How often should I be breastfeeding my 6mo?

[Aprilsmum]

April has three solid meals per day and 5 breastfeeds. But sometimes she wakes in the night and then I give her a BF then too, which ends up being 6 BF for that day. I have recently read that other babies her age are on 4 BF per day and I would love to be able to do that, but not quite sure how? Her current routine is:

6am - BF
9am - Rice Cereal and BF
12noon - Lunch and BF
3pm - BF
5.30 - Dinner
6.00 - BF

How do I go about dropping a feed? Do I just start feeding her 4hourly instead of 3hourly or do I just drop a feed (say the 3pm one) and replace it with some fruit? I would really appreciate any advice you could offer.

Thanks

[*Sal*]

Hi Bess
I wouldn't worry about how many times a day you are BF unless you are starting to wean April altogether. It looks to me like she is getting a good variety of solids too. If you want to cut out a feed I would replace it with fruit (or something) and you'll find your supply will adjust accordingly, very quickly.

Once you start cutting out breast feeds it's hard to build up supply again. Just don't worry too much about what other babies are doing. They are all individuals and feed in different ways.

Good luck

[Rainbowbrite]

Hi Aprilsmum :)

MJ will be 6 months on the 18th Nov and she's only just dropped her 10pm feed so is now on the same "routine" as your bub. She just decided not to wake up at night anymore. If she wants more, she gets more as we're not on a routine at all.

Its not important how many feeds she has a day apparently because its breastmilk not formula so there's no right or wrong amount. I've heard that you can never bf a baby too much.

RB

[Refresh]

Hey:)

I agree with the girls who have posted already....try not to worry too much about what other bubbas are doing, if you and bub are happy then that's all that matters.

I have had two totally different kids when it comes to Bf.

[Aprilsmum]

Thanks for your replies. I think I'll just relax a bit and go with the flow. I'll wait till she is ready to drop a feed herself. :)