Changes in feeding routine now introduced solids... but how?

[peaches27]

I should be able to work this one out on my own, but I would like to share and see if anyone has any helpful advice.

My DGD is 5 months. She was previously very happy with a feeding routine of 6 am 10am 2pm 6pm 10pm 2am feeds etc. She is now having small portions of solids at 10 am and 6pm. All of a sudden this routine doesnt work for her or for us. She wakes at about 1 am no matter how late we stretch the 10pm bottle and wont settle with a cuddle and her dummy. So we feed her. She feeds well. Again at 4 am, feeds well. Goes back to sleep, sleeps while 9am (bliss!).

Then at 10 am when she would normally have baby rice and milk, she has ceased to be hungry or particularly interested in eating. But I persisted with the routine and she fed at 2pm and 6pm as usual.

Today when she was so wriggly and fussy at 10am that she hardly had anything, I decided to try some solids at 12 noon. Again not interested. 2pm smaller amount from bottle, 6pm refused bottle but enjoyed fruit puree.

Obviously we need to change the routine because she has outgrown it. We also need to persuade her to be more hungry in the daytime and less hungry at night. Something that we havent relished, but perhaps ought to try is water at 1 am. But we have put off doing this because we dont want her waking us again in a couple of hours.

Any ideas? I know I should be able to figure it myself but Im a bit stressed and also have sleep deprivation.

not sure really as dont know your child personally, i think you need to do what suits YOU and stick to it really, may take some time but she will settle into it.
As a comparison my DD is 19 weeks and her routine is milk at 5am, baby rice @ 8am, milk at 10am, veg @ 12pm, milk at 2pm, fruit @ 4pm and milk at 6pm then bed! No feeds at night just offered dummy if wakes and she sleeps through till 5.30!!

Right. Its interesting that people are giving solids in between normal feed times. (youre not the only one who has suggested this regime). Im confused now as I thought you gave them when they had the bottle. Perhaps I need to rethink that.

The only reason i tend to feed solids between milk is because DD has reflux and i found she couldnt keep both down when fed together! If she doesnt eat much solid and wants milk i do top her up with 3 oz bottle but wait for atleast 30 mins. Normally though she is content enough and waits for her next bottle! Hope you find a routine that suits you both!

I do this too for reflux reason, but also because I think that food and a bottle all in one go would be a lot for any little (or in ds case not so little!!!!) tummy to handle. Our routine is:
7.30am - 4 oz
8.30am - breakfast using 3oz milk
9.15am - nap
10.45 - wake 5oz bottle
12.45 - lunch
1pm - nap
2.45 - wake 5oz bottle
5pm - dinner
6.15 - playtime/bathtime
6.45 - 5oz bottle and bed

He sometimes wakes once in the night for a nappy, and sometimes takes a while to settle after that, but generally he sleeps pretty well. It can be hard to get out and about in between all these meals/naps/bottles, but I figure it won't last long, so try and go with the flow.

Hth.