5 month old fully weaned - how many formula feeds per day??

[KatieHelen]

My little boy is 23 weeks & has been on 3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch & dinner) for a while now - he eats fine & never had any probs with weaning - he was started on 'solids' at 17 weeks on advice of my HV. At first I was unsure of how much milk he would need now he was on 'solids' as well, so basically gave him a bottle whenever he cried for one. Now he seems to have gotten into a routine of 4 bottles every 24 hours (one with breakfast around 7:30am, 11am, 3pm & one bedtime bottle at around 7pm) He sleeps through so doesn't have a bottle during the night anymore.
I just wanted to know whether this sounds about right? As I'm a first time mummy so kind of wanted a 2nd opinion.. I know all babies are different. Also the only time I can seem to get him to drink water/juice when he's due for a bottle of milk! He wont touch it otherwise, I've tried with sippy cups, different teats on bottles etc with no luck! It's just a matter of tricking him into drinking at the moment lol, any tips?
Thanks! :)

Sounds fine to me, just keep on trying with the water. DD didn't show any interest in it until well after 5 months, it might have been nearer 8 months before she bothered with a beaker and even then it was only to throw it.

As long as your LO has 500ml of formula day, it's fine. If he drinks less, you'll have to supplement with vitamin drops. See this page for more info.

I read recently that if you give a bottle when feeding protein it reduces the amount of iron intake by 50%. My 6 month old has 3 bottles per day - I recently dropped the 11am feed and he seems fine. He drinks about 22oz a day and sleeps through. I would gradually reduce the 11am feed - in the end my baby was only having 3oz and when I eventually stopped it he wasn't bothered. With regard to water my son isn't interested either but I still always offer it with both his lunch and dinner. Hope this helps!

thanks guys, really helpful :) I'll keep up with the water offerings and see how he gets on - surely if he's thirsty he'll drink it!

Have you tried warm water?

My DS was not impressed with cold water whatsoever!!
I just fill half of his cup with cold tap water then top up with boiling water so that its luke warm. Officialy not meant to have tap water till after 6 months so you might want to use "cooled" boiled water.