How many feedings does a baby skip once solids are introduced?

[Maria L]

I plan on introducing solids at six months (my baby is 3 months now). I'm curious once they are introduced if that will affect how many times I nurse him throughout the day. I'm sure it varies, but an average is what I'm looking for. Will he skip one feeding? two? I'm curious because it would be nice to feel like I can do something for more than an hour before I have to be back home to nurse. Thanks.

 

[Connor's Mama.]

My baby has milk and solids when he eats. Bottle w/ solids. Bottle. Bottle w/ solids. Bottle. Bottle w/ solids. Bottle.

He has all of the formula that he needs in the day, plus the food.

He will not need to skip feedings and shouldn't unless you fill him completely with food.

 

[Hannah's mommy]

Solids at that age shouldn't replace a nursing or formula feed. Solids are for practice and in addition to nursing.

 

[Emy]

I'm a big advocate of child-led solids. Basically: when baby can pick up and self-feed foods that are not pureed (table food, the more fresh the better), then they're ready! For most babies that's around 9 months. But most breastfed babies won't eat a lot of solids until 12-18 months or even later. I always had food sitting out for my son, but he wasn't interested in eating it even on a once-daily basis until 15 months. At 6 months solids are just for fun, not for nutrition - your milk has everything he needs for at least the first year. (And don't worry much about iron as the recommendations were based on formula fed babies, and especially don't worry if the cord wasn't cut immediately at birth - just 1-2 minutes between birth and cutting of the cord extends their iron stores by at least one month, and if it was delayed until it stopped pulsing then he'll have WAY more stored up!) He'll likely cut down on nursing at 6-9 months on his own, regardless of solids, due being able to get more milk at one nursing so his body takes longer before needing more. Check out www.kellymom.com and read her articles on starting solids and the one entitled "Why Delay Solids?"

 

[Xavier's mom]

It might change the times that he wants to feed, but it shouldn't change the amount of feedings at first.

When you first introduce solids he won't be eating enough of them to really make a difference in his caloric intake.

Later, once he's eating more and 3-4 solid meals a day, he may drop a couple feedings. My son did; he now only wants a bottle every 3.5 hours, so he ended up dropping 2 feedings per day. However, he does drink more ounces/bottle than when he was younger.

Be patient - you'll soon get those longer windows of time!!