Too much milk?

[Rtfairy]

Have just returned from DDs 8 month check where hv advised formula fed DD is having far too much milk for her age (4-5 bottles often including a bottle through the night) and that I should do controlled crying at night to stop the night bottle. She said because she is having so much milk still she can't be eating enough solids to get a healthy varied diet.

I thought that before 1 milk was supposed to be their main source of nutrition? I am giving DD 3 healthy meals per day and she's stayed on the 50th centile since she was 4 weeks old. HV also measured her length and said DD is too light for her length (75th centile).

I don't know what I'm asking really, just feel a bit rubbish now. I thought I was doing ok (first time parent) but she made me feel like I am doing everything wrong and I don't have lots of confidence in myself at the best of times!

I know some people have had great HVs, but the ones I had were complete fruit loops. Sounds like yours is too.

Smile politely and ignore.

that's about the age that ds stopped his night feed and had 4 feeds instead of 5. I did start gradually dropping the amount offered in the night feed from 6 months old and it took until 8 months for him not to wake for it any more.

As solids increase her milk intake will decrease so I dont think you need to start drastically reducing her milk just yet. There is nothing wrong with what you are doing so if you and your DD are happy with it then carry on as you are.

I'm quite pro-HV but none of that sounds right to me. So if you're happy with how your DD is doing I would ignore for now.

Thank you for replies and reassurance. I would like DD to drop the night feed at some point obviously but don't want to do controlled crying. I might start slowly reducing the amount of milk I offer her as I am not in a big rush, hv just made it sound very important that I crack it straight away.

Health visitors are obsessed with controlled crying. Even if you tell then that you're fine with a feed in the night. You sound like things are fine - don't worry, and continue as you are. Try to drop the night feed if you want to, or think it's necessary, but I suspect as you increased wil solid food, milk will decease on its own.

I was advised to cut down on formula at around 8mo but my dd was gaining weight really fast - she ate a lot!! If you're staying around the right centiles then I'd ignore the HV. Keep doing what you're doing...!