10 months and won't / can't take milk - what should I do??

[mummylisa86]

Hi all,

My LO is 10 months now and we have been bfing v successfully since the beginning. He has 3 large meals a day and until recently was also having 3-4 bfs a day. About a week ago he stopped wanting any milk before bedtime which I was worried about but thought maybe he's full from dinner. He did that a couple of days in a row. Then did start having some again.

This week he has had a fever and flu symptoms and has been refusing milk everytime I try to feed. :s it's making me really worry as some ppl say milk is still the most important part of their diet until a year. I think he does want milk still as he has tried a couple of times and pulled off straight away. I think because he can't breathe through his nose v well!

Please do u have any advice on whether I should be getting him to drink formula (I don't want to do that unless I have to). I tried expressing milk and giving it to him in a cup which he managed but I struggled to express much at all. how long is it before your milk starts drying up? Or do you think he will be ok without milk until his nose clears and he can suck again?

Any advice would be so much appreciated, TIA

xx

[~Emma~]

 I just had the same issue with my DD who was only 8 weeks when she got a terrible wee cold. She found feeding very difficult. I basically just offered her more frequently to keep her fluids up. She would sometimes not feed at all and others only for a short time, she was really struggling to breathe through her nose. It went on for 3 days bless her. I pumped in the morning and evening to keep up my supply at the time but I only did that as she is so young and I know my supply is probably still establishing, dont know what the case would be for yourself.

 After the bout was over she fed like a maniac for 3 days to make up! I'm sure he'll make up for it when he comes around.

 

[Tay]

Hi there,
 I wouldn't rush into the formula yet. Could you post your routine for us to have an idea of how the feeds/ solids are going during the day (and night, if any).
xxx

[mummylisa86]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. We have had another day today with no milk :S Although I think I have established why he is refusing. My milk has "gone funny". I managed to express a little more today and it looked a darker colour and did not smell as it usually does. Perhaps because I have nasty cold at the moment as well. This is clearly putting him off.

So anyway my main worry now is how long do I wait before giving him some follow-on milk? Is a 10 month old ok to last a week or so without milk?? I hope my milk will return to normal soon and in the mean time I guess I should be pumping so that my supply doesn't stop?


Our general routine is fairly good I think.

Wakes around 7am or half past
BF
Activity time
Breakfast around half 8am
Morning nap around half 9am (between 45 and 90 mins)
BF (v small snack feed) around 11am
Activity time
Lunch around half 12pm
Afternoon nap about half 1pm (usually about 60 mins)
BF (again just a small snack feed) at 3pm
Activity time
Dinner 5pm
Bath, pj's, story between 6-6.45pm
BF
Bedtime 7pm

Sorry I haven't written that all very clearly! Hope it makes sense. Does this seem like a good routine for a 10 month old?

Many thanks
x

[joyceinjersey]

Hi!

I'm going through the same thing right now with my 10 mo daughter. Looks like we have similar routines too. I don't know what it is, but her nursing time has really cut down for the past month or so. She'll still nurse in the morning and right before bed, but sometimes I even wonder if she's drinking. She almost definitely won't take a bottle of expressed milk at night. It's becoming very worrisome for me too because I thought milk was still supposed to be the primary source of nutrition until they turned 1. Once in a while, she'll take a few ounces from a bottle. And just today, I was so desperate, I put some in the sippy cup she drinks water from, and then in a little paper Dixie cup. Both times she looked at it in disgust. She was a little under the weather this week and went on a brief hunger strike (milk and food), but she's generally just not into milk/nursing anymore. I am even happy to give her formula, but if she's not even drinking from a bottle anymore, I don't know if it's worth it to try. My guess is that she won't take it.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know you're not alone out there! I wish I had something to offer you, but for now, we are in the same boat. If anyone out there has some suggestions, please post!

[Tay]

Ok, A few thoughts on the feeds:

- Both mine at this stage dropped to 3 feeds a day, mostly because they were having good morning and BT feeds but being funny on the daytime feeds (iykwim). I just cut the 11am feed and brought lunch forward a bit. DS still on this routine (7/7.30am feed, 8.30am breakfast, 12.30 lunch, 2.30pm/3pm feed, 5.30pm dinner, 7pm feed)

I thought milk was still supposed to be the primary source of nutrition until they turned 1.

Absolutely, and that's why some mum choose to reduce the amount of solids instead of cutting one of the feeds. And that can do the trick.

So anyway my main worry now is how long do I wait before giving him some follow-on milk? Is a 10 month old ok to last a week or so without milk??

I must say though that you should not worry too much as long as your LO is happy, reaching milestones, sleeping well, alert on A times, plenty of wet nappies (at this stage you start getting less dirty ones). Your LO might be making up for the milk he's not getting from solids.
I would continue to offer the breast tbh and if he doesn't take it then pump. Is there any feeds that he's taking well?

In relation to follow on milk: I never gave mine any, before they were one if I wanted to give formula I just gave regular formula, after 1yr cow's milk.
HTH
xxx

[Vicku]

How is it going now mummylisa?