PLEASE HELP!! 5 MONTH OLD WON'T EAT PROPERLY!!

[MileneB]

 Hello, I have a problem!  My son is just a few days over 5 months old, and latley I'm having some feeding issues with him.  About a month ago I started him on solids and he was doing great!  He loved it the first time I gave it to him and he's loved it ever since, he even started sleeping through the night.  That didn't last very long.  All of a sudden he became disinterested in his bottle (I would still like him to drink milk since it is where he get's most of his calrories and nutrients from)  He is still wanting to eat every 4 hours but only a couple of ounces which is not normal for his age and afterwards he ONLY wants cereal, but now afer a few weeks of this going on he is now waking up through the night again to eat.  I don't know if this is a routine issue or too much cereal, not enough, I don't know! Does anybody have any suggestions for me? I'm desperate!!

[* Paula *]

Can you post what your typical day looks like with:-

E - milk and solids - How much
A - how long
S - how long naps are

What size teat are you using?  Do you think that your lo could be bored with the flow and ready for a faster flow teat?  Might be worth a try.

Also is h sowing any signs of teething?  If so, have you tried rubbing a bit of teething gel on your lo's gums a few minutes before a feed to see if this helps ease any discomfort.

At this age, milk is still their main source of nutritian, so if he is going through milk refusal, I would be inclined to drop the solids a bit and offer more milk.

[MileneB]

Well, this is how our day use to look like.

7am :6oz bottle followed by 1-2tbs of cereal
7:30-8:30:  Play time
8:30-8:45: wind down and get ready for a nap
9:00am-11:00:  Nap
11:00am: repeat above
3:00pm: repeat above, except he would go for a nap at 5 until about 5:45;6:00
6:00pm:wake and have a bath
7:00pm: bottle then bed at 7:30
DF at 11:00pm

However, I think what ended up happening is that he decided he liked the cereal ALOT and since he knew there was something better tasting he began refusing his bottles.  He isn't teething and the teat I have is labelled 3-6months, maybe I will have to start the 6month teat which is a faster flow earlier and see if that helps.  Otherwise I will have to cut out the cereal all together and only give him formula. Once his fluid intake is back up to atleast 24 oz then I will re-introduce cereal at 6 months of age.  Would you agree?

[* Paula *]

It does seem like a lot of solids for the age, I would definitely be inclined to drop the solids slightly, and see how your lo does.

Yes, also might be worth trying the faster flow teat.  The ages on the teat is just a guideline, and some need to go onto the faster flow sooner.  My DD was on the fastest flow teat by the time she was 12 weeks old.

[frano]

Hi Milene
I agree with Paula about laying off the solids a bit and changing teat up to next size. Would he take some pureed fruit at one of the solid times which might be a bit lighter then the cereal and then he'd still be interested in bottle? HTH

Fran

[MileneB]

UPDATE:  I tried a bigger teat and he wasn't ready for it.  I've cut solids out of his diet for now and put him back on just formula at 7,11,3,7, and DF @ 11.  His fluid intake is slowly going up and I suspect by next week his intake will be where it should be and I can re-introduce solids shortly after that.  Does anybody have any suggestions or schedule I can follow for him to re-introducing solids wihtout filling him up??

[frano]

I gave Cara half a bottle and then her solids and then the rest of the bottle or how ever much she'll take when I first started to wean. I've adjusted it now tho, she's 6 months, and now she has a bottle at 8, solids at 9.30, bottle at 12, solids 1ish. Bottle at 4, solids at 6, bottle at 7 and df at 11, I'll be dropping df soon I hope. That routiene suits me. I'd be interested in reading what other people do. Glad to hear that he's feeding better xxx

[* Paula *]

When introducing solids, it is suggested to start with just breakast first.  Offer bottle first and an hour later offer the solids.  Remember you are only offering 1-2 teaspoons at this age, just to get them used to the texture.

[MileneB]

That's great to know and a big help..I'm starting to feel a little more confident with re-introducing solids to him again.  I noticed in the book First Meals by Annabel Karbel she has meal plans which include fruits and veggies, but I've been told to start veggies first since fruit is sweeter and therefore the LO's may regect the veggies.  So, my question is, how do I introduce veggies and what does everybody mean by "gradually increase".  How do I increase it? When do I start veggies? I'm so confused!

[* Paula *]

We never did rice cereal as my lo was prone to constipation, so we just started with fruit and vegies.  Stick with one food for at last 3 days to ensure that your lo does not get any reaction to it.

We did fruit for the first 3 days, and then next 3 days we changed to veggies.

As they get older, you will gradually increase the portion.  Your lo will let you know when they are ready for more.