Could I have scared LO away from bottle?

[Sugarmama]

Hi there,

My 21-week-old has eaten farrrr less than her weight shows she needs since she was around 8 weeks. At that time, given my interest in reducing night feedings, I tried to encourage the bottle more during the day--get more ounces into her. I'm afraid I pushed it too much. My family tried to warn me, and I didn't think I was that bad, but could I have scared my baby away from the bottle.

Today, she is 17.5 lbs and 28.5 inches. Her preference is to only take the bottle for 3 oz. Up until last week, I would trick her into eating more by placing her beneath her activity center and feeding her while she hit the hanging toys. I don't even really think she knew she was eating. I was worried that she wasn't getting enough food--she wasn't, but I couldn't proactively get her to eat any more.

As a result, the feedings were taking up to an hour and a half just to get 6 or so ounces into her. I decided I was really setting up a feeding prop here with the playing and not helping any potential bottle fear any. Therefore, starting last week I only gently re-offer the bottle after three ounces. If she makes a noise, backs away, etc., I back off. I have decided to go back to the E-A order in EASY so that she learns to eat at mealtime rather than snack for an hour and a half.

I know that this might really negatively impact her nighttime sleeping. In fact, last night she woke every half hour, which is unheard of for her (but could be due to the fact that we were in a hotel all weekend, and she missed her naps, though she slept very well at night, so I can't wholly attribute her changed eating schedule to last night's awakenings).

Also, I can generally get her to take her last pm bottle--at around 6:30--better than the others. But she is TIRED, and is so screamy/fussy at this time of day that I am rocking her from 6-7, using the pacifier, and alternating it with her bottle so that she takes it well and until at least 8 oz is gone. She is almost asleep during this period and will drink her bottle. Sometimes Dad can get her to drink 2 oz. during a DF when she is fully asleep and in her crib. (He tried to pick her up, but if she awoke, it could be an hour-long screamfest, and she would usually vomit up massive amounts seemingly due to the wild crying if she got that worked up.)

Also, because I thought she might be more interested in it, I started rice cereal last Friday. I WILL NOT FORCE IT--ONCE SHE SHOWS SIGNS, I WILL STOP FEEDING, I have promised myself.    She does seem interested in it, though will not wash it down with the bottle-surprise surprise. She spit up a teaspoon this am and on Friday, and it stunk sourly like vomit rather than her usual bottle burping dribbles which smell only like milk. Should I be concerned about this? Acid reflux? Allergies? (She didn't vomit up much--though she didn't eat hardly any cereal--and I don't see any real rash or notice diarrhea or anything.) I thought perhaps the bottle aversion had something to do with reflux, but given her sleeping history--usually at least eight hours in one stretch at night, swaddled, in the crib, and sometimes (not often, but, hey, sometimes) two-hour naps without needing Mom's intervention, I had guessed against reflux. Ideas?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

[Sugarmama]

Should have added to above--if you think I created the bottle aversion, am I doing the right thing now, by having one feed time at wakings and offering the bottle only until she seems to want no more? Or, should I try something else?

[* Paula *]

Hugs it sounds like you are going through a rough time.

Firstly what size teat are you using on your bottles?  Do you think that your lo could be bored with the flow and this is why she is not taking as much as she usually takes?

I do not think that introducing rice cereal at this stage is the answer.  The recommended guidelines for introducing solids is 6 month.  Did you check with your health visitor or Ped before introducing solids?

Have you discussed the issues you have been having with feeding to your GP or Ped to rule out any illness?

Paula

[Sugarmama]

Hi there,

-I did bring up her poor eating desire with my Dr. at the 8 week mark, 4 mo. mark, etc., and, as she was gaining well, he refused to be concerned. When I told him I was "tricking" her to eat, he said, she'll eat if she's hungry. But obviously she's not doing so. I feel now that the only real reason she has maintained/gained appropriately is due to my tricking her and feeding her when she's sleepy/sleeping.

-As for the nipple size, I have always used as large of a one as she can handle without choking/milk spilling. However, because it seems her choking/coughing was increasing, I actually this week went back to a one-size smaller nipple. This actually has seemed to get her to take the bottle more easily.

-Two days ago I noticed a posting in bottle feeding called "Fussy Feeders-Dysphagia-a possibility other than reflux," and, my goodness, this is my baby! So I have decided to feed her one more day using my new plan as outlined in my original message--not forcing the bottle and feeding right away at "E" time and for only 45 minutes, and if her intake doesn't rise to normal, I am going to my doctor to demand a Modified Barium Swallow.  The only thing that might hinder this is her "healthy" weight gain. See comments above. I will not cut out feeding her while she is nearly sleeping from 6-7:30, because she needs this to sleep.

-I will stop feeding her solids.

-What is a "normal"-range intake for a 18-lb. baby?

Thank you so much!

[* Paula *]

Let us know how the feeding goes today.  It might be worth asking the doctor about the Modified Barium Swallow.

The normal range for a lo to take is about 2.5oz per pound of weight in a 24 hour period.  However a lot of lo's take a lot less and some lo's take a lot more.  My DS was always on the lower end of the intake.

Keep us posted.