How do I give baby solids ahead of milk feeds

[SazzleMc]

Hi there.

My dd is 5 and a bit months. Been weaning her for the last 4 1/2 weeks. She loves it - has a fantastic appetite, and is now getting all her usual milk feeds (at usual times) then after each feed a good few spoonfuls (approx 7 baby spoons) so her 1st feed at 7am, some porridge, after her lunch time feed at 1pm some veg then fruit, then after her teatime feed at 4pm some tea and a rice pudding or custard. She then has her bedtime feed earlier than 3 hours at 6.30pm - bath by 7pm, bed by 7.30pm then dream feed at 10.30pm.

Been following the Hipp weaning guide and it says that after 5 weeks (when they are on 3 meals) you can start to give the solids before the milk feed.

So how do i do that?

Do I give the solid (increased portion) at her usual milk feed times, so staring at 7am then 10am, 1pm etc? But then when do i give the milk feed? How long after?

Confused 1st time mummy?!

Any help would be great - thank you x

I'd carry on after milk feeds tbh as the milk is still more important at that age. Maybe work towards milk feeds at usual times and food at mealtimes.

The Hipp weaning guide repeats the Dept of Health advice to wait until "around 6 months" and that "lots of babies go through a growth spurt at 4 months, which can temporarily make them hungrier, but although your little one may seem ready, it's advised to wait until at least 17 weeks".

So personally I would slow down a bit, and don't give the solids before the milk feed yet. Babies at that age need all the calories and nutrition from milk.

I know but we made the decision to wean early for a number of reasons. We waited until she was 17+ weeks.

Might be a good idea though to slow down and keep things how they are for a few weeks yet.

thanks for your input.

I'd give milk before food until they're 1 as solids should be complementary to breastmilk or formula until then, Google the nhs weaning website for more information. I'd be inclined to follow their guidance than a company that want to sell either formula or its weaning foods. Babies stomach simply isn't big enough to take in enough solids to meet their nutritional needs until they're 1, that's why milk should be their main source of nutrition until then.

Great thanks I'll have a look at the website

I never ever swapped round the order and our day went like this at about 6 months:

7am - milk
8am - breakfast
11am - milk
12pm - lunch
3pm - milk
5pm - dinner
7pm - milk
in the night till 8 months - milk

As the solids increased ds naturally cut down on his milk feeds and the night feed got dropped and 11am and 3pm milk feeds eventually got replaced by a snack and a drink of milk but not until closer to 1 year.

vodkaanddietirnbru thats great thank you.

Do you think that my LO will increase to 4 hourly milk feeds? Not sure if the 3 hourly will pose a problem with naps etc (ie as her naps get longer).

Did your LO always go 4 hours between milk feeds or did that happen when you were on solids?

ds was 3 hourly until about 4 months and naturally went to 4 hours by himself. I started weaning at 5½ months. Having food in between milk probably helped him wait for the extra time too.

Ideal - so she might just do it herself. I'll see how it goes. Yeah I was hoping to wait till 6 months, but we decided to wean early too for a number of reasons.

Thanks