Feeding FAQ: 4-6 months – Weaning

Can I still split the 5/6pm feed after weaning my four-and-a-half month daughter?

I have always given my 4.5-month daughter a split feed in the evening (I tried moving to one feed but this changed what is usually a grizzly time into a nightmare!) She currently has 4oz at 5.30pm and 5oz at 6.30pm. She has taken to baby rice well at the 11am feed, so I intend moving it to the evening as per the guidelines. My question is, given that her evening meal will ultimately be around 5pm, would it be OK to introduce the rice after the 5.30pm milk feed, when she is more awake and happy, or is there a good reason it should be done later on?
At present she is taking 8oz at 7am and 11am, 7oz at 2.30pm, 4oz at 5.30pm, 5oz at 6.30pm and 4oz at 10.15pm.

During the first month of weaning, any solids are tasters and fillers rather than a replacement of milk intake. At the start of weaning it is usual to offer all the milk feed first followed by the solids, so your baby doesn’t cut back on the amount of milk she takes. By all means offer rice as part of a split feed, but in a slightly different way as outlined below; many babies of this age are just too tired to have milk and then solids around 6.15pm.
In order that your daughter still has a full feed at this time, I would suggest offering her 5-6oz of milk followed by rice at 5.30pm. Move bath time to 6.30pm and then give her 3-4 oz afterwards before settling her for bed. There is a Q and A on page 33 of The Weaning Book, which describes how you can move things a little bit further when your daughter is slightly older and not quite so tired before bedtime.