Hungry 9.5 month old boy...when to drop afternoon breast feed in favour of more solids?

[2tiredmama]

Hi, my 9.5 month old boy loves his solids and has never turned down a spoonful of food. for past 10 days he cries halfway through a meal we think because it's not coming fast enough and a fear of it being "all gone" but he's not in tears by the end of the feed but does look a little miffed. He has also been a bit cranky during the day which may be due to an unsatisfied tummy. Also having slept 11 - 12hrs straight for past 3 months he has been waking wide awake for 30 mins to 2hrs at night (not due to the cold) for past 5 nights.
So with all this going on I think he is trying to say something 1. to increase his solid portions and 2. to reduce his milk i.e. to move on to the next stage. He currently has 3 milk feeds (EBF) after each meal just before his 2 naps and bedtime and I am going back to work at end of January so am wondering if it is time to stop the middle feed.

Does this sound like what he wants and how do I go about it as when I cut other feeds successfully cold turkey they were not feeds just before a nap so he's definitely going to notice this time!!
Thanks for your help :)

3 feeds doesn't sound very much for a 9 month old - I would up his milk personally, he needs the nutrition from it until at least a year.

I agree that three feeds doesn't sound like much. If he is filling up on solids, he may well be hungry. Milk should be the main source of calories until they are a year. There are more calories in milk than they can consume via solids at this age.

The night waking a could also be developmental. I remember 9-12 months being very tough sleep wise with a previous good sleeper.

I think 3 milk feeds a day is recommended until 1. There's nothing to atop you offering more solids at meal times though and keep the milk the same.

Who recommends 3 breastfeeds a day?

The Irish Health Service guidelines state a recommendation of 3 milk feeds by 9 months old and 2 milk feeds by 12 months as calories should come from food more and more as the child grows. This is the online version of the book given to parents in Ireland www.irishhealth.com/clin/documents/Caring_for_Your_Baby_6_Months_to_2_year_old_Booklet.pdf but maybe guidelines are different in the UK? In my case I think 3 milk feeds have been right as he has slept 11 - 12hrs through the night since he was 6 months old and if he was hungry he'd wake for it like he did prior to that. It's more his behavior of the past few days at night and at the high chair that I'm questioning as it's out of character and I'm wondering if he's hungry for more solids and less interested in milk? What do you all think?

That booklet gives formula amounts (3x7oz) but that isn't going to be very relevant for breastfeeds.

In answer to your question, I would drop to two feeds in a couple of months time.

I think the night waking could be developmental. They can go through separation anxiety at this age or start standing, cruising, walking.

Definitely don't drop to two feeds till a year. When he wakes at night do you try offering him a feed then too? Babies change their sleeping patterns all the time so what worked at 6 months probably won't at 9 months.
He could also need more milk as he is going through a growth spurt.
If it is a growth spurt, more milk rather than more solids is probably the best approach.

Agree that 3 feeds is normal until a year (even with an extra night feed if needed).

Do you do morning and afternoon tea? 9 mo DS needs his or is really cranky, we often do something like some rice crackers with hummus or some yoghurt and fruit, plus sips of water with meals and after waking from each nap.

Thanks for all that ladies, I think ill keep the 3 feeds for now and up the solid portions or introduce a snack as he slept well last night in doing that and he seemed less cranky. I think he's just a hungry boy in general as like I said he's never turned down a spoon as is eager for more and he is on the 93rd percentile! ! As for the Irish guidelines given it is for breast and bottle as per the left column and every baby is different but 3 is definitely enough for him as he never roots for more day or night and believe me he'd be crying at night if he was hungry rather then just being wakeful which may well be just developmental as per shitballs a as he is on the cusp of crawling and I did wonder if it was a wonder week. Babies keep us guessing though eh??

A paediatrician told me that provided the food was healthy, let babies eat as much as they want. Would it help if he had finger foods on the table as well as the bowl you're spoonfeeding him from? Then he'd feel more in control because he can see there is food in his reach, and he can control the speed of delivery of it.

Good idea Sootikinandsweep as he has only recently got the hang of bringing food to his mouth. Thanks again everyone.