If milk is really the most important thing up to a year then why

[sunshine75]

is my dd (almost 8 months) not having much. At 6 months , just after we started weaning she had 6bf per 24 hours. It dropped to 5 once she had 3 meals a day. Then the night feed went and now the mid morning has almost gone (30 secs max.).

So today she has had 3bf and to be honest the afternoon one only lasted a couple of mins and the bedtime one wasn't up to much eather. She has a good 4oz on her cereal in the morning which, I guess, helps.

Is this normal? I'm a bit worried about her not getting enough milk. Our day is a bit like this

7 - bf
8.30 breakfast - at least 4oz of milk on cereal - loves it
10.30 - bf (this isn't happening any more)
12 - lunch
3 - bf
5 - tea
7 bf

Watching with interest as am in same boat....but no cereal milk and still having small 11am bf...

If she's in 3 meals a day already then it could be that you might want to think about cutting back on the solids a little?

Do you feed on her cue? Where is she sleeping? Do you use a dummy?

She's not a massive eater (2nd centile) but has been eating more solids lately (which I thought was good).

I've always liked a bit of a routine as she rarley demanded food (not a greedy girl).

She sleeps in her own roon and has a dummy for sleeep - why?

I think its more of a 'if your lo is more into milk than solids up to 1 year then it doesnt matter' not a strict 'your lo must take hundreds of milk and very little solids up to 1 year'. If your lo is cutting down on milk then get more into them through their food e.g. milk in cereal, in cooking, dairy products, etc. As long as they have other sources of the same nutrients then it doesnt matter if it is in drink form or in the form of solids.

Thanks, Seona. It's just such a worry.

She's had cheese today (on risotto and toast) so then I got all stressed about too much salt. A couple of weeks ago I worried that she would never eat solids properly and now it's the worry about too much solids and not enough milk... aaaarrrgh

Sometimes I wish I was more like some of the mothers I've come across who are giving crisps/biscuits/chocolate to babies the same age and not being at all worried about milk/salt/calories/centiles etc etc

Your dd sounds very like my dd3, who is nearly 7 months and has also gone from 6-8 bfs in 24 hours to 3 solid meals and rather less interest in bm. I think it's also coinciding with teething which doesn't help; she responds to unwelcome offers of booby with a sharp bite .

Anyway, my fantastic hv (who has been hugely supportive and helpful with bf) said as long as she's having 5 good feeds in 24 hours she should be OK, as should my supply. Unfortunately for me, she feeds better in the evening and at night, so I'm still feeding her at around 11pm and 3am, and then 3 smaller feeds during the day.

Personally I wouldn't cut back on her solids at this stage. I'm sure you're not forcing food down her throat . If she's enjoying her food, go with it. I think if she's having plenty of variety in her solid diet, and a good amount of milk/cheese/yoghurt with things, and 3-4 feeds in 24 hours, you should be OK. It's not realistic to suggest that babies suddenly switch from a mainly milk to a mainly solid based diet overnight at 12 months. It happens gradually, and at different speeds with different children. I can't remember at what stage my older two dropped milk feeds, only that it happened gradually between 6 and 12 months, until we were just having milk early morning and at bedtime.

Sorry, bit of a ramble - can't think straight, am knackered...

Well, the reason I asked those questions is because feeding to schedule, using a dummy and sleeping at a distance are all things that encourage babies to breastfeed less frequently. This sort of approach is likely to encourage her to take more solids and cut back on breastfeeds. If you're happy with that, then it's entirely up to you .

But, if you want to encourage a 'food for fun up to one' and milk more imporant than solids until her birthday approach (as recommended by the national bf orgs) then you could think about whether there's anything that you'd want to alter? Would you feel comfortable offering the breast a bit more often and sticking to slightly smaller meals?

As I say, it's up to you .

Btw, I don't think anyone is suggesting a sudden switch from mainly milk to mainly solids at exactly 12 months. My understanding is that it's more that milk is the main source for the whole of the first year, with solids gradually becoming more and more important during the second year, alongside continued breastfeeding until at least 2 years of age, as recommended by the World Health Organisation.

Of course, not everyone will choose to follow this approach, but this is the thinking that goes alongside breast milk being the main source of nutrients in the 1st year .

I do like a routine (of sorts) and co-sleeping didn't work for us (although she usually comes in with us about 6ish most mornings).

I'll keep offering her a bf regularly but can't force her to have it.