My girls are not taking enough formula

For a few days now I've noticed my girls are not taking 24 ounces of formula per day. I think it's because they are increasing the amount of table food they are eating.

I was wondering how many of you do three 8 ounce bottles per day for your 9 month olds. If you do three 8 ounce bottles can you show me how you do the solids/bottle schedule? I am thinking of just doing 3 bottles like this:

6 am - breakfast
9 - 10 am - 8 ounce bottle
noon - lunch
2:30 pm - 8 ounce bottle
4 pm - dinner
6 pm - 8 ounce bottle and bed

They just aren't hungry for a bottle 4 times a day, one hour after breakfast. They have been taking about 18 - 20 ounces per day. At what age does the amount of formula they need per day 18 - 20 ounces?

 

My girls rarely took in 24 ounces of formula a day, ever. I think it is normal at 9 months, especially when you are adding more table food.

I can't help with the bottle timing, we were doing 4-5 bottles at 9 months.

 

QUOTE(aimeethomp @ Aug 13 2008, 09:42 AM) [snapback]927884[/snapback]
For a few days now I've noticed my girls are not taking 24 ounces of formula per day. I think it's because they are increasing the amount of table food they are eating.

I was wondering how many of you do three 8 ounce bottles per day for your 9 month olds. If you do three 8 ounce bottles can you show me how you do the solids/bottle schedule? I am thinking of just doing 3 bottles like this:

6 am - breakfast
9 - 10 am - 8 ounce bottle
noon - lunch
2:30 pm - 8 ounce bottle
4 pm - dinner
6 pm - 8 ounce bottle and bed

They just aren't hungry for a bottle 4 times a day, one hour after breakfast. They have been taking about 18 - 20 ounces per day. At what age does the amount of formula they need per day 18 - 20 ounces?


My boys take 3 8oz bottles-and have since about 7 months +. When we went to Italy, it changed to 4 6oz bottles-but it was still 24 oz. I believe 24 oz is the minimum the need(but I don't know for how long...). Anyways...This is what we do and it works well:

6/7am: Wake up
7am: 8oz bottle(sometimes they finish, sometimes they don't!)
8am: breakfast
12: lunch
1/2:bottle then nap
5: dinner
6:30/7: bottle-then bed

I would maybe switch in the morning to have the bottle first, and then do the breakfast. And honestly-my boys rarely drink the entire bottle at ALL feedings! It's such a crap shoot! Good luck!

 

I offer 4 7oz bottles and they might drain 1 out of that 7. My pedi told me 20oz plus what they get in their cereal is fine. I'm bad with schedules so I can't help there.

 

Sounds perfect to me, Aimee. My Ped said this exactly "the goal is not to reduce the amount of formula, but as the amount of solid food increases-- the amt of formula WILL decrease."

Does that make sense?? The max they should be taking now is 32 oz and minimum at this age is 16 oz, so it sounds normal to me. I wouldn't worry at all as long as they are getting the 16 oz AND eating solid food. Just try to offer the sippy often so that they stay hydrated throughout the day.

I do four 6 oz bottles and solid food ALL DAY long, pretty much. I don't worry if they don't finish their bottles tho since I know they are getting the nutrition and hydration that they need through food, water and bottles combined.

 

Are you using formula in their cereal? My boys are eating 16 tablespoons a day of oatmeal (4T each twice a day). I would say we are using at least 6oz of formula per feeding. So they are each getting about 6 oz of formula with their cereal.

It's hard to get them to eat 3 bottles a day and they are only 7 months. They are good with the first bottle and the one after their afternoon nap, but the one around 11:30 is hit or miss.

 

My pedi said as long as they get 20 ounces of formula with 3 meals a day that is enough. It is often a struggle to get 20 in DD. If you are concerned you can decrease the solids but honestly this is a transitional phase anyway off of formula and on to solids so if they are happy, peeing/pooping, and gaining weight than I wouldn't stress over it.

 

Mine definitely decreased the amount they drank once we gave them more solids. Our 3 bottle a day schedule was:

7am wake up bottle (7-8oz)
9am breakfast
12pm lunch followed by a bottle (7-8oz)
4pm snack with a sippy of water
6pm dinner
7pm bottle (7-8oz)

 

I too, would switch your breakfast and the bottle. Give the bottle when they first wake up that way they are still getting as much formula as they want and then do breakfast. We werent on 3 bottles until closer to 11 months but it looked alot like Leighanns schedule except I did a bottle after the afternoon nap, not after lunch. GL! Sounds like they are taking the right amount to me.