Feeding Solids on a Babywise Schedule

Feeding Solids on a Babywise Schedule. How to set up your baby’s feeding schedule. What your daily schedule should be for feeding solid foods.

Baby eating solid foods

Many moms start baby on solids while baby is still eating six times a day. Others are at 5 or 4 and wonder when to do the solids. Here is what our schedule has looked like (after all foods were introduced).

Solid Food Feeding Schedule for a Babywise Baby

Here are some sample schedules for feeding solids.

Schedule With Six Feedings a Day

You might only encounter this scenario if you start solids before 6 months. Here is our schedule:

  • 7:30 AM–Wake up, Nurse, Solids (Cereal and fruit)
  • 10:30 AM–Wake up, Nurse
  • 1:30 PM–Wake up, Nurse, Solids (Veggie and fruit)
  • 4:30 PM–Wake up, Nurse
  • 7:00 PM–Nurse (we didn’t do a nap between these two at this point), Solids (Veggie, fruit, cereal)
  • 9:30–Dreamfeed (feeding the baby but you don’t work to wake them and you put them right back down immediately).

Schedule With Five Feedings a Day

This schedule looks the same as the six a day without the dreamfeed:

  • 7:30 AM–Wake up, Nurse, Solids (Cereal and fruit)
  • 10:30 AM–Wake up, Nurse
  • 1:30 PM–Wake up, Nurse, Solids (Veggie and fruit)
  • 4:30 PM–Wake up, Nurse
  • 7:00 PM–Nurse (we didn’t do a nap between these two at this point), Solids (Veggie, fruit, cereal)

Schedule with Four Feedings a Day

At this point you are on a 4 hour schedule and meals start to line up with the family mealtimes.

  • 7:30 AM–Wake up, Nurse, Solids (Cereal and fruit)
  • 11:30 AM–Wake up, Nurse, Solids (Veggie and fruit)
  • 3:30 PM–Wake up, Nurse (she will often eat finger foods while I fix dinner)
  • 6:30-7:00–Wake up*, Nurse, Solids (Veggie, fruit, and cereal) *your baby may or may not be taking a nap between these two feedings, mine did for a while but that is the next napped dropped.

I am sure you noticed that I don’t feed solids at 3:30 like the book says. I do this for two reasons. One is that it is more convenient for me because we often run errands after that nursing (and on those days she doesn’t nap) and it is easier to get away quickly when we don’t have solids to deal with. If I am not running errands, I am busy fixing dinner. Two is that I just feel better stuffing her full before a long night of no food. I did this with both kids.

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This is just what I did. Take my ideas and run with it. Do what works for you. Let your schedule serve you.
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Added 12/2009
I wanted to add what I do with McKenna since it is different. This is our solids schedule:
8:00 AM: wake up, nurse, solids (cereal and fruit)
12:15 PM: wake up, nurse, solids (green veggie and fruit)
4:30 PM: wake up, nurse, solids (yellow veggie and fruit)
7:45 PM: wake up, nurse
McKenna has a later schedule in the day. For some reason, my mind cannot feed solids at 3:30 PM, but 4:30 is okay 🙂 Also, since her last feeding is so late in the day, I don’t want to add solids to the mix. I want bedtime to come as early as possible!

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Reader Questions

  • heather said…
    Do you suggest doing solids at bedtime for my 6 month old?

    The Baby Wise Mom said…
    That is your call. I fed both of mine solids at the feeding right before bed. Some people find doing that makes their child’s blood sugar spike and not sleep well. I think most that do it find no problems, though.
  • Emily said…
    My 6 month daughter usually eats 1/4 cup of rice cereal in the morning. This morning she only had a couple of bites. Should I offer rice cereal at her next feeding or just have it a missed solid meal?Also I was looking at your solid schedule and had a question. Before she’s on green vegetables can I do rice cereal in morning, carrots and sweet potatoes for lunch, then rice cereal and squash for dinner or should I just do one veggie at lunch?Thanks!

    The Baby Wise Mom said…
    Emily, I would not offer rice at the next meal if she usually does not eat it. You can do more than one yellow veggie at lunch if you want/need to. Some babies like more variety in their diet (like my kaitlyn). Some will happily just eat more of one food, though (like my Brayden). Just be sure she has been introduced to each veggie one at a time.
  • Reds said…
    I was reviewing your sample schedules (specifically for 6 months), can you explain why you gave solids at the last feeding (7pm) instead of at dinnertime (5pm)?I am having an issue with my son at bedtime, he needs to stay up after eating b/c of acid reflux. We usually feed him at 530 (nurse + solids), then again at 730, but put down to bed at 8:15. He is started to really cry again, I think he may be overtired. do you suggest having the last feeding a little earlier or switching the solids to the last feeding so it will help keep the liquid down? thanks so much.

