EBF, weaning and dropping feeds

[Igglybuff]

I'm sure this has been done to death but bear with me!

I've been weaning DS for a few weeks now (he's 6.5 months), gradually building up to three meals a day. I've quickly bypassed purees and gone to mashed plus finger food which he seems to love. Lunch is the big event with breakfast and tea just porridge/fruit as he's normally tired so not that interested.

I also BF 7-9 times every 24 hours. Due to reflux/distraction, he won't breastfeed awake. He will take a bottle of EBF (formula makes him sick and aggravates his ezcema) although not a full feed if we're home as he expects boob with his nap.

I'd like to drop the lunchtime nap feed as it'll give me freedom.

However, when is best to drop feeds when food is "for fun" right now? Talking to a couple of friends who started weaning at 17 weeks, their HVs have encouraged them to drop feeds so much so that one is on three bottles of formula at 6 months and the other is moving to two BF a day. The HVs have said dairy can replace the milk.

I'm a bit nervous about filling up my DS with solids too soon especially as it looks like he has a dairy intolerance (I've cut out dairy which improved his wind/reflux/ezcema).

Can anyone tell me which feed is the one likely to go first and what should I aim for by the time DS is 1 and I'm back at work? I'm not introducing formula as it doesn't agree with DS.

TIA

Bumping this for you as my DS is nearly 7 months, I'm already back at work and he has approx 2 5oz bottles of EBM while I am at work. ( I am expressing at work).

Weaning is progressing kind of slowly and he is only eating twice a day so far .

He is at home with his Dad and he is finding it hard coordinating milk and solid feeds I think. We have only been going a few weeks so I am trying not to worry about going a bit slowly. Going to try and introduce some meat and other proteiny things this week.

I am also wondering how bf will change as he has more solids

I haven't actively dropped feeds, I do feel that he is maybe feedig a bit less often though. I have not really counted though so I fear I am not much help...

well, you're right that milk should be the main source of nutrition until they are a year old at least. and that's breastmilk or formula, NOT cow's milk. so the HV is wrong

if your son is sensitive to dairy i'd say it's even more important to ensure a good supply of breastmilk.

if i were in your position tbh i would just carry on as you are. he will drop feeds when he is ready to. when you return to work you can leave EBM for him, or just feed him in the morning and evening and he will be fine