And another boring thread...

**Dr Spouse** · 16-05-2012, 09:14am

So the solids didn't coincide with milk feeds? I know they aren't supposed to replace them, did you try giving solids in the middle of a milk feed, or just completely separate.

**Mrs B** · 16-05-2012, 09:24am

This is what confused me Dr S, but ateotd there are no real rules. If he has a milk feed when you eat, try giving him solids first and then milk when he stops eating; if your meal is in between feeds then just give him stuff to try, maybe with a cup of water. But there's a lot if trial and error involved!

**Rowan Tree** · 16-05-2012, 11:33am

4 hourly feeds was pretty much what my baby settled herself into. We did the formula feeding on demand thing - increasing the size of feed if she drained the bottle more than once in a row. I think when they are little, you just go with it. don't rush! Savour each stage! I remember being quite sad when she slept through the first time, it was sooner than I expected (7weeks) and I kind of missed that quiet (albeit tiring and stressful) time with her in the middle of the nights.

**Dr Spouse** · 16-05-2012, 12:10pm

That also sounds like a good non-plan Mrs B!
I do find a kind of rhythm, rather than a schedule - in the a.m. he wants more, and more often, because of having fed less overnight. We do tend to just make all the bottles the same though as otherwise we get too confused, it wastes a bit but nothing major. I might make a bit spare to add in at bedtime though.

**Rowan Tree** · 16-05-2012, 12:32pm

Sorry to confuse you re the bottles - I always made them the same size too. Used to make a whole batch (when they came out the sterilizer) and keep them in the fridge. But if she was regularly finishing them up, then I would make the next batch bigger. ie if she was finishing 4oz, then I'd offer 5oz. It was how I knew when to increase what I offered.

**Queenie** · 16-05-2012, 12:45pm

DrS, I think it will work itself out in the same way that the milk feeds have. You're obviously able to see what works best for your baby and adapt to that. All four of mine have been different, and the only thing weaning them had in common was that they all let me know when they didn't like something.
I vaguely try to make their solid feeds be at "normal" mealtimes, but if there was a time either before or after that when the baby was more likely to eat, then I moved the feed.
The only thing I stick to rigidly is that any new foods are given in the morning. If the food produces violent nappy eruptions (prune and raisin yoghurt was not a good idea!) or a sore tummy or whatever, it's better to have that through the day than lose a nights sleep because of it.

**Dr Spouse** · 16-05-2012, 12:47pm

We thought about reducing the amount of the midnight bottle but just got mega confused.

**Katiekipper** · 16-05-2012, 06:21pm

Originally Posted by Dr Spouse

I don't see the point of hungry baby milk actually -.

You would if you had children with a mild dairy intolerance who couldn't keep whey based formula down!

**Dr Spouse** · 16-05-2012, 06:30pm

Originally Posted by Katiekipper

You would if you had children with a mild dairy intolerance who couldn't keep whey based formula down!

But that's not what they are marketed for, presumably just a happy coincidence?

**Katiekipper** · 16-05-2012, 06:50pm

Originally Posted by Dr Spouse

But that's not what they are marketed for, presumably just a happy coincidence?

No it's not. One is whey based and digested quickly. One is casein based and takes longer to digest. They are designed to cover babies who need the easier to digest milk and those who are prone to vomiting if they need a larger quantity of the whey milk (because they are 'hungry') when a small amount of casein would stay down and take longer to digest.