    The Baby Wise Mom said…
    Reds, There are a couple of reasons. One is that with Brayden, he really needed that meal to be later to make it through the night. He has a really fast metabolism. I think Kaitlyn could have done it earlier and still slept fine, but we often left to do errands after the feed around 4:30ish (I can’t remember off the top of my head what time that was at that age). To feed Kaitlyn solids took FOREVER at first, so it was easier for us to leave quickly if she ate later. You might try one or the other or both and see what works. I can’t see one or the other being any better.
sample baby schedules wih solid foods pinnable image

35 thoughts on “Feeding Solids on a Babywise Schedule”

  1. My question is how much of each? I’m going to start solids this week w/ organic rice cereal. So, how much cereal, and how much in the bottle? Right now he is getting 6-7 oz. a bottle. Do I keep the same amount in the bottle, and am just adding the cereal? I understand the schedule, but am just confused about how much he shuold get of formula, cereal, fruit and veggies at each feeding. Thank you!

    Reply
  2. I just found your site and am thrilled! I have been desperately trying to find a guideline as to how to start figuring the solid feedings into the schedule, so thank you so much for the outline of what your schedules looked like. Such a help! One question though – how long between the nursing and solids? Or did you just nurse both sides and then sit down for solids right away? OR did you wait an hour? Or nurse on one side? Because my LO always seems to be full after nursing I decided to nurse one side, offer solids, and then nurse on the second side if she wanted. This seems to be okay, but its very disruptive and a lengthy process for me. Plus some resources say this isn’t good because you’re cutting down on the amount of Breastmilk they are getting so they suggest to offer a full nursing then wait 1 -2 hours for solids…. I can’t figure out how this would work… 1-2 hours after nursing, she’s going to be napping! In short, just wondering your time window for the nursing and solids – I feel like half my day is now lost to feeding.Erin

    Reply
  3. I should clarify my above post (ejhicks); The reason solids takes so long is that Taylor will only take a few bites and then start pursing her lips and daydreaming or ignoring me. Clearly a sign that she’s not interested. But if I change to a food I know she likes (pears, yogurt, sweet potato) she’s eager to take quite a few more bites. I have to shove the first bite in so she’ll realize its a different food though. Am I being too patient? Or just teaching her that if she holds out, I’ll eventually give her the “good stuff”?? Should I just stop after the first two bites? Just to complicate matters the past week she has become very uninterested in nursing at times. Maybe she’s starting to wean? teethe? Maybe she needs a four hour schedule? Needless to say she’s not taking in very much at all so hence I really persevere on the solids. I should add she’s only 6.5 months. I really appreciate any opinions you have – Thanks!

    Reply
  4. I too am curious about how long to nurse before giving LO solids each feeding. Right now I am nursing about 15 minutes (1/2 of “normal”) and then giving solids. She ate 3T today and I think she would’ve eaten more, but I was concerned about overfeeding.Thanks for any help you have!

    Reply
  5. Erin,I nursed one side, fed solids, nursed the other side. It is a REALLY long process at first. It is kind of annoying really. Your baby is down to nursing in about 10-20 minutes total, then you add solids and it suddenly becomes a 40-60 minute ordeal. That is what I did, but I know there is currently some controversy about it because some say you should not cut down on breastmilk at all. Doing it the way I did it will cut back on some breastmilk. I just wouldn’t do nurse, one hour, solids. Then you start up snacking. If you don’t want to cut back on breastmilk, I would just nurse then try solids. If she doesn’t eat them, she doesn’t eat them.When it comes to foods she doesn’t like, I would just keep giving it to her and giving it to her first. I linked a couple of post for you on the other post question you had. So follow those guidelines.I don’t know that she would be self-weaning. She might be teething. She also might be ready for a longer time interval between feedings. Be sure you haven’t changed your diet at all. Good luck figuring it all out!

    Reply
  6. Christy,As I said above, I would nurse then feed solids. Then finish up the nursing. If your baby is a good solids eater, I think it is wise to slowly introduce the amount and feel out how much she needs. Once she is completely happy with solids and comfortable with it, you can nurse both sides or full time before you do solids and just let her eat until she is full.

