[sian1975]

Hi, I have been weaning my 4.5 month old little girl for the last 2 weeks and she's really into it, which is great, but her intake of formula is reducing and I can't find anywhere on the internet what is the minimum amount of formula that a baby her age should be getting... She's never been big into formula and it's always been a struggle to get her to take more than 3 or 4 oz per bottle..

Her daily intake is something like this:

7am - 3.5 oz formula and half jar of baby breakfast fruit pruree
11am - 4oz formula and half to three quarters of baby lunch (normally a meat/veg one)
3pm - 4oz formula and half to three quarters of baby food (as above)
6.30pm - 5/6oz formula

I would say on average she will only take about between 17 - 22oz of formula per day in addition to her solids, which I am increasing gradually. She's not underweight but I worry that she's not getting enough vitamins etc that she should be from not having enough formula...

Does anyone know the answer to my question please??
Thank you.

[pluckyflamingo]

My baby is 4 months old and she is taking in 6 oz every 3 1/2 to 4 hours. On average (every baby is different) between 4-6 months should be taking in 6-7 oz every 4-5 hours.

Maybe she is not taking in as much formula because you are feeding her stuff other than formula. My pediatrician told me that 6 months is a safe time to start introducing baby food. 4 months you can start trying to introduce rice and cereal.

But if you are giving her stuff that her body just isn't ready to digest you may be filling it with stuff that fills up her stomach to quickly and then doesn't leave room for the formula which she needs because of the nutrients.

Try starting with the baby cereal and rice and take out the baby food and see how that works.

[DoulaLC]

In the first year the formula will be her main source of nutrition. Always offer the formula first and any solids afterwards. At 4.5 months she won't be absorbing the nutrients from the solids as well yet either... her digestive system is still maturing... so actually solids should be very limited from a nutritional standpoint for now. Since you are offering them, be sure they are merely a compliment to her formula.
Rethink how babies eat... while adults will have their food and a drink on the side, babies should be having their milk (formula or breastmilk) as the main meal with the solids on the side. You will see a gradual decrease in milk intake and an increase in food intake in the first year, but it really should come more in the second half.