4 month old DS HUNGRY and need help!

[rbeetle]

Hi!
It has been impossible to see a pattern in DS's "eating".  I have tried to feed him 3/4 hourly but he's having none of it!  Also have a 2 year old daughter who was very easy to see what she wanted!  Obviously I can't compare as they are different.
DS is eating 5 bottles a day about 7/8oz per bottle, normally 8oz.  I have been advised to start weaning him, does anyone have any advice for weaning this early?  Today has been a bit trying, to say the least!  Going on what happened today we are never going to leave the house again!

6.30  8oz
8.30  babyrice
11.00 8oz
1.30  refused solids and took 8oz
4.00  again not fussed about solids and took 8oz


any ideas?
thank you in advance

[lilmonkey]

It is really recommended to wait till 6 mos to introduce solids.  As solids is not as nutritious or provide all the calories little babies need, it is best to feed them bm or formula and have solids as just for taste/fun until 12 mos.  Why were you advised to introduce solids?  Is 4 pm the last bottle of the day?  Is there a nightfeed for the 5th bottle? And why do you feel that you can't leave the house?

[rbeetle]

his last bottle was at 7.00 and he took another 8oz.  He sleeps till he gets up in the morning and DF doesn't work.  I was advised to give him solids as after taking 8oz he's hungry again after 2 hours, he's rarely been able to go 3 hours let alone 4!

[lilmonkey]

There is a growth spurt at 4 mos and then another on at 6 mos.  I would really feed him more formula.  Solids really isn't really as nutritious as formula or bm.  Also the fact that he fussed when offered solids clearly suggests that he is not ready for solids.  A few teaspoon or tablespoons of solids will not provide what his body needs for the growth spurt.  Here are some links/info that may help you as to when to introduce solids.  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=36922.0

hth

Also, some babies cannot go to the 4hr EASY until much later.  DD was still on the 3-3.5hr EASY till about 6 mos and she was ff with 8 oz/bottle.

[rbeetle]

thanks mimi!

I went back to just milk.  He was eating at 7am 9am 11am 1pm 3pm 5pm 7pm, whew!  Each bottle was 7/8oz.  He has NEVER managed 3 hours between feeds.  He is now 21 weeks old and weighs 18lb and is in 6-9 month old clothes!
He has been eating this frequently for 2 weeks now and starting to wake up earlier in the morning (5/6am) and today he can't even go 1 and half hours between feeds.  So I'm gonna try the solids again!

[* Paula *]

Have you thought about changing formula?  I am not sure where you are, but in the UK we have a formula called Hungry Baby Formula, and it is a lot heavier on a lo's tummy and helps them keep fuller for longer.  It is generally the 2nd stage formula.

Also, was wondering if you could post what your routine looks like with
E
A
S
so that we can see if there are any other reasons why your lo is waking earlier in the morning.  How does your lo nap?

[harriet2689]

Hiya i know this is an older post so hopefully you have found a solution to your problem but just in case il tell you what my ped said to me, my ds was very hungry from 4 weeks so he said to express some breast milk and put the smallest bit of rice in a few of her feeds to fill her a bit, did her no harm although i was a bit worried to start with but she soon put on weight even now at 4 months iv not started her on solids yet as such but still putting the rice in, no problems yet.

HTH