HV told me 3 meals a day.....

[ruthmollymummy]

my Health visitor told me by 6 months dd should be on 3 meals a day with lessening milk inbetween. but milk makes her soooo happy and she often refuses all food until I make her a bottle at which point she grabs for it and relaxes sighing happily. she is now 7and a half mo. what do I do? sometimes she eats so well (usually at dinner time) and doesn't need milk, she drinks water too. but then at other times during the day mostly I have this problem.

All i really wanted to know (after the big nonsensical ramble) is: is it that big a deal? does she HAVE to be on 3 solid meals? am I harming her? she still sleeps 12 hours through the night....

I think you know the answer yourself....

It sounds like your dd is doing fine. She needs milk at this age and it's great that sometimes she eats really well.

I don't think you have anything to worry about.

I think you've pretty much answered your own question there! Your little one is dictating the pace you wean her.
I like the 'until they're one it's just for fun' saying. Main source of nutrition is milk until then.
I'd try to introduce a little at a time. Maybe give her a smaller amount of milk then some solids an hour later?

You're not even supposed to START weaning until six months. How can you possibly be on three meals a day right from Day One?

no I don't think so, you need to build up to 3 meals a day, the milk should be your DD's main food until she is 1. tbh DS has days now (and he's 2) when he doesn't want to eat 3 meals a day, but I do like to get one good meal into him.

but deffo at this stage it's more about her getting the 'taste' of the food i'd say. but no you're not harming her, and no imo it's not a big deal. but then i'm quite relaxed about the whole weaning/food thing really - a bit of his own time & hee'll eat when he's hungry type thing.

sorry got distracted getting ds's breakfast! lol.

Good question PuppyMonkey - I get the impression that HV is not a big fan of the 6 months advice!

My DS is one and it's only been in the last few weeks he's been on 3 meals a day (and I have to admit that's been enforced as he went to nursery )
Until then he had breakfast and tea, lunch if we were having any, usually not, just lots of milk!

My own DD (also aged one) is on about 20 meals a day actually. Greedy little beggar! Sometimes, they don't follow the "rules," eh?

Chicken & egg scenario really- she isn't hungry because she's getting her fill from milk, but because she's not eating full meals yet she still needs it!

As others have said just replace one meal at a time with solids saving her milk as an "after" .The other way to do it (so she's not STARVING & therefore unco-operative) is to give her a small feed about 4 oz about 15 mins before lunch,say, then offer a small bit of tasty food followed by a smaller bottle after.Gradually cut down the pre-lunch bottle so she's hungrier for solids & take it from there.

Basically go with your instincts & what she is happy with!

Oh & don't worry you won't harm her,they're tough little cookies

personally I wouldn.t class a health visitors opinion as "the right" way to do things with your baby.

You know your baby better than anyone, we cannot make a child eat when they dont want to.

Your child is also quite new to the weaning and differant tastes are brand new to her, let her explore them in her own time.

my children are 5 and 2 and can go all day with only picking at foods and other days do nothing but scoff their hearts out.

There is no right or wrong way to wean your child.....do what is best for you and her, remember that quite a few health visitors dont even have children of their own.

you all have made me feel so much better! it started off as something just for fun, tastes and textures and all that - but the HV panicked me! and i love the "until she's one its just for fun" rule - i'll write it on my fridge!!