breastfeeding and solids we need a "routine" for an 8 month old!

Hello all

My bub is 8 months old on Wednesday and we have been plodding along for the past month with a routine that has worked well for us. Now he seems to be moving into a new phase.

I've been back at work for 3 weeks now and am still breastfeeding - thanks to a very supportive workplace. Our routine for the past month or so has been:

• 6.30am - Breakfast (either baby oats or weetbix with pureed fruit)
• 7am - Breastfeed
• (between 9 & 11 he has a sleep - anywhere from 45 min to 2 hours)
• 11am - Breastfeed
• 12ish - Lunch (veges)
• (1-2hr sleep somewhere here)
• 3pm - Breastfeed
• 5.30ish - Dinner
• (start bedtime routine)
• 7pm - Breastfeed
• anywhere between 1 and 3 he wakes for another breastfeed (he has also had a "top up" on occasion if he's woken up at around 10.30)

He's started to sleep through his 3pm breastfeed, yesterday he was awake but didn't really have much so I offered him yoghurt which he devoured.

I'm not going to give up our late night/early morning feeds as he will completely drain one breast - sometimes both, so I figure he's hungry and it's not habit. Supply does not seem to be an issue.

Also, when I give him his "food" I let him dictate how much - I read somewhere that they won't over-indulge but only eat what they need. When he refuses a mouthful, I usually offer one more, if he takes it, we continue, if he adamently refuses the meal is over.

My aim is to continue breastfeeding until he turns 1 - I was estatic to get to 6 months and count each month after as a blessing that it's going so well.

What I need are some thoughts on a routine of sorts. Also, do I breastfeed before or after food now?

Hi Cass,

Not sure I will be of much help, but I have a 7.5 month old and this is our routine. He is fed EBM.

7ish - bottle
7:30ish - breakky (about 1 cup - oatmeal with fruit and nutmeg/cinnamon)
(sleep 9ish to 11ish)
11ish - bottle
11:30ish - lunch (about 1 cup - usually vegies)
(sleep 1ish to 2 ish)
3ish - bottle
(sleep 4ish to 5ish)
5ish - dinner (about 1 cup - usually casserole of sorts and sometimes a bit of fruit to finish)
6ish - bath, book
6:45ish - bottle
7 - bed

If we're not going out during the day we usually try to do a walk/library visit at some point.

From what I understand the next thingt that will change is he will drop the afternoon bottle, and will have 3 meals and 3 bottles a day (plus snacks if required). He will also start being offered water through the day and at meals. I believe you can start doing food before breast/bottle at around this age (but make sure you're not getting lumps!!).

I think that it's great you have gotten so far with bfeeding. I aim to express until 1 year as well. It's great your work is so understanding!

HTH xo

Thanks Surprised. Our routines sound very similar... are you still giving a feed overnight? I'm glad I'm not the only one with "ish's"

Hey Cass,

Breastfeeding i have NO idea how often DD feeds, could be every 3 hours mabe more maybe less, i don't keep track of that.

Wake up about 6-7 and bed is from 7-8 always after a bath

I alwasy breastfeed her before solid foods as i believe milk is still the most important thing before solid untill they are 1.
As you know i am doing BLD

So breaky is banana pieces ,paw paw,rockmelon, (steamed pear apple pieces) tpast fingers, depends what we have on hand

Lunch ill be a range depending again sandwiches ,cheese pieces ,fruit ,avo pieces etc

Dinner is alwaysa wide range of vegie selection depending what we have on hand, pasta, steamed fish, meat balls, chicken strips

Still feeding over night as well, more so atm as she is comfort feeding for the teething and suckling more so,again no idea how often as i don't keep track.
No idea how much she eats at a meal of solids as i let her decide , some is played with some tasted some she eats.Some days she wants to eat solids others just plays but thats fine with us:)

We just go with the flow really :) Good luck