I am hoping someone could help me with some advice on a feeding schdule for my 5 1/2 mo. old son?

Question

My son is 5 1/2 months old and has reflux so he has cereal per his dr. in his bottle, he takes 4-5 oz. formula w/2- 2/2 tbs, cereal in it, and I have started offering solids in the am and he still does not take them the greatest, he goes to bed about 8:30-10 varying night by night, wakes @6-7 takes a 6 oz bottle, and sleeps then another 1-2 hours, wakes for the day, has solids (usually fruit, does not like cereal solid so far) around 10, then bottles around 11-12 then about every 3 hours from there on out until bed.So he is having around 5 bottles a day and solids at breakfast time. I was wondering when I should add more solids, especially if I having trouble getting him to take the ones I am offering? Is he too young to cut out a bottle. Is he on track? Could he just maybe to full for solids? He also is a cat napper, and those times vary, sometimes it is 3 naps of 30-45 others 5 naps of 10? Feel lost w/ no routine,please nothing saying "he is just baby" I know, just need some support

Answer 1

Here is a helpful website that will offer information. If you baby seems uninterested in some solid food, it's probably because he's not ready for it. There are signs to look for to see if your baby is ready for solid food. Is the tongue thrust reflex gone (this is when they automatically push the food out with their tongue) Do they open their mouths for a spoon. Are they interested in watching you eat and grab at your food. Do they sit by themselves.
My daughter is 7 months and still not ready for solid food. Breastmilk or formula is supposed to be the Main food source for the first year. Always feed milk first and then top up with solid food if he still wants more. Don't rush solid food, milk is much more important at this age, that's where they get the nutrients from.
http://www.2coolbaby.com/Documents/brstsolid.htm

Answer 2

My son now 14mths has had acid reflux since 1 mth.At 5 mths i gave him 6oz of formula w/8 teaspoons cereal because he could'nt keep anything downYou should'nt start w/solids until 6 mths but since you already have i would really suggest cutting out the fruits.If they start on those first they will not eat the veggies.Yes he is way to young to stop taking the bottle.That happens at 12 mths.If he does'nt want solids wait another month or until 6 mths to try.He should be eating 6 oz every 4 hours or 32 oz a day.Try feeding him oatmeal baby cereal from spoon in morning.You can mix it w/formula or juice if he is on it.If not formula.Keep trying different consistencies to his liking.In the morning maybe you should try keeping him up for a little while b-4 nap time.He may sleep longer.Let him have lots of tummy time and play w/him.Don't force the solids yet.Try to get him to napping at the same time every day for the same amount of time.It just takes time and patients to get the same routine down.You 2 will be fine.Good Luck!!Hope i could be of some help.

Answer 3

I understand. It can be overwelming. I would try maybe offering another feeding of solids before an early afternoon bottle. I would not cut out a bottle at this time since he is not crazy about the food yet. Try mixing cereal with fruit to see if he likes it better. He may just be one who won't eat the cereal. My oldest didn't like it much. As far as a schedule, I would not be too strict about it. if he is content w/ having abottle every three hours, then stick to that. he may need it more often if he hits a growth spurt. I would advise a semi schedule - go by the schedule but make adjustments if he needs an extra feeding or extra nap. I would also advise you to rest when he does. The laundry,dirty dishes, or whatever will still be there later. Hope I helped some.

Answer 4

I know exactly how you feel and am so glad that I don't have to go through that again. Having been through this with 2 now I know EXACTLY what you need. Every question you asked can be answered in a book called "The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems" by Tracy Hogg.
It is the BEST book out there for your concerns. She teaches you how to annalyze what your baby is doing and tells you why. The first thing you need to do is implement a VERY structured routine. Start with getting his feeding schedule down. After a few days of him getting used to that, then you move onto his naps. A baby is not getting full rest unless he is getting a minimum of 45 minutes per nap. So chances are that when he goes down for a 10-30 min nap he is waking up during the time when his body is starting to go into REM sleep...which means you have to TEACH him how to sleep. This happens by TEACHING him how to fall asleep when it is nap time and he is tired. He needs to know how to put HIS body to sleep without any props from you. (ie: passafire, bottle, being rocked, you holding, rocking, driving him around) Her book will teach YOU how to teach your son how to sleep. Bla, bla, bla...
Here's what her book says to do for a baby your son's age. He should be on a 4 hour routine. Every 4 hours you should start your routine all over.
7 am- wake up and feed
9 am- naptime (1.5-2 hours)
11am- feed (do solids and then milk)
1pm- naptime (1.5-2 hours)
3pm- feed
5-6pm- catnap (30-45 min)
7pm- feed then bathtime
8pm- bedtime (be very firm on this)
This schedule worked for my son very well. Sometimes it was hard to keep myself on track, but for the most part after about a week, this became HIS routine and he just did it on his own. He goes to bed at 8pm every night. I just lay him in his crib and he rolls over with his blankie. Start to implement some sort of "lovie" for your son so that he has something he can focus his attention on instead of you or a bottle or something unhealthy.
I swear by this lady's phillosophies. You should go get the book. It has been the most valuable thing in bringing up babies for me!

Answer 5

Hugs.. I had a baby with reflux too.. I would say he sounds to be doing fine really.. I would try to mix the fruit with his cereal and see if he will take it.. most babies love it when mixed with applesauce or whatever.. try it and see if he will eat it like that.. maybe towards evening offer the same amt before his bedtime bottle.. I always gave my daughter cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner before each of those bottles when she was a ababy with reflux.. and I mixed her fruit in it.. eventually she was just on cereal at morning and night but had veggies and fruit for lunch... he really does seem to be doing well though.

Answer 6

I don't think it sounds so bad. If he is sleeping until 6 or 7 I would consider myself lucky. You can try different solids. They have taste buds just like we do, and I couldn't eat strained carrots. No way. Just keep trying different ones. Usually the fruit ones work best. Plumes, applesauce, etc. They can be very picky at that age. And yes it is too young to cut out a bottle.