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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

Help! How do I reduce bottle feeds?

7 replies

NewbieMama2024 · 15/01/2025 19:59

We started to wean at the start of the year, with my boy turning 6 months on 11th Jan. He is really enjoying all the veggies, so started to mix them together and make them a thicker puree etc. He's asking for more than I initially serve, so I have been giving him a little more - but that doesn't seem to stop him also wanting a bottle of formula around the same times he usually would. Is this normal?

I am a first time mum so winging this as I go, but think I just assumed as he started weaning/eating 'proper' food, he would at least be a little fuller for longer, but that doesn't seem to be the case! I am looking to start adding rice/oats/eggs etc into the mix, to see if this help keep him fuller - but mainly just wanted to ask to confirm if I'm doing things right (or wrong!)

OP posts:
CC222 · 15/01/2025 20:05

When I had my child I was told by a midwife or someone from the health centre place to give him bottles mainly still until 9 months old, with small bits of food here and there. And from 9 months replace one bottle for a meal each month, so I replaced a bottle for breakfast/brunch first until following month then reduced a bottle for lunch, then again for dinner following month and got his bottles down to early morning and night time only by 12 months, then a few months later reduced further to just night time bottle after that when he was happy eating meals and snacks between... I don't think there needs to be a rush to get him off bottles at just 6 months old but everyone is different...

CC222 · 15/01/2025 20:07

It's a slow process for babies tummies to get used to meals, which is why I was advised to stagger the meal increase and when they're still so young, it's normal to still be heavily reliant on milk and not that interested with, or full up from, food right now 😊

Original poster
NewbieMama2024 · 15/01/2025 20:10

CC222 · 15/01/2025 20:07

It's a slow process for babies tummies to get used to meals, which is why I was advised to stagger the meal increase and when they're still so young, it's normal to still be heavily reliant on milk and not that interested with, or full up from, food right now 😊

Thank you - this makes perfect sense, I just felt I was doing something wrong as he was still his usual hungry self!

OP posts:
CC222 · 15/01/2025 20:11

No that's absolutely normal, I had the same concerns until I was given that advice then I just paced it slowly and it all progressed naturally 😊

dementedpixie · 15/01/2025 20:14

First foods are about new tastes and textures not to replace milk feeds. You are doing fine

CC222 · 15/01/2025 20:16

Also, the textures can feel very strange for them and it takes a while to get used to swallowing more solid food, even when blended to mush, so don't be too concerned if your baby keeps spitting it out and doesn't take to eating food for a while, that's also a part of the process I found. Which I was concerned with too until I figured out why, but totally normal 😊

Original poster
NewbieMama2024 · 15/01/2025 20:58

CC222 · 15/01/2025 20:16

Also, the textures can feel very strange for them and it takes a while to get used to swallowing more solid food, even when blended to mush, so don't be too concerned if your baby keeps spitting it out and doesn't take to eating food for a while, that's also a part of the process I found. Which I was concerned with too until I figured out why, but totally normal 😊

Thank you - he loves his food right now, not found a food / consistency he doesnt want to try and eat but I'm sure they'll be something soon!

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