    Reply
  7. my daughter will start solids in a couple of weeks and i’m unsure about the schedule. she’s feeding 4 times a day at 8, 12, 4:30, and 8:30. it’s easy enough to figure out that she’ll be getting solids at 8am and 12 pm but do i give her that last feeding at 4:30 or 8:30? eventually, i’d like her last feeding to align with our dinner time which is 6:30. what should i do?thanks,kim

    Reply
  8. That is ultimately for you to decide. I do dinner at the later feeding, but BW says to do it at the earlier one. I would choos whichever is more convenient for you. It takes tme to feed solids (sometimes a lot). We would often run errands after the 4:30 ish feeding, so to add the time of solids to the mix was not convenient. So we did the later feeding instead. Either way, you will be be able to adjust to your regular dinner time when the time comes.

    Reply
  9. I have a few questions about formula and solids. Do you always give a bottle(or nurse) when giving solids? At what point do you stop giving the bottle and just give solids? At what point do you stop the 4th liquid feeding? Thanks!

    Reply
  10. My 9.5 month old is on a 4hr schedule. This is what we had been doing:8:00 nurse, oatmeal, fruit12:00 nurse, lunch (size 3 veggie, fruit)4:00 nurse7:307:45 nurse, dinnerMy problem is she gets too hungry b/w the 4 and 7:30 feeding since her last time eating solids was at 12. I’ve given her finger foods to snack on but it’s not enough for her. Can I feed her dinner earlier inbetween 4-7:30 feeding, instead of at 7:30, and then just nurse her at 7:30? I also want to be sure she has enough food to last through the night too though.

    Reply
  11. To add to my last post.I’m still curious how to handle the dinner issue but here is my newest problem.I read your post on picky eaters and this just happened to us. She would eat EVERYTHING and now only wants cheerios/bread (any kind of carb – whole wheat or white). I’ve been still offering rice/veggies/fruit at every meal but she’ll take one bite then refuse to open her month. I don’t want her to starve but I don’t want her to only eat bread and crackers. How would you handle this besides just offering it since she refuses to eat it?Thanks

    Reply
  12. Will nursing my son before feeding him solids make him full and not want the solids? I am just in the research stage with a 4 month old. Thanks so much!

    Reply
  13. Brave China Doll,It is possible. That is the reason that I start off nursing one side, feeding solids, then nursing the other. Once the child is a good solid eater, then I go to nursing before. Some find they need to nurse after solids, but do keep in mind that at this age, the breastmilk is still the most important part of your baby’s meal, so eating more breastmilk and fewer solids is not bad.

    Reply
  14. Hi..my son is almost 4 months old and I'm going to give him cereal by that time.I'm still confused here between feeding bottle + solids at the same time or give 2 hour difference before giving solids (e.g. 7.30am bottle, 9am cereal)?If giving it at the same time, should I reduce the amount of his milk?

    Reply
  15. Hi Plowmanators, I see that that on your schedule above you mention that you nurse, followed by solids and then bed. I currently do solids, followed by bath, followed by BF and directly to bed. Is this a problem that I BF right before bed time, will I regret it at some stage? (she falls asleep independently). Thanks for your blog – it is a precious service to all us mommies, you are a life saver.

    Reply
  16. Thanks for posting this, I was wondering if what I was doing with my son was the best option. I am doing something similar to what you did. 700 wakes, bottle, solids1100 wakes, bottle, solids300 wakes, bottle5-530 small bottle, solids730-8 bottleThat way he eats dinner right before we do & I give him finger foods while we eat & sometimes at 300. What do you think?

    Reply
  17. Shipe's, so long as you are giving the correct number of ounces each day for him, it should be fine. I think I would be inclined to just do four bottles a day and do a sippy cup at 5ish instead–but do what you think is best 🙂

    Reply
  18. My almost 6 month old is just starting cereal / solids this week and I'm trying to move from a 6 feeding schedule to the 5 feeding schedule. I am wondering what time you were putting the baby to bed with this schedule. I had been putting her to bed at 9pm just after feeding and waking up at 7am. We're having some trouble transitioning. Thank You.

    Reply
  19. Hi Valerie, Thanks for all your work… This site has been such a help! My 12 month old has been doing awesomely sleeping through the night, until about one month ago. He's been waking up 1-2/night…If not more. Because of severe food allergies, he's primarily breastfed, with the exception of chicken and applesauce, so I don't have the option of feeding him more. He's not waking up at the same time each night, and will nurse a full feeding (both sides) if offered, which leads me to believe it's hunger. Right now our day time schedule is: 6AM Wake, Nurse, Solids (Chicken & Applesauce, 2-3 oz)8AM Nap9:30-10AM Wake, Nurse12PM Nap1:30/2PM Wake Nurse, Solids5PM Nurse7:30PM Solids and Nurse8PM BedAm I feeding him to often? Is he not sleeping enough? Is he likely full at night, and just waking up? Any advice would be SO appreciated! Sincere Thanks, Analise8AM

    Reply
  20. Bridal Blogger,Since you can't feed him any more, you will want to feed him more often. So you would want to go back to every three hours. Good luck!

