trying to drop a feeding. . .need help

bobsbride2006

I'm wondering if it's time to drop a feeding (maybe Zoe is eating less and that's why I pump less now?).  This has been her schedule for awhile:

7:30am get up, BF, then oatmeal with BM

9:45am BF. Nap 10am-11:30

noon: eats solids for lunch and a little water in a sippy cup

2pm: BF. nap 3-5pm

5pm: BF

6pm: eats solids, plus water in a sippy cup.

BF before bed (between 7:30 and 8:30)

She seems to nurse less at 9:45am and 5pm. I'm thinking to drop the 5pm feeding and move dinner up a bit. Thoughts? 

raceyrae

I would try to space BF out to about every 4-5 hours.  Can you move her mid morning nursing to when she wakes up and then push the 2 p.m. one later (maybe 3:30) and thus, drop the 5?  I think at Zoe's age, Natalie was only nursing 4 times a day and she stayed at that until I weaned her at 12.5 mo.

lalabee0425

I definitely agree with racey about spacing out the feedings. At this stage I was BFing K about every 4 hours. Sometimes with timing of other things one feeding might be off by 30 mins either way, but she never minded it.

cate1119

Ditto racey / lala - that's how we started as well by spacing out the feedings in 30 minute increments.  Our 5PM was the first one to drop and the mid morning one about 2 weeks later.  

slhall730

Yeah, i would say try to space them out more.  We are feeding Lillian formula every 4 to 5 hours now.  For example, she has a bottle, then about 3 hours lated we will do a puree or snack, then about an hour later we do another bottle.  We are down to 4 bottles - sometimes 5 now.

bobsbride2006

Thanks for your help! I'm going to drop the 5pm feeding today. It's hard to spread out the feedings b/c she's so set in her naptimes. . .and I hate to mess with her sleep since she's so good at it!

raceyrae

Ah, I missed that she naps 3-5.  I would maybe try to move the 2 pm nursing closer to 3 than just to space it out more since you'll be dropping the 5 p.m.

good luck!