18 week old feeding (formula)

[holliem91]

My LG is 18 weeks & 4 days old today. Ever since she was born she has always been a big feeder and loves her milk. She has never stuck to the guidelines and always drinks a lot more than a baby her age would. I've spoken to my health visitor about this and she says it's completely normal as she's gaining weight and having plenty of dirty/wet nappies. Anyway, during the day my LG has 8oz feeds every 3.5/4 hours and then at night time just before bed she has a 9oz feed and she drains the bottle every time. She isn't sleeping very long like she used to either and I am wondering if she's maybe ready for me to put some rusk or baby rice (which ever is better) in her feeds? I know, it's not recommend until she's 6 months old and I really really want to wait until she's 6 months as I'm a sucker for following the rules and I know that is what's best but I can't help but feel if she's not even 5 months old yet, by the time she is, she's going to be draining 10oz bottles or more😳 can someone give me their advice please and point me in the right direction? Thank you!

She doesn’t be draining the bottle. If she is then you need to offer her more milk.

Early weaning food have few calories in then milk so it can make sleep worse as they fill their tummies with low calorie food. It also risks life long health problems. If your baby is hungry then give more milk.

*Shouldn’t be

If you research it the jury is out on religiously sticking to 6 months before weaning. Generally the advice is 4-6 months. Some countries advise weaning at 4 months, others say 6 months. The NHS says 'around 6 months'. The WHO advises 6 months because it takes into account poor sanitary conditions of some countries.

Your baby needs to have met certain markers though. Have a google and it'll tell you what your baby needs to be able to do. Then you can base your decision on that. Not sleeping through because of hunger isnt a reason to start weaning.

I also wouldnt start on a rusk. You need to start on puree, be it baby rice/pureed vegetable mixed with formula.

The way my baby is going, I think ill be starting to wean at 5 months (baby is 4 months).

I started baby led weaning both of mine before 6 months, think Dd was about 5.5m. Baby rice is empty calories and rusk are full of sugar. I'd up the milk for a couple of weeks until baby is ready, can sit upright unaided and shows an interest in food, and then start something proper whether baby led or purees or a mixture.

We weaned at 4 months as baby was grabbing it out our hands and had teeth lol.

He has loved solids. We started with baby porridge and single veg purees. The aptamil baby porridge is from 4 months and he loves it. You could always try that?

Also - we are on hipp organic formula which I thoroughly recommend. We have been on the general infant one and then the anti reflux one for a few months when it was needed.

I haven't tried it but they do a hungry infant one too so maybe you could give that a go? You get it in boots. Good luck!

I weaned my boys early. But it was because they had such bad reflux that they were refusing feeds. It was also under medical advice. And I certainly didn't give them rusks at four months.

There are things you can try before weaning. Offer a bigger feed. If she finishes 9oz at night, offer her 9oz for every feed. Offer feeds more often. If she usually goes 4 hours, offer it every 3 hours.

Four months is notorious for problematic sleeping. It's also prime time for teething and a growth spurt. Despite what every old dear will tell you, weaning does not magically cure their sleeping problems.

My baby is the same age and no way would I wean this early! Just give him more milk if he needs it. Rusks and baby rice are full of rubbish. Even if you do wean early, please don't give these types of food to your baby.

Thank you everyone for your advice! I think I focused a little too much on the sleeping part when it doesn't really bother me as she still sleeps 6 hours at night in one stretch or longer so that's not really an issue but it's just the size of her feeds as I worry i'm giving her too much, I mean, I don't even know if that's a thing? I have a lot of mum friends who also formula feed/fed and they have all said their babies were drinking around 6/7oz at 4.5 months so it just concerned me.

Thank you for the information on rusk, I had absolutely no idea it was full of sugar, I literally thought it was just formula in a biscuit for some reason😂 (ftm here!)

@Cherry85 I seen the baby porridge that aptamil do and was thinking of perhaps giving that ago too, a lot of my family and friends have suggested it to me but i've just been too scared to go against what the guidelines are!

I'll try and up the milk for a couple of weeks and see if that helps but the thing is, she doesn't tell me when she's full... She'll happily drink and drink and drink and then throw it all up, so I have to kind of guess when she's had enough which is a bit difficult but I try my best.

If it's ok for her to go up to 10/11oz feeds in the next couple of months then that's what I shall do and i'll wait a bit on the weaning as i'd rather do that anyway

I have just re - read your post and I think you may have been suggesting putting food inside a bottle. If so then please don’t it’s a huge choking risk.

Thank you @Letsallscreamatthesistene some useful information there!

Your welcome!

Also, a rusk is a biscuit. If you do decide to wean early then it should be purees before 6 months, definitely no actual solids because the baby could choke. Baby led weaning should be done after 6 months because that involves giving foods in their solid forms.

@holliem91My friend is head of a paeds unit at one of the big hospitals and she has said that you should go by the baby. NHS advice is 6 months because a lot of people don't prepare meals correctly/forget to sterilise bowls and cutlery as they would bottles etc but that it was fine to do.

If baby food says 4 months plus its totally safe from that age. Remember when we were younger it was 4 months and only changed a few years ago and we are all fine lol

Might be wrong but I think 6m comes from the world greatly organisation (WHO) originally, which has to cover a lot of different countries with all different standards of sanitation, cleanliness and foods available. My HV told me its guidance, and to go by the babies signs of readiness.

My son was draining 10oz bottles religiously at that age, he just simply loved milk.

You just up the milk amount, not start weaning.

Stop comparing your baby to others.