8 month old only wants 2 bottles a day

[Autumn13]

My DD has been on solids since 6 months. She's now on 3 meals a day and only wants a 5-6oz bottle in the morning and before bed. I try to do: bottle, breakfast, bottle, lunch, dinner, last bottle. But she won't take the bottle during the day, she maybe has 1 oz but refuses more. I keep getting told she needs the milk but I can't force her. Should I cut a meal or just leave her decide?

Hi,

I have a 5 month old who ent really drink milk. According to all the HCP we have seen, this is fine as she is still (somehow) gaining weight even though some days she has as little as 9-10 ozs

I've had a little break through recently after moving to the smallest size bottles. I now use a medela 150 ml bottle and she is up to about 20 ozs

I have tried everything and this seems to have actually improved her situation.

Is your daughter gaining an appropriate amount of weight?

She's definitely a healthy size, considered a chunky baby with lots of rolls. She absolutely loves solids, she eats any kind of food I give her.

That sounds fine to me at eight months. I'd let her decide what she wants.

From what you have said, it sounds like she's thriving and is just ready to move on from milk.

I am one of those people who really likes to follow the guidelines etc but what my DD2 has shown me is that babies simply don't care what the guidelines are!

If I recall correctly, I think they usually begin dropping feeds from 9 months so she isn't a million miles off this.

I would just make sure she's getting her nutrients from her food and replace the milk with yogurt / cheese etc.

Good luck!

I spoke to my HV this week about the exact same thing. I'm offering my 8.5 month old 3 bottles a day and she is barely taking more than 3 or 4 oz from each. She is on 3 meals a day too. The HV said she is naturally weaning herself and not to worry about it. She drinks a lot of water with meals, so the only thing I was worried about was her vitamin intake. HV said to give her a vitamin supplement and make sure she is getting plenty of calcium in her diet and she's fine. Perhaps contact your HV? It made me feel a lot better as I'd been worrying for weeks before I asked for advice

My now almost 3 year old went down to 2 bottles at 8 months, morning and night, I'd put 7oz in but she really struggled to finish them. She has a small appetite, is more of a grazer. Before weaning she would never take more than 25oz a day, sometimes as low at 18oz which was way below the 'x2.5' rule but she always gained weight.

@Rhubarblin

My now almost 3 year old went down to 2 bottles at 8 months, morning and night, I'd put 7oz in but she really struggled to finish them. She has a small appetite, is more of a grazer. Before weaning she would never take more than 25oz a day, sometimes as low at 18oz which was way below the 'x2.5' rule but she always gained weight.

Yess, mine is the same. Went by that rule but she's always been way below it and still gained lots of weight.

Don't force her. If you want her to have more milk try mixing it in to some porridge if she prefers a more solid meal.