Juggling solids, bottles & breast...

Phoebe has been enjoying solids for a few weeks now. We have built up to three meals a day, eaten at the table with us. She loves feeding herself although enjoys avocado and on a couple of occasions yoghurt, from the spoon. I don't think she eats too much solids, but I think that's probably part of my question.
I introduced a bottle or cup of artificial milk in the afternoon (1 per day, of which she only ever drinks about 50-80ml). The rest of the day she is breastfed on demand, usually one feed either side of her naps and a couple overnight. So, say, around 6-8 feeds in 24 hours, the biggest ones being overnight feeds and first morning feed, although sometimes on thirsty days she does drink what seems like a lot.
The night before last she refused the breast. I tried a few times over the course of an hour, and inbetween we cuddled and I tried to play with her and sing quietly to her, the house was dark, but she continued to be very distressed. I even gave her panadol because I thought she must be in pain. After the hour, I suddenly realised that it may be a bottle issue, so in my desperation I prepared and gave her a bottle. She drank 80ml and went straight off to sleep. This happened again at 4:30am. She refused both bottle and breast at 7am and made it very clear she wanted her solid breakfast. For the rest of the day she breastfed as normal and I reduced the amount of solids I gave her and I didn't give her the afternoon bottle. But the same thing happened last night at 9:30pm, 12am and 4am. Each time she drank 50-80ml. This morning at 7am she refused breast and bottle and was extremely irritable until I gave her solid breakfast. She just had a breastfeed before bed though and she is now asleep.
Here are my questions:
1. She never drinks more than 80ml of a bottle - do other FF babies do this at this age?
2. Should I restrict her solids so that she'll drink more milk (either BM, EBM or AM, I don't mind), or just let her eat as much as she wants?
3. Has anyone else's kid showed a distinct preference for bottles in the night and happily BF during the day? How long is this sustainable? (I am sure my supply will be affected and therefore she'll probably want the bottle all the time.)
4. Am I doing the right thing by following her lead, or should I try to encourage her into more of a routine, particularly if she may wean?
My questions are probably more related to my lack of knowledge of bottlefeeding... Is it ok to offer small FF's more frequently (on demand)?

I really hope this makes sense... I am just all over the place atm.

Don't have any answers really but thought would bump your thread but also mention that CJ doesn't have any feeds between 7pm and 7am and I don't really express during that time anymore and it doesn't seem to have effected my supply at all, seems to have regulated itself and I no longer wake up bursting/leaking either. Have you tried EBM from a bottle overnight - is it the bottle or what is in it she is showing a preference for?

Hi,

It sounds fine. To be honest, she probably simply doesn't need the formula at all. she is breastfeeding and eating - all she needs. Often when mums start solids they introduce a cup of water as well - but usually babies only take a few sips. Measure out 80 mls and drink it yourself. It's very filling! (and to be honest doesn't taste very nice - try it and get back to me!)
Please don't restrict her solids! At this age she just needs breastmilk and food. These are both nutritionally superior to formula. As she takes less solids, she will take less breastfeeds. (or you can cut a couple out if she doesn't initiate this herself)
To be honest, I'm really confused about whether you want to breastfeed or wean. If you want to breastfeed, which you say you do - don't give her formula! Even in the night. In the second half of the year breastfed babies often sleep through the night. The mother's milk supply adjusts to the new situation and they continue to feed just fine.

Vic: Thanks mate! I didn't have any EBM to give her last night or the night before, but I expressed about 250ml this morning (more than I ever have - I was full!) so will try it if she refuses the breast tonight. Thanks for the advice re not feeding overnight.
Barb: Thanks! I will keep giving her the solids as she wants them then. I really don't mind if we keep breastfeeding or not - I am happy to as long as she wants it. I only introduced the bottle and cup because I am going back to work and if I get this new job she will not have access to my breasts for three days a week (from 8 til around 6) Wed, Thurs & Fri and I would have thought that was too long for a baby of 7mo to go without milk? Yes, formula tastes and smells revolting! But I find it really hard to express enough for her to have in a cup or bottle (except for this morning when I was engorged). I will certainly feed her the breastmilk before I give her formula again, but when I am back at work I don't know if I will be able to express enough for her.
I would LOVE it if she'd sleep through with no feeds, but her usual is 1-3 feeds between 10pm and 6am. Prior to the night before last, these were all breastfeeds and the only reason I gave her the bottle the other night was because she flatly refused the breast and I couldn't settle her any other way - not even with playing (something I wouldn't normally do overnight). That's why I'm so confused! Everything I read about giving FF is that they take around 180ml in one go and I wanted to know if it's normal for a kid to want much less than that.

Hi,

It is very confusing for mums. Your baby is 7 mnths old. She will probably enjoy a drink of milk or formula (! ) during the day but at 7 mnths she can take that via a cup - no problems. How old will she be when you go back to work?
The amounts listed on formula cans are outrageous. Try drinking 180 mls of milk or formula and look me in the eye and tell me you don't feel bloated and uncomfortable, especially if you do this just after a meal.
You will find things are very different when you go back to work. Phoebe breastfeeds frequently to connect with you - the most important person in her life. Without you she won't want or need to "feed" nearly so often, and you will probably get away with 1 or 2 cup feeds of milk. You will be able to express much more easily during the day at work when you are fulll (the fuller you are the more easily your milk will let down) and the milk you express you can give her the next day you work.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association's booklet "Breastfeeding Women and work" is a great read and only $5 - available from Australian Breastfeeding Association.

Thanks again, Barb. Last night she didn't wake til 12:30 and didn't refuse the breast! Hurrah! We are back in action.
Sorry, I wrote that first post about 15 times before I worked out what I actually wanted to ask and didn't realise I'd left out the reason why I introduced the afternoon bottle or cup. I am going for an interview on Tuesday and if I get the job I'll start in a couple of weeks and Phoebe will be not too far off 8mo. If I don't get the job, I'll be doing some study just one full day per week starting at a similar time.
Now that Phoebe isn't refusing me, things seem a lot clearer. If she's feeding overnight still when I'm back at work I'm sure she'll be getting enough milk and you're right, I can express heaps better if I haven't fed for a while (like yesterday in the morning. 200+ml for me was previously unheard of, LOL!)
I will have a look at that booklet.