Soo confused not sure what to do!

[Carmela's Mom]

My 12week old doesn't seem hungry every 3 hours.  But he's only taking 45 minute naps so how do I do this?  right now, I'm putting down after 1.5 hours but then he's up 45 minutes later and ready for another nap when he should be ready to eat!  HELP

[rebecaq]

Can you post your whole days schedule? It'll help me a bit.

[Carmela's Mom]

There really is nothing set in stone.  But I'll give it a shot.

E 7:30
A
S 9:00 (45 mins)

A 9:45
E 11:00 (normally hungry around now)
S 11:45 (45 mins...I try to extend this nap as much as possible as when DD sleeping)

E 2:00
S 3:00 (45 mins...sometimes 2.5 hours)

E 5:00
A Bath
E 7:30
S 8:00

Sleeps through the night until 7:30ish. 

See the problems are that 1) it takes 45 mins to feed him.  2) he's never hungry when he wakes.  3) 45 minute naps.

A

[rebecaq]

Is he breastfed?

If so, he should not take 45 mins to eat at 12 weeks. Are you sure he's not just suckling after he's emptied the breast?  If don't hear him gulping anymore then he's not eating and using you as a nice warm paci    I recomment that you unlatch him as soon as he's no longer gulping. His A time will be longer because of it and he may start sleeping a bit more.  When several problems arise it's better to tackle one before the other, so I suggest eating gets taken care of and then we tackle sleep.

Have you tried offering expressed breast milk in a bottle, does he take as long?

- Beca

[Carmela's Mom]

He is bottle fed.  he is a SLOW eater!  Though half the reason I think he's so slow is because he should be on a 4 hour EASY but with the 45 minute naps, I'm having problems with it.

[estherofi20]

Hi there,

have you tried a faster nipple flow? and also extending his naps with pat-shush?

[Carmela's Mom]

I haven't tried a faster flow nipple.  I was afraid it would cause gas.  Maybe I'll give it a shot. 

I have tried pat/shush.  It used to work but now it doesn't.  Ya know I used to put him in his crib and walk out and he'd fuss for a second and be out.  Now, I have to pat/shush him to sleep most of the time or he'll cry for over 5 minutes (while I'm patting him).  I wonder if that's a sign of overtiredness or not tired enough.  For night time, he goes right to sleep.  no patting necessary.

Now for the past two weeks he slept from 8 to 7:30 with no dream feed.  This morning he was up at 5 for a feeding.  I also wonder if he's starting to hit another growth spurt?  Or if he's just really gassy?

[rebecaq]

I also recommend trying a faster flow nipple. And since he is now 3 months old, maybe you can try PU/PD to help him settle. As they get bigger shh/pat is not enough. Give it a try to see how it goes.

Is last night the first time he's gotten up sooner for a feed? If not, are they at the same time or erracticly?

Is he arching his back and just seem uncomfortable when you lay him down? That's a sure fire clue to him being gassy.

- Beca

[Carmela's Mom]

When he's in my arms he's arching his back while feeding.  And now he's doing it at the beginning of a feeding (he always did it at teh end to tell us he's done).  That's why I'm thinking he's not hungry at 3 hours. 

Last night was the first night he woke at 5 for a feeding.  Before that he'd do 11.5 hours no problems for two weeks.

I bought the next size nipple and will try that for his next feeding.  Thanks. 

I'm also thinking if the nipples don't work in a few days that I should change his formula maybe?

[estherofi20]

why would you like to change the formula? do you think he doesn't like it? is this brand of formula the one he has been drinking all along?

[Carmela's Mom]

Because of the gas.  I do'nt know what else could help out with the gas.  Yes he's been on this formula all along.  But the gas has just started recently, but nothing else changed.  So if its not the nipple, I don't know what it would be.

[estherofi20]

hmmm have you tried any simeticone drops  like Mylicone drops? my DS was super gassy too, and i used to give him mylicone drop at every feed, and that did help him, and i also changed his regular formula to a lactose-free formula, and that also helped him.

[Carmela's Mom]

Yes we do mylicon with every bottle.  My husband seems to think its acid reflux and not gas.  My daughter had silent reflux and he's showing the same symptoms, but I'm not sure if that is it or not. 

[litomi]

Does your LO make a lot of noise while eating? My LO swallowed a lot of air when eating and was a slow eater. A nurse told me that she might not know how to suck properly and showed me how to help my LO by gently pressing her cheeks while feeding (using thumb and index finger to hold the bottle, middle and back of your ring finger gently press her cheek). My LO then learned to suck better and finishes the bottle faster... swallowing less air.

[estherofi20]

Ohh also i forgot to say that switching to Dr. Brown's bottles really helped A LOT!!!!!

What does the doctor say about it?