Too little?

[Julianne1984]

Hey, my DS is 10months old. He has a good diet. We were advised to drop to 2 beakers of formula a day (totalling 10-12oz). Is this enough milk for a 10month old? I'm sure I read that they need atleast 15 until 12months!? The thing is, we dropped to 2 bottles about a week ago... 3nights ago he woke up @ 10pm screaming and it took me until after midnight to get him back to sleep... and tonight he woke again, at 20:45 for over an hour until I heard his belly rumble and my OH said "I think he's hungry!"... I gave him a bottle and he went straight back to bed...

He's slept through and not had a night bottle since 10ish weeks old at the most. He is teething so that could possibly cause waking, but he's never woken from teething really, and he's got 8+ teeth now!

Do you think he should have the bottle back again to make 15/16oz p/d? He is a big boy, 28lbs, long, and very active!!

Any advice would be great as I feel I'm starving him!!! X

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Hi,

It does sound like he's waking from hunger. My DD2 is only 8 months old and 17 lbs, but she takes about 24 oz a day (plus what is in her cereal - so about 28 oz altogether). Before they are 1 formula or breastmilk is supposed to be the main source of nutrition and I think I have read on here something around 20 oz?? (every baby is so different too, though!) I think would add the bottle back in, what was the reason you were advised to drop it?

HTH
Heidi

[Julianne1984]

no idea really, Health visitor told us to at clinic x

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

hmmm, I wonder why? I would add it back, it seems like he needs it if he is waking up for it (it's handy that they know how to "ask" for what they need) Hope it works for him!

Heidi

[Julianne1984]

The HV's seem really concerned about their stats. T is 28lbs now @ 10months. He is going to be big no matter what as I'm 5'7" and his daddy is 6'4"! I weighed 8lb12 and so did my Lo, my OH weighed nearly 10lbs! T has only put on half a lb in nearly 2months which is not enough!! all because they told us to drop the feeds and watch his weight!!

After T had that bottle lastnight he slept like a log, and today he's been sooo happy!! Every day for the last week (since dropping the bottle) he's only had 30min naps, but today he's back to 2 naps of 1.5-2hrs!! I gave him the bottle at lunch again and I've just put a very happy baby to bed, no crying, and fingers crossed no waking!!!

The HV's have told us before that we were overfeeding and to drop a bottle, only for us to go back and be told we're underfeeding him! I don't trust them anymore....

Sorry for the rant hehe x

[Mashi]

Personally I think some HVs are useless and know very little.  That's another post.

Both our hospital paediatrician and paediatric dietician (and my HV, fwiw) have all told me that babies need an absolute minimum of 21 ounces of formula per day until they are one year old, and by about 10 months, the maximum would be about 24 ounces, otherwise they'll not be hungry enough to ear their solids.  10 to 12 ounces is VERY low, are you sure she didn't mean that much per bottle, twice per day, so totalling 20 - 24?   10 to 12 ounces to me would be low in calcium even for a toddler.

I would go up to three bottles, one morning, one mod-day and one before bed, making sure you LO gets at least a pint a day.

[Julianne1984]

I'm sure, it's even written in his red book! They always make a note of what he's having in there. I can't believe how well today has gone, and I don't think it's coincidence as every single day of the last 6/7 has been a struggle until that bottle yesterday... and he's even teething! x

[TDR'smom]

10-12oz seems a little low to me unless you are giving him TONS in his cereal.

Here is a thread that might help detailing ages and amounts of formula needed!

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=67933.0

HTH!

Judy

[Julianne1984]

Thanks! It's helped him in the day, he's been much happier with an extra 4oz! But... he just woke up an hour after going to bed! He had terrible wind and kept tensing up, so now we're thinking something he's eaten recently is giving him cramps!!! managed to get him back to sleep @ 20:15. I'm going to keep a food diary, which will help figure out if it's something he's eaten, and help keep track of his milk/dairy intake x

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

oh, I'm glad to hear he is happy!! (and that he's sleeping good again even with the teething) Why anyone would tell you to watch your babies weight is silly....it sounds like he is just taking after Mom and Dad, you think they'd take that into account. I know my kids are both on the tiny size which my health nurse always jokes about (Spencer's height doesn't make the chart yet!) but both DH and I are only 5'2", so it makes sense. Hope he continues to be his happy little self and the teething isn't too bad for him!

oh, I see I'm posting at the same time as you - poor guy, I'm guessing it could be something he ate today, happens to Spencer the odd time.

Heidi

[Julianne1984]

He's just woken up again, better go hug him, he's obviously in pain!!x

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Do you have anything for gas? I always keep Infacol around just in case. Of could he be constipated?

[* Paula *]

Huge hugs hun 

THe ladies on here have given you some fantastic advice and also wanted to re-iterate what they have told you.

At this age milk is still their main source of nutritian and they need at least 20oz per day.  This can include milk in cereal and cooking as well as yogurts and custards etc.

AT this age my DD was still on 3 milk feeds and made the rest up with yogurts, cheeses etc.

If he still wants 3 bottles give them to him, he will let you know when he is ready to drop a feed.

I just don't get HV.  When my DD Was first born, I was told I was over feeding her as she was feeding every 3 hours instead of their recommended 4.  I told them I am not changing it, she is eating and sleeping well.  They were not happy, but they don't have to put up with a cranky hungry baby.

Huge hugs hun, You know your lo better than anyone else does.

[Julianne1984]

he's not constipated. He was awake for 20mins that time, i can't believe how much gas just escaped from my baby! He's never had it that bad before! atleast ive discovered the reason for him waking now!!

He had baked beans for the first time the other day, and again today, fish fingers too. everything else hes had before so it must be that... who knows!! x

Paula, There is one HV at our practise who is great, but it's potluck whether she's there or not!! The rest of them don't have a clue! I told them every time we saw them there was something wrong with my boy, but it took until 12wks when i marched into the docs and demanded Gaviscon that he was diagnosed with reflux! I don't trust them as far as I could throw them!!! x

[* Paula *]

Hugs hun, I know exactly how you feel.

When I told my Doctor that my DD was having feeding issues, he said oh every baby goes through fussy phases.  He said what do you think it is?  I said she has reflux, he said oh yeah I guess it could be that too

As I say a mum always knows best