6 mo old still not drinking much formula

[lilliana]

ever since my 6 mo old was 3 mo old she stopped eating....  she would nurse like 1 min and refuse to go back on.  we eventually went to the bottle b/c of the long drawn out breast rejection but she rejects that as well. she varies between a 2-5 ounce bottle every 3-4 hours.  sometimes she'll go all day only having like 6 oz of formula. i have started solids now and put alot of formula in them and she takes that much better but still has no interest in the bottle.  i have her in a calm room with no distractions when trying to feed, ive tried all these formulas and bottles and the ones i am using now are the ones with the most success. i feel like we've tried everything. im worried she will get dehydrated and not enuf nutrition/calories!  doc not too worried b/c she is on target and in the 25th percentile in weight...interestingly enuf she eats best with the dream feeds i guess b/c she is not awake enuf to be distracted and pull away!

she doesnt drink from the sippy (ive been trying now every day for about 2-3 weeks).  she does drink some water from a glass (im holding it for her) but wont really take the formula from it!

anyone have the same problems? what did you do about it?   

[TDR'smom]

I know how worrisome it can be when your lo does not eat/drink!!  What size teat are you using on the bottles?  I wonder if she would be ready for the next size up?

[~emmalou~]

Hi and big hugs, from a mum who's baby never drank more than 12oz of formula a day I understand! How does your lo behave when he's had enough of the bottle? Does He scream, arch, seem to be in pain? Any possibility of reflux? Reflux babies often feed when sleepy. My dd had silent reflux and would fuss and cry when feeding, refuse any more and cry when laid down, she never spit up at all, it was like baby heartburn x

[~emmalou~]

Oh and I'm sorry for referring to your lo as a He! Also what did I do about it? Well by the time dd was on meds she refused the bottle after an oz or two as hated it, we had to give more solids with formula mixed in, and could never resolve it despite our best efforts so I stopped getting stressed, saw she was happy and putting on weight so I was happy, I stressed myself out far too much and for no real reason x

[Mellebags]

My LO is now 17 weeks and usually only takes 2-3oz per feed during the day, however, will take 5oz for the DF and @ 4 -5oz during the night (if she only wakes up once that is- it tends to be the usual 2oz if she wakes up twice ) - like you I think she takes more at night because she is sleepy!

DD is just under the 25th percentile and weighhs just 11lb 10oz - she is a lively, happy little girl and our GP has checked her over and has given her a clean bill of health so I am starting to stress less about her ambivalence to feeding and accept that she is just not a hungry baby

Mel
x

[lilliana]

i am right with you guys, esp mel.  im using the playtex nurser (im in the US) and using the fastest nipple they have (its not super fast b/c it stimulates nursing)...today i tried a MAM bottle with a fast nipple that she used to take from when weaning but she would try it and spit it out of her mouth and then reject it with the reg bottle too.  when she does drink she does not complain or arch or do any of the typical reflux things and she takes her solids pretty well. im worried b/c she doesnt have the 6 wet diapers the doctor wants, maybe 3.  but she is happy and lively and ahead of her milestones.  just little. 

its funny b/c last nite when sleeping she took what she probably is supposed to take 6.5 ox bottle and a 5 ox bottle!!!!!

[~emmalou~]

Big hugs to you, I know how hard it is, so reflux definately isn't an issue. Have you told the doctor about the lack of wet nappies? Could be lo is just a very small milk drinker... And its hard I agree. Has lo always been little or has she been dropping down the weight centiles? X