would you re-introduce milk feeds if 7 mo old not gaining weight?

[WeaselMum]

Ds went off his milk before Christmas (we think combination of cold/teething pain) and was only drinking a little of each of his five bottles a day. He had just got on to three meals a day and was quite keen on his food, though not eating v much.

I cut down the bottles to three a day (morning, afternoon, evening) and began giving yoghurts after each meal. Gradually he has started drinking the bottles again - however have just had him weighed and he hasn't gained in four weeks (actually lost an oz but not going to worry about that!).

HV is of the opinion that we should try and enrich his food by adding butter, olive oil etc - quite happy to do this but I don't think it'll make much difference given the amounts he eats and wondered if I should just give him an extra milk feed if he'll take it - either to replace a meal or as a mid morning snack?

If he were breastfed I wouldn't have any hesitation in just increasing breastfeeds but because it's formula I somehow keep thinking he should have solids in preference - is this silly?

Would really appreciate thoughts on this.

milk (ff or bf) is still the most important aspect of a babies diet at 7 months so i'd focus on increasing the milk feeds and viewing any solids he eats on top of this a bonus (just make sure he has something iron rich in each meal as afaik this is one of the things that is needed from 6 months plus)

Thank you - I think that's what I wanted to hear!

hope he takes some more milk for you and try not to panic too much about the weight issue as it is normal for their weight to plateau at this age. he might have been weighed with a full tummy and needing to poo last time and hungry just having done a poo this time which would make quite a differance

My ds is nearly 9 months old and we find in order for him to have 20ish oz a day he needs four feeds. He just won't take more than 5 at a time. I prefer this system too as it fits with meals. So he has breakfast and milk, lunch and milk, tea and milk and a bedtime bottle. Much easier than fannying around with feeds and separate bottle times.

well I gave him an extra bottle midmorning today and he took it - and he ate just as much lunch and then had his afternoon bottle as normal! I think I may well bring the milk feeds together with meals as that does sound easier. Thanks

Lots of my friends seem to be reducing bottles because the health visitor tells them to. But I reckon if your baby isn't getting fat or avoiding solids in favour of milk I can't see why you would need to reduce it. Glad he enjoyed his milk.