eating less and less!!

[Anonymous]

We have been doing so great on the reflux front and I’m not totally sure my concerns are reflux related…

Cooper usually has a 9 oz bottle in the am and then about 6.5 – 7 oz bottle 3 more times during the day. He sleeps all night ( amen!! ). Before we even started solids, which isn’t alot, he was doing this. Now he drinks about 6 in the morning and 4 for the rest. This doesn’t seem like enough! He is almost 7 months and a little over 17 lbs. Was his original intake enough?

He has been teething and does have one tooth, which I know could be part of it, but he just doesn’t seem hungry. I have even withheld the solids over the past few days to see if that would make a difference. It didn’t. He is very fidgety while eating, not painfully like before. Is he just bored sitting still to eat??

Sorry for thinking out loud, any ideas?

What did your little one consume/how often at this age??

Thanks,

Tina

[Anonymous]

Sarah definitely went through spurts with her bottles where she didn’t drink as much as normal. It usually meant that she was teething, or had an ear infection. Within a few days things always seemed to return to normal. I think it sounds like he is getting enough. I know it probably seems like a big drop from what you’re used to, but even small amounts of solids can be very filling to them. Could he be ready to drop one of the bottles? It could just be a normal developmental milestone for him?

Good luck, I know how tricky it can all be!

[Anonymous]

It could definitely be teething. My babies all reduced their intake while teething. It could also be a slower time for growth so he doesn’t need as much. This happens with most babies. They eat tons for a while, then drop their intake for a while, then start eating lots again.

His original intake was probably on the high side. My babies never took more than 25 ounces in a day. Liza averaged 24-25; Ellie’s about 22-24; and Myles was on the low side with 16-18 ounces a day.

If it is his reflux flaring you will know because it will likely get worse. But right now it seems like he’s just fine. Sleeping all night! That’s great!!

[Anonymous]

Christine,

Your babies never took more than 25 at this age or ever while needing a bottle? Were they chubby?- not that that is what a healthy baby HAS to look like- just curious, as my little guy is pretty plump so I’m wondering if that will all go away now.

Amy,

If I drop a bottle for just solids for a meal, will he want more (again ) in the other bottles??

Suprisingly enough I have a 3 yr old who is alive and well, but I just can’t remember him doing this!

[Anonymous]

They never took more than 25 ounces during their entire infancy.

My first was very chubby baby! And she only took 25 ounces a day.

My second was more average; what I’d call “normal baby chubby.”

My third has been lean looking to me but he was never lower than the 40th percentile, so I guess he’s not that lean.

Some babies (like some adults ) just don’t need as much food as others. Some of us have more efficient metabolism. Try to just track his weight so you don’t worry so much about his intake. I used to chart every ounce and I worried myself sick for no reason.

[Anonymous]

Okay I left everything in his bottles that he didn’t finish to get a better idea of just how much he is getting. Granted, today has been the worst- I feel like I am forcing him after about 3 ounces. Reminds me of the “good” ol’ days… uggg….

He has only had about 12 ounces today! WTF!

I’ll let this go on over the weekend and if by monday he still hasn’t picked up, shouldn’t I call???

[Anonymous]

Yeah, that does seem like a pretty drastic drop in intake. Can you try some Mylanta Cherry Supreme before a feeding and see if he eats any better?

I hope his eating picks up soon. If not I’d probably look into getting his Prevacid dose increased. It doesn’t seem like much of an increase but 30 mgs may be what he needs.

[Anonymous]

Today started off better with 8 ounces in the morning. I thought oh great, I guess that “phase” is over!

But the rest of today has been horrible. 2 ounces, 3 ounces. I added banana to one bottle to sweeten it up. He seemed more interested, but only ate about a half an ounce more than before I added it.

Let me be clear, he is as happy as can be. Wouldn’t he be more grumpy if it was reflux related?? Even teeth?

Calling monday…

Tina

[Anonymous]

ALana’s intake did and does continue to fluctuate. These days I just roll with the punches if she is happy and content (easy 2 say when you have a chubber checker though).

I transitioned Alana from 5 to 4, 4 to 3 and 3 to 2 bottles each time her intake dropped over a 5 day period. Each time the amount she drank in the remaining bottles increased. So Amy’s idea of dropping a bottle might be worth a try (i substituted a snack for the bottle). Usually a fruit one so I knew she was getting fluid.

During her recent sick period I was told that a bub will stay hydrate if they take about 50% of there normal fluid intake…whether that be 50 ounces or 15 ounces.

[Anonymous]

I hope the weekend goes well and you don’t have to call on Monday.

That’s intresting Therese (about the 50% intake keeping them hydrated). Thanks for posting that.

[Anonymous]

That’s good to know abou them still being hydrated. That was my main concern, but his diapers are still wet often…

Yesterday I tried dropping a bottle and giving him just a bit of cereal and fruit. He ate a bit more, but only by about 2 ounces.

Thanks for the ideas ladies!

Tina

[Anonymous]

Okay we went in to tal to the Dr. She said 12 was pretty low, but seeing how he is happy, hydrated and sleeping, she didn’t think it was too big a problem. She said to just give him what he will take from a bottle and then fill him up with solids afterwards.

I agree that if he isn’t going to drink more then he needs calories from somewhere, but I still feel like he needs a bit more formula.

If he could handle the powdered alimentum, then i’d just add an extra scoop here and there, but no such luck.

I’m sure he knows what he is doing better than his momma though!

Tina

[Anonymous]

Uggg…I rememer going through this with Myles. For some reason he gave up his bottle at 7 months (except his bedtime bottle). I had to spoon feed him his breast milk or formula. It was tedious and messy but that’s the only way he’d eat it.

Anyway, here’s a few tricks I used to get more milk into him. I’d make his morning oatmeal with lots of milk. At one point he was taking 8 ounces of milk with his oatmeal. It was really runny but he liked it. For all of his solids feedings I’d add 1/2 ounce of breast milk or formula. Since he ate 3-4 jars a day that would add another 1.5 – 2 ounces so that helped. And strangely he’d take breast milk or formula from a spoon even when he would not take it from a bottle, so once a day I spoon fed him 4 ounces.

I did try concentarting his formula a little bit but it made him very constipated. So, maybe it’s good thing that he won’t take the powdered Alimentum.

[Anonymous]

Oh wow, you are so patient!

So far he is still taking his huge morning bottle of 8-9 oz, and then a bit of rice cereal and fruit about 2 hours later. i do make the cereal with the formula so that another 1 or 2. I will try adding a bit to the fruit. He took 6.5 oz after a nap and then half a veggie. He just took three ounces and fell asleep. For his dinner he will have the cereal with 1-2 ounces formula added and the rest of the veggie and a fruit.

So total that is around 17-18 oz, and hopefully I can get one more bottle in him before bed so maybe a little over 20 by the end of the day.

I was suprised with the 6.5 in the middle of the day, but glad! Hopefully he will want to comfort eat a bit before bedtime.

Thanks for all the ideas Christine!

Tina

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