Cutting back milk

[Dottydel31]

Hi all

Just wanting some advice or tips. I am a FTM so completely new to weaning. My little boy has just turned 6 months. I started weaning him at 5 months (on the advice of HV as he was 9lb 4 at birth + he was draining 5 x 7 oz formula feeds and crying for more).

So far he has been an absolute dream to wean. Loves his food and hasn't refused anything so far. So has now progressed onto 3 meals a day. I have taken the traditional route of purées and I'm trying to introduce a little finger food. (He's not great with finger food but I'm persevering with it... lol)

Since weaning he's been napping a lot longer (2 long naps and 1 cat nap) so has gone down to 4 x 7oz bottles (4-5 hourly) (28oz total) This last week he's been less interested in his milk. He drains his 6am bottle and 6.30 bedtime bottle as normal but his 10.30/11 bottle and 2.30/3 bottle he seems not as interested in. He drinks them eventually but takes persuading.

My question is when do other mums start reducing milk feeds? I feel he's too young to take out feeds but I'm wondering if I should increase his bottles to 8oz and do 3 feeds instead or leave it as is?? I'm also aware it's been very warm weather so if that's having an effect on him drinking his milk so I'm not sure if it's that or he is just not hungry.

Any advice or tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

You don’t until they are 12 months, until then you are guided by them. The NHS advises moving to 3 meals a day AFTER 9 months unless told to do otherwise by a paediatrician or a a paediatric dietitian. I would cut back to one meal a day.

The I would follow his lead, offer the milk but don't stress if he doesn't want it.

I have 4 DC - 2 completely gave up milk by 11 months, 1 of them was a milk addict...

Mine were big babies too they drained full bottles at 6 months for every feed - so made up 9oz bottles.

What do the formula guidelines say for his weight?

Hi! My lo is 7 months. Was onto 3 meals a day just after 6 months after starting weaning at 5. Dropped on bottle pretty quickly and has also started to lose interest in his 10.30-11 and 2.30-3 bottles so we've just started taking an ounce outof each every so often if he isn't seeming interested in finishing them. Just follow babys lead.

That's great ladies! Many thanks. This is all what I was thinking. I've been following his lead as much as possible.

I didn't know about the NHS advising not 3 meals before 9 months wow I know less than I thought!!! Lol

With regards to his weight and formula guidelines. Due to to lockdown I've not been able to get him weighed as all the children's centres in my area closed so I don't know what he weighs in order to compare it to the guidelines My partner and I tried to weigh him on the bathroom scales but I've no idea how accurate that would be... lol

The formula tin says 3 x 7oz bottles per 24hrs between 7-12 months but doesn't specify a weight. I do always remember my health visitor saying to take the formula tins with a pinch of salt thou as it's a generalisation and every baby is different.

I would make them 8oz bottles and offer 3 per day.

All my DC had 3 meals per day before 9 months - not necessarily that the ate much as very much "food for fun" so they got to experience lots of textures and finger foods whilst young.

So the "meals" didn't necessarily replace their milk apart from the ones that rapidly ditched milk.