Do I need to cut back on solids? ? Just meat? Baby not taking enough milk....

[surgicalwidow]

DD is nearly 7 mo, ff now as i'm back to work 3 days, and doing great on solids (mostly purées as I'm a chicken and the first few gags got me).

She is devouring literally everything solid I put in front of her, so she is having:

• bottle 6oz at 7, then some natural yoghurt with fruit, - - small bottle 4oz at 10.30 (planning to drop this feed), --- lunch at 11 (was veg, no problems, but chicken casserole yesterday and today, a good bowlful), then
• bottle at 2.30, she was taking 8oz but has only taken 4oz yesterday and today,
• tea at 5 eg a yoghurt or fruit
• bedtime bottle 6-8oz
• dreamfeed 3oz, aiming to stop this soon by bringing it earlier and earlier

But since introducing protein... she only took 4oz milk yesterday bedtime (6.30) and has fully refused her bedtime bottle tonight.

So my question is, do I need to cut the volumes of food i'm giving her, or cut out / reduce the protein for a bit and stick with just carbs / fruit and veg for a bit longer? Or should I drop the 11am feed now to encourage her to take her other bottles?

I know its not the worst problem to have and am delighted she's loving her food so much but she needs milk too.... Any tips from wise mumsnetters much appreciated

She needs 17-20oz a day, how much is she getting all together? Even with less at bedtime that looks ok to me.

She really needs at least 20floz a day so I wouldn't drop a bottle. If you are going to drop anything, I'd drop a meal. Its good that she is eating but the current advise is to not give 3 meals a day until they are around 9 months

I don't think protein is an issue either. Most babies are eating a good range of family food, including protein and finger foods by this age

She needs 20oz a day. I would offer milk before solids the solids an hour after.

Yikes I thought I should be aiming for 3 meals from 7 months acc to the mumsnet weaning page! Is that the nhs guidance jiltedjohnsjulie? She could probably do without breakfast if so.

Yes it's on the NHS website here. So between 8 and 9 months you should "gradually move towards 3 meals a day".

As 5 says, offering solids roughly an hour after a milk feed is a really, really good idea too at this stage.

Just out of interest, have you changed her milk recently?

Milk should be her main source of nutrition u til 12mths. At this age food is about exploring new textures and flavors etc. None of mine had three meals a day at that agem they were more like 9mths before they had three meals.

Be guided by her but its best to offer milk before food so the food is an extra rather than the other way round iyswim?

Thanks for the link I'll have a look. I haven't changed her milk recently - although she has never been overly keen on bottles or formula and is probably thrilled she's being offered a new tasty alternative!

Just out of interest JJJ, why would changing milk make a difference?