Confused about # BF feedings advice

DCMerged · January 2013

XP: Breastfeeding board

My baby nurses (or takes expressed milk from bottle when I'm at work) on average about 7 times per day. He is 6 months old. The pediatrician said we should work towards 5 feedings per day. But that would mean that he would be drinking less milk per day. From what I am reading, milk intake doesn't necessarily taper off until closer to one year when solids are becoming a major source of nutrition. Am I correct? I'm very confused about this. I should have asked the pediatrician but I didn't think it through until afterwards. I tend to be a baby-led person, so I'll probably just keep feeding him when he seems hungry and not really care about the number of feedings. However, I wouldn't mind pumping less at work if I can swing it.

DiveFrog · January 2013

I would just stick with on demand feeding. DD is 8 months and actaully nurses more frequently now (7-8 times a day when I am a with her all day) than she did a few months ago (5-6times) and she is eating 2 solids meals a day. She just nurses for less time and is therefore taking in about the same amount. I still pump 3 times a day (twice at work) and she still takes the same amount she always has while I am at work.

I would defintiely ask your Pedi the reasoning behind their advice to reduce the frequency of feedings? Our Dr. always asks how often DD is nursing on average, but just to gage whether the pattern has changed/she is nursing enough.

DCMerged · January 2013

Okay thanks ladies. Maybe I'll follow up with the ped's office to clarify. However, I think my instincts are correct to let him nurse as frequently as he wants to as the # daytime feedings have been fine for me (the MOTN feedings is another story...:)

jennyelf · January 2013

My LO is 8 months old and has 4-5 bottles at daycare and 3 nursing sessions at home, so 7-8 feedings a day on week days and probably about the same on weekend (I never count). He's also on solids and has some food 2-3 times a day.

I don't see a reason to change this in my house as LO is well fed and happy. Dr hasn't suggested otherwise yet, so I'm not inclined to do differently. When LO is closer to a year, I'll get him on more of a schedule. But honestly, LO is starting to drop feedings on his own.

tjkdlhb · January 2013

I still feed on demand. Her nursing sessions are shorter now, but still relatively frequent. I don't count feedings though...

MomtoH · January 2013

I just go by baby's cues. My son was taking 3 bottles a day by 11 months, on the other hand, my daughter still nurses 8-11 times a day still. Unless it's a nutrition issue (baby it too small or just way too big), I do what I want and don't take my Drs advice.

TnG05 · January 2013

theresat858:
LoisLane23:
Increase the amount at each feeding. My DD is on 5-6oz per bottle, 5-6 bottles per day.
That's simple advice for a FF baby but for a mom pumping at work, increasing bottle size (or the amount your boobs make) isn't actually that simple.
I don't really see a problem with baby having 7 feedings a day...as long as you and baby are happy with the schedule. My LO nurses/takes a bottle 7 or 8 times a day, and that works for us. (nurse am, 3 bottles at DC, nurse before dinner, nurse before bed, nurse once or twice in the MOTN). She's a peanut so I don't want to cut feedings she may need.

All of this and honestly during the time we're at home. I nurse on demand so sometimes he's getting more than 7 feedings in a day. If I had to up the bottle size to decrease the number of feedings a day I would honestly CRY since I'm not keeping up with his 12 oz at daycare now and I think it should be closer to 15 or so but my guy is little.

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Confused about # BF feedings advice

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