Need Advice on Feeding, etc

So Owen has been on a 2 1/2 hours schedule since birth but now that I've added solids I'm just not sure what to do. I noticed last week that he was spitting up a lot and realized that with the solids I could stretch him to 3 hours. Once I did that he quit spitting up. Yeah!
So, we've had some crazy busy days lately and there have been a few times that he has gone 3 1/2 hours and even 4 hours during feedings!
My question is - what should I be striving for at 5 months old? He is still breastfed but I am SLOWLY weaning by adding bottles every 3 or 4 weeks. Right now he is eating as followed:

(These a rough times)
Sometimes he nurses early in the morning (around 5:30)

8:00 - Breastfeed
11:00 - Breastfeed/ 5 tablespoons cereal and 2 teaspoons of fruit
2:00 - Breastfeed
5:00 - Breastfeed/2 jars of stage one veggies
8:00 6 oz bottle/ 5 tablespoons cereal and 2 teaspoons of fruit

I am working on switching the 11:00 feeding to 4 oz of formula.

I really think he could longer than 3 hours but if I do that, do I need to give him more milk (as I introduce more formula?)
I've also noticed that sometimes he only nurses for 12 minutes or so instead of his normal 20. Around 12 minutes he starts pulling/biting my nipple and thrashing around. Does that mean he's full or bored? I thought it might be a sign that he's full and even more of an indication that I need to space the feeding more.

I'm just not sure what to do.

Thanks in advanced!

HI hun,I don't know if you saw,but there is a link in this forum called solid guidlines and it has links to charts for everything from fluid,to veg to meat BY AGE.It's a greatsite and SHOULD give you an idea of what to aim for.I think there's a link for 5 month olds.If not just click on one and you can select 5 months when you are there.I would just say it's only a guidline and just try things,if they don't work,back of for a couple of weeks then try again.Hope this helps!

love ya!

I don't know, but maybe because you are feeding him the solid foods now he is having a little more problem with gas buildup and needs to be burped?

Lucy drinks 5 oz of formula at a time (at 4 1/2 mo) plus a little cereal and food. I have noticed since she started on the solid food sometimes after 2 to 3 ounces she starts playing with the bottle too. She will push the bottle in and out of her mouth and let the formula drip out the side and in general just mess around. Usually if I burp her she will then finish the rest of the bottle......

I don't think you have to be that strict, especially once they are on solids as they can go longer between feeds. Plus, as they get older they are distracted by other things so food is not such a big focus in their lives. If you are running late or whatever, don't worry about it. I used to panic when I would go over Rowan's feed time thinking WW3 would break out but it never did. Also remember that as they get older they can communicate in other ways than crying. I used to find Rowan was not nearly as cranky about meal schedules once she was on solids.

Rowan has always been a 3-hour girl. This has been my schedule since she was 7-months-old.

5.30am - 5oz formula (days when she goes to nursery)
7.30am - 2 weetabix with cows milk (she has breakfast at nursery during the week)
9.30am - finger foods (fruit slices)
10am - 8oz formula
1pm - lunch (she eats everything now) and yogurt
4pm - dinner and fruit/yogurt
5.30pm - Usually give her a rusk when I get in from work to fill her up a bit before bed
7pm - 8oz formula

I sometimes miss out the finger foods or just give them as and when so don't always stick to a strict schedule. It also varies according to my plans and her sleep schedule. Lots of variation is a good thing. Stops them getting too stuck in their ways too early :lol:

thanks ladies!
I have always been stickler for routine and schedules so I find myself really stressing out about it!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm going to try to let Owen guide me some. If he's hungry, he'll eat and if he's not, he wont!

I guess I'm making it harder than it has to be!!!!

Lou Lou wrote:thanks ladies!
I have always been stickler for routine and schedules so I find myself really stressing out about it!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm going to try to let Owen guide me some. If he's hungry, he'll eat and if he's not, he wont!

I guess I'm making it harder than it has to be!!!!

Lou Lou, you are not alone there, I love routines and get that feeling of being lost when I don't have one but I did exactly what you are going to do, I let Theo guide me and it worked now he's fallen into his own routine and we are both much happier!!