Weaning and Formula

[pinkhyena]

Hi,
DS is 18 weeks old and we've (slowly) been weaning him since about 15 weeks. At the moment he has breakfast and tea alongside his normal bottle and nearly always finishes the food we give him.

I'm just worried about the amount of formula he's getting but it's hard to judge because he's unwell with bronchilitis which can affect feeding. Before we started weaning he was having 5-7oz 5 times a day and I expected he would have less when he was having solids but now he's only having 2-3oz. He'll nearly always finish his other 3 feeds but i've been told so many different amounts of formula he should be taking in 24 hours (anything from 16 to 27!). Whats right? Should I stagger his feeds or put his milk in with his food?

I don't know what to do but can't speak to my hv because i'll get the 'not before 6 months' lecture so hoping someone on here could help.

Sorry that was a bit rambley, like to make sure all the info is there!
x

Damnit I knew i'd forget something! I'm also trying to give him a few oz's of water throughout the day.

Even though the current advice is 6m your HV must be able to advise you as it was 4m not that long ago. Or get a very old copy of an Annabel Karmel or Gina Ford book from the library and it will describe weaning from 4 months.

Was there a reason you started so early? 17 weeks is supposed to be the absolute minimum age to start.

A 6 month old on 3 meals a day should be having at least 17-20oz of milk minimum, so a 4 month old should be having more than that I'd think - the back of my formula carton says 35oz for a 4 month old but obviously that's assuming they don't eat.

To be honest I would cut back the solids and concentrate on the milk - it's nutrition and calories from milk that a baby needs at this age.

I started earlier because he was ill (still the bronchilitis) and wasn't taking much milk so wanted to try and get SOMETHING into him. I don't think he's ever been on 35oz a day!
Just tried to give him tea with no solids and he's still only had about 3oz.

you could try staggering milk and solids (giving milk first) and see if that helps him take more milk. From 6 months a minimum of 20oz is advised so a baby of 18 weeks should be having a lot more than that. I gave milk first and then solids an hour or more afterwards i.e. milk at 7, 11, 3 and 7 and meals at 8, 12 and 5.

for babies aged before 6 months you work out how much formula they need in a day by multiplying their weight in lbs by 2.5. So a 10lb baby would need 25 ounces of formula a day. Divide that amount by the number of feeds they're taking and you have a guide as to what to make up per bottle. It's best to add an ounce or two so that if they're hungrier at a particular feed it's there. This is a rough guide: your baby may take slightly more or slightly less.

I don't think this amount changes if you're weaning before 6 months - most of their calories and nutrition should be coming from their milk before this age.

If he's unwell (does he still have bronchiolitis?) he may well be off his milk and food feeds but I'd concentrate on his milk feeds as you don't want to risk him getting dehydrated. If he's not taking much milk maybe offer him milk more often? I'd also speak to the HV or Doctor if you're ever concerned that he's getting dehydrated (dry nappies, cracked lips, sunken fontanelle etc).

theborrower i'm not sure about the guide only because he's a big baby (19lb 6oz ) and going by the guide he should be on 47oz a day! He never cries from hunger and only sometimes finishes a 7oz bottle every 4 hours so I really don't know how i'd get that much more into him! He does still have bronchilitis but isn't 'unwell' with it IYSWIM? I do worry a lot though first time mum.

Thank you for the advice though ladies, I think i'll see how he goes over the next couple of days and if its still the same stagger feeds and try and give him milk little and often. I will take any other comments on board too!
x

Hi - my LO is 22 weeks (5 months) now. But we also began weaning at 16 weeks. No other reason than I knew he was reading. We began slowly with baby rice and progressed to veg etc.

When we first started weaning he was having 5 bottles a day anywhere between 6 and 8oz. We have gradully built up his solids and he is now on 3 meals a day with a yoghurt for pudding at dinner time and now has 5 bottles a day but only has between 4 and 7oz in the day with a larger 8oz bottle at bedtime. Although bear in mind that my DS has always eaten REALLY well!

I think you need to take in to account that your LO is poorly - and he will only eat what he needs. You dont mention how much he likes the solids? Is he doing well with them? I do mix some formula - even if its only an ounce - in to all my DS solid food.

I hope he gets better soon and hope this helps if only a little.

not that he was reading! ready....hahaha. reading at 5 months! woo hoo! hahaha....

I think you should probably take him to the HV and be honest about how much he's eating and drinking - you've already weaned him so she can't tell you to wait til 6 months now anyway.

seachelles he LOVES solids! The grin on his face when it's mush time is so funny, will remind him of this when he's a toddler who suddenly decides he doesn't like fruit and veg. I have been taking his being ill into account but he's had this for about 3 and a half weeks and yesterday and today are the only times I've had trouble with his food. Oh and last Friday he was really unhappy at food times when he was at nursery. He could also be teething but the only sign he gives is permanent dribbling. have a headache .