Number of feeds at 6 months?

DS has always been a "6 feeds a day man" - even when he was a newborn (except those horrible growth spurts!). I feed him on demand, which approximately works out to - 5:30am, 7am, 10am, 2pm, 5pm, 7:30pm.

But, in the past month or so, he has introduced a 12:30am feed and shifted the 5:30am to 4am-ish. I guess the night feeds are probably for comfort - but he still takes a full feed. For the last couple of weeks, he has also been getting 2 solid meals a day (about 8am & 4:30pm - about 2 tablespoons of fruit/veg at each). So, he's now demanding 7-8 BF a day, plus the 2 solids meals. He's a big boy already (over 10kg), so I don't want to be over-feeding him!

I am interested in how much other 6 month olds eat?? What is a "normal" number of feeds? At what point are they supposed to slow down? (I realise that milk, not solids, are the main source of nutrition at this age).

At some stage, I want to change the night-feeding situation. But, we have all been sick, and he has been teething - so I know this is not a good time to try to do that (oh how I would love to get rid of the midnight feed :lol:).

Hi Ezz. We're in a similar situation except he won't have a bar of solids unless someone other than me feeds him or i let him hold the spoon for himself, and even then only has about a tsp maybe twice a day. Currently 6 or 7 feeds a day. Still having a feed about 10pm and 2am sometimes also waking between them for more... can't be stuffed getting rid of the 2am as he's going back to sleep quickly and we're moving house soon too. Also over 10kg and gp saying he doesn't need the 2am, but it works for me at the moment so i'm going with it.

Thanks for replying LM - I was feeling sad that no-one had responded! I wonder if our sons are the "norm" for 6 months?

DS loves the solids (particularly the fruit) - I think he would eat more if I let him - but I'm worried about over-feeding him!

I'm not looking forward to getting rid of the night feed either. I'm not prepared to let him cry - but I'm not enjoying getting up every 3-4 hours either!

i too am more then over the night feeds.. Olivia is waking on average once but lately sheis either awake all night or wakes twice for over an hour each time *yawn*

Olivia is really struggling with solids.. We are lucky to get a full tablespoon on food over a whole day..

on milk feeds Olivia has approx 6-10 feeds in a 24 hour period.. A few of those are 5 minute drinks though

at around 6 months my DD#3 was feeding 6-7 times a day - that included a night feed too.
Shes now 9 months, eating 3 meals a day, 3-4 breastfeeds and still waking once during the night. i know its not hunger, more comfort. Im prepared to feed her for 15 mins and get back into bed, rather than 'teach' her to go back to sleep. Its easier for our household, i guess thats what you have to assess......Good luck.

Hi Ezz, maybe your little guy is just hungry? Maybe your milk is not as good as it was? Maybe he's not getting enough each feed? Not too sure just an idea. My little guy is bottlefed so im sorry i can't say more bout b/feed bubs.
My bub is nearly 7 months old and has his 1st feed around 7.30, then 5 more through out the day last being around 9pm and 1-2 tsp of solids. i am only giving my bub 180ml instead of the recommended 240ml (i find he vomits more on the larger bottles due to reflux). And my bub is too nearly 10kg!
have you considered a bottle just before bed? maybe it will keep him fuller for longer.
good luck with your feeding
take care

So DS's 7 feeds are pretty normal for his age?

How big should solid meals be? DS is having his 2 tablespoons in the morning - but yesterday & today he ate a whole banana in the evening! (and would have kept eating if I'd given him more). When do you move to 3 meals? Is it better to have 2 bigger meals or 3 smaller ones?

