should i start a 3rd meal?

as of now, my LO's just eat breakfast and dinner (for solids)
they eat about 6 oz every 3 hours (5 bottles a day). we attempted to drop one but it didn't go so well.
i was thinking of adding in a lunch for them? thoughts?

 

I added the 3rd meal around 9 months old.

 

My boys are a little younger but they dropped a bottle at 6 months to 4 8 ounce bottles so I added a third meal. 90 percent of the time they eat as much as they do at their other two meals...sometimes a little less.

 

I think I waited to add the 3rd meal until around 10 months, but as long as they are still taking plenty of formula it should be fine if you want to add another one now.

 

here's our schedule as of right now

8 bottle/solid
11 bottle
2 bottle
5 bottle
8 bottle/solid

i was thinking a lunch perhaps around 12:30, 1:00 or so?
they start to fuss around there too. they nap at 2. (generally)

 

We added a third solids meal at 9 months (lunch).

 

My almost 9 month olds have been eating 3 meals for almost a month now. They have 4 6-7oz bottles too. Here is our schedule:
6:30 - 7 bottle
7:30 breakfast
11 lunch
12 bottle
3 bottle
4:30 dinner
6 bedtime bottle

Of course that isn't exact, depends on their sleeping times, which can vary from day to day. (UGH!)

 

I think mine were 10-11 months when I added the third meal, but as Tina said as long as they are still getting enough formula, adding another meal won't hurt!

 

We started the third meal right at 6 months.

8am Cereal, applesauce
noon Green beans or peas 1st foods and 6oz bottle
4pm Either squash, carrots, or sweet potato 1st food and 6oz bottle

Then from there they will eat an 8oz bottle usually between 6-8pm then down for bed at 8pm.

midnight-1am 8oz bottle
4am-5am 8oz bottle

They don't always consume the whole bottle so it averages between 30-36 oz daily. They eat a full serving of cereal, 2 full servings veggies, and 1 full serving of a fruit. We just started fruits. They start a new food after a week or more.

I have no clue if I'm rushing them too much. I just went with what they wanted. Everytime we ate they wanted our food! I'd hear nummy noises and see tongues just working like crazy when we ate. LOL

 

We just added in a 3rd meal last week. This is our feeding schedule:

7am: nurse
8am: oatmeal and fruit (6-8oz shared)
10am: 5-6oz bottle
12pm: veggie/fruit combo (4-6oz shared)
1pm: nurse
3pm: 5-6oz bottle
6pm: 5-6 oz bottle
630pm: rice and veggie (8oz shared) and frozen fruit in fresh food feeder
730: nurse

 

At this age I do not think your babies should need 2 bottles in the overnight period. Perhaps talk to the Dr about that. I would think they'd be drinking all their formula during the day hrs, maybe by adding 2 bottles during the day (one at wake-up and one at another time). It would get you some more sleep. : )

Krissa

 

I will. We are scheduled at the pedi on Friday.

We have tried everything to sooth them to sleep but they refuse to calm down. They just started back with this bottle habit at night recently. They were gettting 6-8hrs continuous sleep untill they this the 6 month mark and this started up again!

I'm hoping this is just a growing phase right now. We do not get up unless they are basically screaming for attention for a bit. They used to just fuss a bit and then go back to sleep.