Meal Times

[izzys.mum]

Hello,

Its my first time posting on here, this may seem like a stupid question !! i am after some advice about meal times. In the baby and toddler meal planner the meal planner shows what to try at

early morning
breakfast
lunch
tea
bedtime

My question is what times are these meant to be approx. My daughter has always been a tinker with feeding with milk never mind solids (she only just started to take a 5-6oz bottles in the last month). She is 6 months next week and still wakes at between 4-5am for milk (finishes a bottle in few mins so dont think its habit) but then doesn't want anything at 7-7.30 when she wakes. Do I class the 4-5am feed as early morning then only offer her solids at 7-8ish (breakfast). This would mean that I can't really do the introduction of foods at the 4am feed. I know that the planner is only a guide and each baby is different but I just wanted to ask. Its such a pain that her feed is so close to waking up for the day !!

Thanks

[rachaelmae]

Hi and welcome

Livy is just over 6 months and she wakes for milk at 5ish, she then has breakfast at 7-8, milk at 11ish, lunch 12, milk 1 and 3 then tea at 5 followed by milk at 7 (and whenever in night)

shes breastfed so kind of demand feeding the above is a routine shes set, shes also not liking solids at all so hardly eats anything

havent got the meal planner book but from experiance meal/milk times change as lo does so i wouldnt worry to much, as lo takes more solids you will prob (fingers crossed) find she drops the 5am feed of her own accord.

hthxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[beccyboo]

I would just go with the flow. Let her set her own routine as Rachelmae has done. I have never set myself routines and just go with it. If she has milk at 4-5am and doesnt want anything when she wakes leave her a bit til she does.

Theres only your baby that can guide you with this.

[Ellie H]

Welcome to the site!

I think every mum wishes there were some kind of manual with exact time and amounts for weaning. That's how I ended up here .

I bought Gina Fords 'Contended Little Baby Book of Weaning' (don't shoot me LOL, it was a God send!). I found that it had the structure I was looking for and Annabel Karmel had the recipes.

It will definitely boil down to following your babys lead. If your instincts tell you not to introduce solids so early in the morning (I wouldn't have done) then don't. You know your baby best. My best advice is relax, go with the flow and enjoy the ride!

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[Rachael1]

Seeing as Ellie is being brave too this is the one I loved...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Weanin...7856113&sr=1-2

It's really flexible and very practical.

It feels like a long time ago but I think I remember that Evie never really wanted milk on waking... she used to wake at about 7ish I think and I used to make her porridge, give her that straight away, then her milk. Then at first I think she was ready for lunch about 11ish. Then a tea at about 4-5ish. Then her milk before bed.

Like the others have said, you can't really dictate their mealtimes. Just go with the flow.x.

[Ellie H]

Originally Posted by Rachael1

Seeing as Ellie is being brave too this is the one I loved...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Weanin...7856113&sr=1-2

It's really flexible and very practical.

I had that one too .

Sold 'em both on ebay when I'd finished with them.

xxxxxxxxx

[Rachael1]

Originally Posted by Ellie H

I had that one too .

Sold 'em both on ebay when I'd finished with them.

xxxxxxxxx

I loved the way the daily plan had, say, "meat, fish, beans, lentils or cheese with veg and potatoes, rice or bread" or something like that. Found it much easier to plan with. I'm holding onto mine cos I liked the recipes myself! x

[izzys.mum]

Hiya

Thanks for all your responses. I am finding the whole weaning thing a bit daunting as Izzy never has never wanted that much milk as a result my attempts at weaning have been a bit half hearted through fear of her cutting back on her milk too much, I don't think it has helped not being consistant. At the moment she wakes at 7ish and will have 1-2oz of milk (if she has fed at 5am) I will then try to get her to have a bit of porridge (8am) but she doesn't have much. She then has
11am ish - milk (4oz can be more or less) and I will try her with some veg puree
2-3pm - milk 5oz
6pm - milk 5oz (sometimes she will want milk before and after her bath up to 8oz)
10-11pm - milk 5-6oz

She generally just doesn't seem interested in the solids shes offered all she wants is whatever I'm eating or drinking :-). One puree she polished off one day she wouldn't have the next..... she likes to keep me guessing.

SSSsshh Ellie Ive had a nosey at the Gina Ford book you mentioned and it looked quite good for getting an idea of amounts and how to gradually reduce the milk....Thanks.

[Nickit]

As we're all into confessing - I used the Gina Ford book too!!! As a complete novice I found it a godsend in terms of amount, how quickly to introduce new foods etc. In fact, I don't think I'd be able to sell my book now, it's very well used! I don't mind admitting it either, Isabelle is a fantastic eater!

Like the others have said, follow your daughter's lead with weaning and keep persevering, she'll start to eat more and more if you take it easy!

[Claire76]

I too used Gina Ford for weaning. my friend showed me her book and like Ellie and the others, it had the structure I wanted and it kind of did it all for me. Then AK for the different recipes. Welcome BTW xxxx