Thanks narelle - I'm pretty sure my supply is good though - he's quite satisfied after a feed - I think he just likes the comfort of boobies overnight! ;)

mbear - if DS was only having 1 feed o/night I wouldn't worry about it. Last night he had 3 :( - 11:40pm, 2am, 5:30am

Overnight feeds are kind of funny, aren't they - it really depends on when you start counting... My DS is usually in bed around 7pm after a feed, then wakes at 10, 2 and about 5:30... but I guess I only think of the 2am feed as being the overnight one - I go to bed at about 8:30 but figure 'normal people' are still up at 10ish so that one doesn't count... hmm. The waking up for just a grizzle is what tires me out and there's just no pattern to it - some nights he sleeps the 4 hours between feeds, other nights he needs something in between.

As for overfeeding, I'm not too worried about that. DS clamps his mouth shut when he doesn't want anymore solids or refuses to hold the spoon (seeing as that's the only way he'll take solids from me... cheeky monkey) and definitely lets me know if I've misread a cue and he doesn't want a drink too! Can really arch his back and throw a hissy fit when he wants to! I'm sure Calvin would let you know if you were overfeeding him - he'd probably chuck up for a start. I reckon if what you're doing is working for you at the moment you might as well stick with it. He's happy and healthy, so you must be doing a good job :)

My 6 month old has breast feeds around:
8am, 12pm, 3pm, 6.30 pm, 11pm, 3am
And a solids meal in the evening- about 2-3 tablespoons (big ones like the measuring spoon size) a night. This equals about a small banana or half an avocado or 4 icecubes of pear and some rice cereal mixed in. I will start a second meal in the next few days but I think a third comes in a few weeks after the second one. It really doesn't sound like you are overfeeding him. If he has been on 2 meals for a couple of weeks why not try a third or increase the amount of the 2 that you give. Or you could mix some cereal in with the veg or fruit to bulk it up. My DD takes a full breast feed whenever I offer or eveb at 3am. She is no "I'll just have a 5 minute comfort suck"!.

Its such a relief to see this thread. DS is almost eight months old and feeds 5-6 over a 24hr period (twice overnight). I was starting to wonder if it was just me getting up overnight at this age to feed. He is on three decent meals a day too, but no sign of wanting to drop his overnight feeds. Like most of you I do wonder if the night feeds are more for comfort (or routine), but worried about what he will be like if I don't feed him then

Don't worry - there's a whole 'community' of us up feeding at night... sometimes it helps me stay sane to remember that and to think that somewhere else on the other side of the country or round the world someone else is feeding too. Just wish my DS would make his mind up... two nights ago he went from 10:30 til 5:30 without calling out for a feed or anything else - apart from me waking with a start at 4:30 and having trouble getting back to sleep it was bliss! The night before that and last night were back to the usual 3 or 4 hourly room service calls.

LM - I consider a night feed to be anything that I have to wake up for. I usually go to bed 9:30-10pm - so anything between 10pm - 6am is a night feed to me!
You're right about the over-feeding. DS does stop when he doesn't want it (or doesn't like it). He's been very obvious about not wanting banana in the past few days - after previously loving it :rolleyes:

Deidre - Thanks for the feedback about amounts. We are now up to 3 meals (of a few tablespoons each) + 6 feeds.

DS's sleeping has been so varied over the past week. Some nights he will sleep 8 hours, other nights he will settle if DH gives him a bottle with water, other nights only booby will do - every 4 hours. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to it - or any way to guarantee a good sleep! A friend was telling me today that once her son dropped to 2 day sleeps, his night sleeps improved. I'm hoping that might happen here.

Hi, Ezz,

Your baby sounds completely normal. Just like us, babies sleep better some nights than others. So many people hold out for the day their child can have solids - thinking that this will be the "magic bullet" for them sleeping longer - but that is rarely the case!
Narelle, people often wonder if their milk is *not as good* once their babies are a bit older - there are so many myths relating to this in the community. You can reassure breastfeeding mums that their milk is *just perfect* for as long as they breastfeed their baby.
Your babies will go through lots of changes in their sleeping and waking patterns in the next few months - no reflection on the great work that their mums are doing, more a reflection of their rapid growth and development
Regards
Barb