Nessa - please tell me to shut up if I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs - but do remember that a routine will ONLY work if it fits the baby concerned - and yours may not fit int to the the same one as Kiera's lo. For example, there is very little you can do with an early waker (and yours sounds like on of those!) so thinking about 'acceptable wake up times' is going to cause you nothing but stress, IMHO. I would decide on the times you wnat him to have his 3 meals and stick to them pretty firmly, but be flexible around them - he will still need a lot of milk, so you have to fit that in somewhere. Do you have a lealth visitor or anothe "baby expert" you could talk to? As I sais, I don't think doctors are necessarily the best people to talk to on subjects like this.

I think you may be misunderstanding my concern seeker. I'm not trying to give up bfing altogether and am very well aware that bfing is still my priority. The solid foods he does eat aren't meant to fill him up but are simply a way of him getting used to the fact that he eats 3 times a day (practice). I'm just simply asking for direction on what a typical day looks like for others of the same age group as well as how they incorporate feeding into solid foods. I actually consider my doctor to be wonderful...she is a mother of 2 children under the age of 3 with one other one on the way. She's terrific and this was also not a concern of mine.

Sorry - I'll shut up.

my routine (roughly) at this age was

7am - milk
8am - breakfast
11am - milk
12pm - lunch
3pm - milk
5pm - dinner
7.15pm - milk
in the night till 8 months - milk

DS was bottlefed and I fitted the meals in at our usual mealtimes in between bottle feeds. Naps were also fitted in when ds showed signs of being tired. He did have to fit round the nursery run though so his first nap was around 9.30am then sometime after lunch and then a short one in the afternoon to see him through till bedtime.

What is his typical day now, you may find it hads a rough pattern anyway. Some babies liek 2 naps , some one some more. Waking so early he may well still need it at 9-10am then after "lunch", perhaps with milk on waking followed by meal at least an hour later.

Strongly feel that you as a mum should do what you feel is right rather than following the advice of a doctor . .......about these sort of issues
I mean come on ....look how guilty thats made you feel .
3 meal a day is your aim but you need to build up gradually in a natural way .

I have discovered that the answer to almost ANY of these Maternal worries is ,,.....RELAX ,.
Far to many people worry about routines . Your child will establish their own routine .

Keep things simple . As for naps i really like the 2,3,4, rule .
Baby should go for a nap 2 hours after they wake in the morning . next nap is 3 hours after they Wake from the first . Bedtime is 4 hours after they wake from the second nap .

Good luck

Also ...if you just started weaning at 6 months ....as current guidelines reccomend then one meal a day is of course appropriate .

I think you need a few simple rules of thumb .
Forget all the finer points .
Example : aim for one good nap a day .

Never wake a sleeping baby ( as long as they are well ) .

The first 4-8 weeks of solids is about introducing tastes ....not stuffing them full .

Schedule his meals for the times when you want to eat. As my DS got bigger and more mobile, I found the only time I got to sit down and eat myself was when he was eating.

I found that as I was BFing a lot evenings/bedtimes, I needed a snack before the bedtime thing started, so we did breakfast 7ish, lunch 12ish and dinner for DS cereal for me at 5ish. Bedtime started 6.30.

I can't remember now what the nap times were, as DS was never very consistent. I BF on demand until just over 2 years of age, and now do structured-ish feeds (3 times a day, morning, after lunch and bedtime in theory!). DS is 2.5

Many babies drop their milk feeds of their own accord, so I wouldn't worry about structuring them unless you want to. I am a rubbish BFer with dodgy supply, so didn't feel ready to do it till DS was over 2 and had had chickenpox.

My son was FF, but his routine went as:

7 - get up and milk
8- breakfast
9ish - nap 40 mins
11 - milk
11:45 - lunch
12:30ish - nap 40 mins
2:30 - milk
3ish - nap 40 mins
5 - tea
5:30 - bath
6:30 - milk
7ish bed

I think he also still had a feed at 10:30 when he was 6 months. I always try to give milk before solids.

My son has always dropped his milk feeds when he is ready. He naps when he wants, but has never really slept for more than 40 mins. Hope this helps, but we sort of fell into a routine, and we both love it, I always know where I am and I plan our activities when he is most awake etc.

Thank you for those who shared their routines...ours is pretty similar it seems, although I'm still trying to piece together some parts. I feel better knowing when some of you feed milk or solids. I think I'm on the right track!