Advice......please!!

[lourobert]

I started weaning my 5 month old recently and since he has discovered that there is something else out there other than milk he will only take about 3ozs before hes had enough.

He has taken to solids really well and I mix his milk with porridge and rusks to make sure hes getting his intake butIm not really sure whether Im doing the whole weaning thing right.
Heres what Ive been doing.

wakes for feed at 6- 3ozs and 3-4 ozs with porridge or yoghurt

10am- 3 ozs plus puree

2pm - 3 ozs plus puree

7pm- 3 ozs plus about 4ozs with rusks.

He will often wake once during night and will take 3 ozs to settle him again.

Does this sound about right. Amy comments would be welcomed as i really do feel clueless!

Thanks in advance

I think it sounds like you have a boy that is interested and I think thats a good thing!! Your HV can tell you what the daily recommendation is but I reckon with using milk to mix and yoghurt he's getting all the milky nutrients he needs.

If you want him to eat more at breakfast/lunch/tea then the in-betweens can be cut out. i.e milk on waking, solids at say 7am/8am, drink mid-morning, solids and milk at lunch (any order, he'll probably tell you), milk drink in afternoon, milk and solids at teatime, milk drink before bed.

Sounds like you're doing just fine - its whatever works for you both.

Its not important if its not causing you a problem, but I would guess the through the night feed is just habit. He won't be needing it nutritionally if he's doing well on solids and it could be something he assosiates with waking up (i.e. I wake up and I need this to fall asleep again). However, if he and you are happy to feed then carry on - its just an observation when I know how much uninterrupted sleep is desired!! Sometimes you don't have the strength or will to go through trying to train them out of that feed!

Thanks - Im pretty sure that the night thing is purely habit. The last couple of nights he has woken at 3.45 on the dot and after a bit of milk has settled wide awake and babbled til he drifts off. Suppose Im just not sure of how to break him of this?!

We all wake in the night and don't remember. What you'd be aiming for is that he'd wake slightly then roll over and go back to sleep without disturbing you and probably even himself. The only way is to not offer him the milk. It sounds like he's happy enough and weaning well. BUT he might enyjoy having a warm drink in the middle of the night and might get v upset if you don't offer it! If you're prepared to try not offering it he might settle again fine without it but it could mean a bit of screaming!! With my first I just waited it out but after that sleep became too precious and I trained them out the habit - in the long run it was best for me. There is no right and wrong though, just what you feel happiest with.