How many feeds do I substitute initially?

[JMmum]

I have a 4 month old bottle fed (yes, I know I should have breast fed ;) baby boy. My DS feeds every 3 hours on aptimil very hungry baby formula - and screams his head off if I try and extend the time by giving him water or try to distract him from his hunger. The health visitor suggested I start feeding him solids as he is getting too fat (this was supported by the doctor I saw today). Does anyone have any advice as to how many feeds I should try and substitute initially?

He had about 6 spoonfuls today of a butternut/parsnip mixture at one feed, not sure how much he had as a lot went on his and my clothes, but he then drank another full bottle of 8oz so I'm not really sure this is going to help in the weight department...anybody else had this problem before ? Don't want to end up damaging his health long term by over feeding. Sorry for being soooooo long winded...

what weight is your lo and we will decide whether he is fat or not? How much does your lo take at each feed/each 24 hours? How long does he sleep at night/how many feeds does he have at night?

At this age food is not a substitute for milk so you should keep up the milk feeds and solids are in addition to them. At the start of weaning it is about new tastes/textures rather than to replace milk. Milk is most important for the first year and then solids take precedence.

p.s. my ds was over 20lbs when I started weaning at around 5/5 1/2 months and no-one ever suggested he was too big (dont know how he compares to your lo though )

hhhhhhhmmmmm. is very hungry baby formula different from hungry baby formula? you know that hungry baby stuff doesn't contain more calories than the normal stuff, it's just that the proteins are different in some way or other so they take longer to digest. how much do you think he's drinking of it?

PS blah blah blah 'yes i know i should have breast fed', we should all have breast fed, but we didn't all manage to or want to, so don't worry about it now. let's just do the best we can from here on in, eh?

He is over 18lb (the last weigh in was over a week ago) He feeds on average 5 to 6 times a day in amounts of around 8 oz. On the tin of formula it says for 'very hungry babies'...the little chap sleeps for plus/minus 5 hours at a time - although he has started crying but without actually waking up - I have to jump out of bed and run to him so I can comfort him before he wakes my husband up - hence the time of this posting ;). That, I think is all the info - oh and he is 4 months old plus 3 days...arghhhh, there he goes again.....

when they start weaning they usually don't start dropping milk feeds until they are 12 months. until they are 12 months milk is more important than food. every 3 hours for milk seems about normal, i'm not sure why you want him to go longer?

IIRC, my DS1 was having 6 8oz bottles a day at this stage and no-one told me he was too fat.

The advice you've been given sounds a bit to me. Babies often have a grwth spurt at this age and may start teething etc - many things which may mnake him cry more than normal.

If I were you, I would ignore the HV and GP and come on MN for some sensible support and advice. I honestly don't think that the amount of milk he is drinking is too much at all - I would say qute normal for a big boy at this stage

thanks for the advice everyone ;), guess sometimes GPs forget babies are all different - its difficult to know who to listen to sometimes - but I'd definitely rather take other mums advice!!! so thanks again

thanks for the advice everyone ;), guess sometimes GPs forget babies are all different - its difficult to know who to listen to sometimes - but I'd definitely rather take other mums advice!!! so thanks again