Refusing bottles when solids started

[mokey_cat]

Im not sure if this is the right place so feel free to move if its wrong!!

My LO started on solids 3 weeks ago and is currently getting

7.30: 8oz bottle
8/8.30: cereal/fruit
11.30: used to be 8oz but is dropping to between 4-7oz
12/12.30: veggies
3.30: used to be 8oz but this is also dropping to 4-7oz
7.00: 8oz bottle

I will be introducing dinner at 4/4.30 in the next few weeks but am concerned that she is dropping milk intake a lot since starting solids.  When do they normally drop a bottle - she seems awful young to drop one already however my HV did say that she should be on 3 meals and 3 bottles but 6 months.

Should I cut back on solids or just accept that she does not needing as much milk any more?  It is a struggle to get her to take much milk at all at 11.30!!  Is that a sign that she will be dropping this bottle soon?

Thanks

Laura
X

[~*Nicole*~]

Cut back on solids....milkfeeds are most important until 1 yr.

She also doesn't need to be on 3 meals yet if she isn't ready. When her appetite grows and she can handle more solids AND still take good milkfeeds, you can up to 3...I'd stick with one or two solids meals until she can handle more. Also, how much are you giving each solid feeding? Some los just starting food can only handle 1-2 teaspoons at a time. If you are giving whole jars or more than that she will probably be filling up too much on solids and not hungry for milk.

Try to cut out solids for a day or two and see if the milkfeeds increase. If they do...that's the problem. If they do not, maybe she is having some other issue and refusing bottles for a different reason.

Good luck!

[Seona1973]

When ds was at this stage I started making up different amounts in the daytime bottle to save milk being wasted e.g. the morning and bedtime ones stayed the same but I made up a few ounces less in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon ones.  I wouldnt drop bottles just yet and I dont know why the hv would say to be on 3 meals and 3 bottles by 6 months as strictly speaking they are not supposed to advise weaning before 6 months in the first place.

The mid-morning bottle was the first bottle to go with both dd and ds but it was closer to 8 months when that happened. I replaced it with a snack and drink of water.

[* Paula *]

I agree with PP.  Up until the age of 1 milk is still their main source of nutritian.  I am not sure why the HV are suggesting you drop a bottle before 6 months.  It does seem very early to me.

At this stage, I would say that the solids are only tasters, and not more than a couple of teaspoons.  As she gets older and her appetitie increases she will start to take more.  I also would not worry too much about starting a 3rd meal just yet.  Let your lo guide you.

What age did you start weaning?

[mokey_cat]

Thanks for your replies  .  You have all confirmed what I thought!!

We started solids 3 weeks ago (at 5 months) and I personally feel that my LO is not yet ready for the 3rd meal but my HV suggested 1week of breakfast, 1 week of breakfast and lunch and the next week to start dinner!!  I think that is a LOT!!.  We were advised to start at 5 mo due to reflux and DD is really big (19lbs at 21 weeks).  She is getting maybe 3 teaspoons (think its about 1oz) of solids at each meal.  I may try to cut back a bit but she absolutely LOVES solids  .  I dont want her to drop any more milk!!

Thanks

X

[~*Nicole*~]

Yeah, my DD loves solids as well and would probably eat them til she bursts. Actually, just this week, she was taking more solids for lunch and not drinking enough formula, so I told my mom (who watches her while I work) to either have the bottle first, or to cut down on the solids for the same reason.

Your lo is a big size! How much was she when she was born? I love her picture btw, she is adorable.

[mokey_cat]

Aw thank you very much.  She was actually a normal size when she was born lol!!  7lbs 12oz.  She is very long though (at the very top of the charts - I think 69cms?) but DH is VERY tall. 

I think my Lo would also eat solids until she burst - she is like a little bird waiting for her food!!

X

[~*Nicole*~]

I was just wondering about her size as DD was 8 lb 15 oz and 21 in. when born and I was quite surprised!....but was only 18 lb 10 oz at her 6 month check up (if I am recalling correctly). I am not sure of her height or weight right now and have to wait til the end of the month to find out at the peds.

[mokey_cat]

Awww I love your pic  !!  Very cute.

I just checked my charts and that is a great weight for a 6mo!!  Your LO was big at birth!!!  Owch   

X

[~*Nicole*~]

Thank goodness for epidurals!!

[mokey_cat]

Ok - I have missed her solids in the morning for the past 2 days to see if it helps her take her full bottle at 11.30 but she is still not taking as much.  In fact this morning it was a struggle to get her to take more than 4 oz after 12 hours of not eating during the night!!  Her bottom 2 teeth are coming through - could this be an issue?  She has been grumpy a LOT for the last few weeks and this coincides with the drop in feeding so don't know if its teething or starting solids or something else?

X

[~*Nicole*~]

You might be onto something. My DD didn't seem to have any issues when her bottom teeth came in, but she seems to be having more trouble with the top two. One cut through a few days to a week ago and the second one hasn't....but the last couple of days she has been really cranky and biting on everything. She also refused her bottle last night and it was a struggle to get her to take 4-5 oz this morning, when she usually sucks it down. I wonder if you try orajel or tylenol a little bit before a feed if that would help? I wonder if the sucking is bothering their gums....but the solids don't hurt?

[mokey_cat]

Yeah that may be it.  She would not even take 2oz for her next feed!!  But then wolfed down the tiny bit of sweet potato I gave her  .  I tried teething gel beforehand but its so hard to get it on her gums without her sucking it off my finger.  Im getting kind of worried though as she normally has about 32 oz of milk in a day and its dropped right back to about 25ish even with hardly any solid food!!  I hope these teeth come through soon then at least I will know if that is the cause!!  It seems like she has been teething forever  .  Thanks.

X

[~*Nicole*~]

I did the orajel this morning as well....and she wasn't a fan and still wouldn't drink!

[scucci1979]

Hi there

My lo is also refusing to drink her usual amount but will eat her solids.... I do think it is teething.  Her bottom two came in without a fuss. But the top two, that is another story...she is fussy, cranky and biting everything in site. It is very frusterating when they don't eat properly....

hang in there