    Reply
  21. Hello!I'm wondering how long the 6 feedings with 3 solids & 9:30pm dream-feed lasts? 4-12 months? Please advise… I'm trying to figure out a general family schedule for the upcoming months… thank you!!! 🙂

    Reply
  22. I have a 5 1/2 month old girl. I am a working mom and she goes to a in-home daycare. They are pretty good about keeping her on a schedule. I introduced her to solids a couple of weeks ago and this is our schedule. 6:45am- wake, change, bottle8-8:15 – Solids (wait until she gets to daycare)11am – wake, bottle, solids3:00pm – wake and bottle5:00 – pick up from daycare6:15 – solids, then bath, bottle 7:30 – bedSometimes she can't go the 4 hrs and sometimes she can. She also is a little fussy in the evenings after I pick her up. I am not sure if this is the right schedule for her, if I should add back another bottle?? Any ideas for a working mom?!?!

    Reply
    • Is it a consistent times she can go four hours and times she can't? Like, is it always that she can't go 4 after

      Reply
    • Sorry…After the 3 pm feeding? Or is it random which feeding?If it is consistent, I would plan on doing that interval closer. If it is random, she might be better with a 3.5 hour schedule and maybe 1-2 four hour intervals. I would guess she is fussy in the evening partially because she probably doesn't sleep as well at daycare as at home. Another reason is babies just get grumpy in the evenings.

      Reply
  23. Hi. My daughter was in. Five feeding scheedule and she was sleeping the whole night, Since she is 9 month I change her to four feedings but she is waking up four or five times at night, if i feed her she will go back to sleep but my thought is i can't do this five times at night, please I need an advise urgent, thanks a lot

    Reply
  24. Hi Valerie, my daughters schedule has followed the same times as your childrens for six feedings, five feedings, and four feedings. Im currently trying to implement four feedings (formula fed & solids) and having a difficult time moving naps from 3 to 2. Currently, her nap times are 9, 12, and 3. Now she has started to sleep 9-11 for the first nap, based on the four feeding schedule you have listed, when do you advise her 2nd nap to be? Thank you kindly!

    Reply
  25. Hard to say for sure without her age. Usually if you are on four feedings, you are feeding every four hours. That usually means up for two hours, down for two. So the second nap would start around 1 pm.

    Reply
  26. Hello! Love reading your blog, your responses are so very helpful! I've read through 3 of your blog posts about starting solids and I don't believe I found the answers yet to two basic questions:1. Why do most people seem to feed their babies the bottle/breastmilk first, before solids? I just started rice cereal a few days ago and we've been doing the bottle after the cereal. I was afraid that if I did it before, then he wouldn't want the cereal because he'd be full or would get frustrated (since the whole task of eating is a new skill for him).2. When Babywise says to add 3-4 TB of water or formula to rice cereal, should I take the formula from his bottle for that feeding (thus less volume to intake from the bottle) or make up formula separately for that purpose? Thank you!

    Reply
  27. Hi, I have a question. My baby is 13m now, I am currently giving him three solid feedings on top of 4 nursings everyday. The solid feeds are breakfast after nursing, lunch after nursing and in the afternoon after the afternoon nursing, and I will only nurse him before bed and no solids at this meal. I am thinking I want to change to feed him solids at dinner time at the last feeding before bed instead of in the afternoon. My question, should i still nurse first and feed solids? and do I put him to bed right after eating solids? would that be uncomfortable for him since he just nursed and ate solids, or would it be fine? And normally do you suggest bath before the nursing+solids, or after eating take the bath? Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • You could do solids first and then nurse if the nursing is a nice wind down to the day before bedtime. With my babies that I did solids with at the end of the day (last feeding), I nursed first and then solids. A nice thing with nursing first is that they get as full as possible with the nursing. You don’t want to risk hurting your supply by baby not taking a full feeding. So if you do solids first and find baby isn’t nursing as much, I would do nursing first.

      So I did nurse, solids, get ready for bed, bedtime story, then bedtime.

      As for the bath, either is fine. If the whole process is long, you might want to do bath first so your feeding time is later so your interval between eating is close enough.

      Reply

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