Help! Want to wait til 6 months but DS suddenly ravenous, what do I do?

[flowerybeanbag]

DS will be 5 months next weekend. I really wanted to wait until 6 months before weaning, I wanted to do BLW and also didn't want to faff about pureeing everything.

The last couple of days he's really upped what he's had at each feed, but today he was so starving he had about 10 oz at 7.30, and then at 11 drained 9 oz and was so ravenous I had to put more in his bottle, he ended up taking about 11oz, he then threw up a bit of it, but still - if he's having that much each feed there's not even enough room in the bottle so I'm having to top the bottle up mid-feed (he has formula ready made in cartons).

He's not so far wanted feeding earlier than his usual time, but just desperate for more at each feed.

Should I offer his feed earlier than normal and feed more often, even though he's not wanted that so far. Or should I stick to topping up bottle mid-feed. Or do I have to wean him? And if I do have to wean him, presumably I am going to have to do purees because of his age?

He is and has been since birth on 75th centile, so he's quite big.

TIA for any help!

no need to wean, not even if he's big. try offering an extra milk feed in the morning. going 7.30 to 11 is quite a big gap. maybe try offering at 9.30? if you were breastfeeding you wouldn't be thinking about how much will fit in a bottle, he would just feed and feed and feed. so try to just go with it.

I guess that's right about not worrying about it fitting in a bottle if I was breastfeeding!

Maybe I'll try and offer him an extra feed - he's not so far wanted feeding before his usual time, but worth a go if he will take it if it holds him off weaning for a few weeks.
thanks RN

agree with RN

there can be a growth spurt around 18 - 20 weeks, which can lead to earlier weaning

i;d definitely try an extra milk feed

have you tried hungry baby milk?

thanks Lulumama - haven't tried hungry baby milk no, my sister-in-law is a paediatrician and she has said previously that she doesn't think much of hungry baby milk, she doesn't think it makes much difference and only is more likely to make baby constipated.

Other experiences of hungry baby milk would be interesting to hear though.

it suits some babies.. DS was like your DS, and i gave him hungry baby milk, and he was fine with it. DD had terrible belly ache with it.

maybe it's worth a go then. I think I'll try giving him one extra feed a day and see how that goes and maybe try the hungry baby milk if he's still ravenous!

My DD has been on HB food since 6 weeks as she was feeding every 1hr and we were mix feeding to start with but had probs with bf so had to give up

My DD has started increasing her feeds (now 16.5weeks) and is waking in the night, I figure for the moment whilst i don't have to worry about getting up for work I am going to hold of weaning as much as I can....though a few people have suggested Rusks in the bottle which is what my mum and my MIL did but the rusks carton says no

Definitely just up the milk feeds. My tank of a baby is 5 months old tomorrow and is exclusively breastfed. She weighed in today at 20lb 6.5oz which is on the 99.6th centile. She has just had the mother of all growth spurts and the hv says it's her getting ready for the 6 month mark, increased activity etc. She didn't even mention weaning and said the same she always does- just feed as much as she needs and keep up the good work. She is an advocate of the continuum concept though so very chilled out!

I do have the chubbiest baby in the world though as my pictures confirm.

If you fancy going down the blw route together I'll be starting in a month too. I'm ShowOfHands usually, will keep an eye out for you!

my ds is 20 weeks and i just started him on baby glop even tho i'd originally planned to wait: he's clearly happier, sleeping better and wildly enthusiastic about eating. but i didnt just go on hunger - the hv i asked said only feed if he's changed sleep patterns (he is exclusively bf and had been sleeping thru since three months but recently started waking every three hours in the night, ravenous) and if he's clearly interested in food (he was swiping food out of my hand/off my plate and had already managed to help himself to a fistful of hummus ).
if your ds is BEHAVING differently, worth at least talking to the hv about weaning imo (mine said while the official advice was six months, unofficially she thought ds was ready). but if he's just hungrier, just give him more milk.... and if there's any allergies in your family err on the side of caution. there's none in mine or i would've starved ds out for a bit longer

thanks all for advice

I was anticipating him being up in the night Monday but he did actually go through.
Yesterday I upped his feeds to as much as I could get in a bottle, brought each feed except his first one forward by 30 minutes, then instead of feeding him after his bath, fed him at 5.15 then after his bath as well, and he took about 2/3 bottle for each of those, then upped his dreamfeed as well. So took loads during the day but manageable, only one extra feed.

Seemed to work, he slept well last night and is still going through which I want to hang on to if I possibly can!

Behaviour still same. I never eat with him around though, have my breakfast and lunch when he is having naps and then he is in bed at dinner time. Might try eating something with him on my lap today just to see if he is interested yet.

Gingerbread will look out for you BLW in a month!

well done flowery! you'll be glad you held out and sorted things out without early weaning. enjoy blw!