Starting on solids...how much formula is enough?

Rachel - posted on 10/12/2009

i usually let my daughter cue me when she needs a bottle since she was always indemand, exclusively breast fed, but when switched to bottles we got sick and milk supply dropped and baby turned away from my boob. i did alot of research and it turned out 20 to 32 oz is enough for them, some times she drinks 20 oz and sometime she wants more. your child should be your guide she wont over eat and she will let you know if she is hungry. i hope this helps you!!

Brianne - posted on 10/12/2009

Its only natural that they take less formula when they start on solids as it is no longer the only food they get. If she's doing a good job with the solids, she won't be hungry for formula as much, so don't be surprised if you lose 2 or 3 bottles. As long as she isn't hungry or dehydrated, don't worry too much.

Marnie - posted on 10/12/2009

Thanks all for the advice...Yes I started her on just one meal in the morning, baby cereal, I carried on with this for 2 weeks then introduced a veggie at lunch. We did that for a further 2weeks as recommended by our pediatrician and now she is on 3 meals per day. She is still drinking 4/5 bottles per day but just smaller amounts...sometimes she will drink her 6-8 oz but other times it's a struggle to get down 4. She is a petite baby to begin with and I guess I just worry that she is not getting enough. She has become very interested in doing things herself so maybe I will try the sippy cup and see if she likes that :-)

Shannell - posted on 10/12/2009

My son is 6 mos and 3 weeks and I started him on solids about 6 weeks ago. When any baby starts solids it not unusual for the amount of formula intake to decrease. I guess my first question to you is; since she just started solids are you just giving her one meal a day and then increasing as time goes on? If you are just doing once a day her formula should still be 24 - 30 oz a day. My son is about 2 times a day, sometimes 3 (he doesn't always want solids especially now that he's teething) and he still drinks about 24 - 28 oz a day. Hope this helps

Cathralynn - posted on 10/12/2009

I did baby led weaning. It worked for us and my daughter always seemed to be eating right about what the docs recommended. I offered my daughter solids, finger foods not forced spooning, starting at 6mo at every meal time, so three times a day. At those times I also started introducing a cup with water. Then fed bottles on demand same as always. My daughter reduced the amount of bottle feeds and replaced them with solid meals on her own. At about 8mo she had three meals a day and 3-4 bottles in between. She got used to the cup and at a year we dropped bottles and never looked back. Maybe you could do something similar? Try feeding solids with you at mealtimes and then offer bottles as often as she wants. They regulate themselves fairly well if you pay attention to their hungry and full cues. That's why I give my daughter full control, meal times are so happy!

Melissa - posted on 10/12/2009

Hello Marnie, I have twins that just turned a yr. It is ok to start solids at 4 months, wic will tell you 6 mths. I am sure you started the single grain rice first then probably moved on to bananas or applesauce. Anyway, a baby around 6 mths should be drinking about 30-32 oz of formula. Not every baby is the same so yours may drink a little more or a little less.



I always give mine their baby food(one gerber container) and then after a bottle filled up with half of what they normally drink of formula. Cause that is all they would want after solid food. Then the next feeding would be just a bottle. It works out to be at least 3 feedings that you do solid food and 3 feedings you do just bottles. I always feed on a 3hr schedule. My twins are still on it. They were premies, so they are not ready to be off the bottle yet. They sleep all night though! 6:30pm to 6-6:30am!!! I also have a 9yr old and he was always on the 3hr schedule when he was a baby. I think 4hrs is just to long myself!



I also started at six mths giving them a sippie cup to get used to. Just fill it with 1/2 water and 1/2 apple juice. Put it in the floor for her with all her toys. It helps her to play with it, and see how it works.



Hope this helps Marnie :) Cute profile pic btw!



-Melissa

Sarah - posted on 10/12/2009

my doc also said if i had a hard time get milk if her to give her baby yogurt as well for the calcium :)

Donetta - posted on 10/12/2009

When I started my girls on solids they lost about two bottles. As long as she is getting what she needs between the two she should be ok. If you want you can ask her doctor how many she should be drinking to make sure she is getting enough. Every child is different and some just don't want as much formula if they are getting full from the other. But like the other mom on here said give her the formula first then the solid.

Sarah - posted on 10/12/2009

hello... My daughter is now 18 pounds just on formula and my doc said put her on solids now as she needs more to fill her up.. haha my fatto! anyway maddie only has 3-4 bottles a day..when i put her on solids its all she wanted i tried and sippy cup which was shaped like a sippy teat but had a rubbery teat like a bottle teat...well that was my prob anyway, and it worked she finishes a whole 200mls rather than 120ml like before. maybe a new piece of equipment to use with her lunch might catch her attention? hope this helps?...good luck :)

Jackie - posted on 10/12/2009

She should be getting just as much formula as she did before the solids. You should try feeding her the formula first then the solids. It is more important she gets the formula then the solids due to the fact she can digest and use the formula more effectively then the solids.