8 month old- could he be dropping a feeding? Or something else (long)

Now, DS hasn't been in daycare for 3 weeks due to the holidays and him being sick. I feed on demand and I have NO idea how many times he was feeding the past few weeks.

- he started meats last week
- I added pastina to his lunch time meal
- he is piggie

SO I send him "usually" with one bottle, 9 ounces that they split between two feedings 12:30 and 2:30. He nurses at 6am, 8 am (then two bottles) and nurses at 4pm, and then before bed (sometimes an extra nursing added in). Pluse he gets 3 pretty large solid meals.

Well today, he sucked down the whole 9 ounces in one feeding I honestly wanted to cry when I heard that. I STRUGGLE SOOOO much to even get that 9 ounces.. But then he wasn't hungry later and was fine until I picked him up and he nursed at 4...

So my question is this...
Was he
1) just all thrown off from being away from daycare
2) starving
3) Thirsty (He doesn't drink anything other than Bm.. I have never offered it.. Am I supposed to?)
4) dropping a feeding?

SOOO confused. Honestly, I am going to keep sending that 9 ounce bottle and track it for a few days just in case it was a weird re-adjustment thing.. but, do you send water/juice at 8 months also? How much? When do they give it?
Should I have them NOT let him drink the 9 whole ounces at once and make him wait by giving him water or juice to drink after the bottle?

Re: 8 month old- could he be dropping a feeding? Or something else (long)

i send him in with an empty bottle for juice. my place provides juice- they mix half juice half water which the dr recommended also..

when ds was sick last month he was sluggish on his feedings and went down to 4 - 4 oz bottles, now hes back upto 4 - 6oz bottles. and he gets a tub of food or yogurt at the 4 feedings. he's also 8 months old.

i'd stick to the regular bottles and have them supplement juice outside of it. 9 oz is alot to be having considering he's on baby food. ds was having 9 oz bottles at 4 months old before he switched over to baby food.

Message edited 1/4/2010 7:13:35 PM.

Re: 8 month old- could he be dropping a feeding? Or something else (long)

That's kind of what I was thinking. I tried water last night and he was guzzling it. I think he was thirsty.

Re: 8 month old- could he be dropping a feeding? Or something else (long)

At 7 months old, DS is eating 3 meals a day...

cereal/fruit
Vegetable
fruit/meat/veggie

he also takes 4; 7-8oz bottles of BM/day and then nurses before bed... (obviously when Im home those bottles are replaced with nursing)

Lately I noticed he isnt finishing his bottles and is able to go much longer between feedings...

I introduced a sippy cup with a little filtered water...I dont do it everyday, and really do it so he gets use to the cup (not so much for the water)..

I dont think he is starving...maybe just a growth spurt...

Plus like you said probably a combo of being back at daycare and getting ready to drop a feeding..

Re: 8 month old- could he be dropping a feeding? Or something else (long)

DS dropped down to 4 feedings per day around 7.5-8 months old. It's pretty common for babies to do this epsecially as they're consuming more solids. BM is still the main source of nutrition, but they many not nurse as frequently or as long.