What is my dd trying to tell me?

[Sydney]

My dd has been really "angry" during her feeding times.  When I say this, I mean she is whining/fussing the whole time she is eating and if I take the bottle away, that makes her even more mad.  I can't win either way

I started using fast flow nipples about 1 week ago and she seems to be doing fine with them.  She doesn't always whine during her feeding, but the last couple of days she has done it about every feed.  I did try switching out a fast flow for a slow flow nipple this morning to see if that was her problem and she fussed with both. dd is 4 1/2 month old.

Did anyone's lo's do this and were you able to pinpoint what your lo was trying to tell you?

TIA.

[LŠuren]

Sydney

Is she taking the feed and fussing while eating or is she fussing becasue you are trying to put it in her mouth and feed her?  I had a problem with Calum about that age - he would take 3 -4 oz then kick up a fuss, it eventually settled down.  Have you introduced solids and it has maybe put her off formula?
Lauren

[Sydney]

Hi Calums_Mum

She fusses while she is eating.  If I take it away, she fusses too.  I have not introduced solids yet.  Waiting about another month or so for that.

She does settle down eventually, but it may not be until she only has an ounce left!

[Jacksmom77]

I am having the EXACT same problem...I was getting ready to try a different nipple.  I have started feeding my baby solids (rice cereal w/ fruit) & he seems to be doing well with it - as long as it's warmed up.  I will definitely be looking out for suggestions you get because I need them too! Strange - my LO is 4 1/2 months also. 

[Leah's Mom]

Could she possibly be bored? I know at this age I had to try a colorful cloth over my shoulder so my LO had something to keep her entertained during the feed.

[potlaura]

  the other posts are probably right but sometimes when jack had a sore mouth such as thrush or sore gums he would have behaved like you described. i might be wrong but it is worth ruling out 

[Jacksmom77]

Potlaura -

What would you do for your son when his gums were sore - my son (Jack also) is teething right now really bad & I can't find anything to make him feel better - besides Oragel - which I don't like using each time he eats...TIA!

[Sydney]

Back to the eating issue, I am not sure about boredom.  I do feed her downstairs in the living room where all the commotion usually is.  I thought maybe she had too much stimulation from this as she is a very spirited baby.  So, I took her to her room where it is very quite and still had the same problem. 

Any other thoughts??

TIA!

[dionne]

Hi there
My baby is also 4 months old and he also is a VERY fussy eater and I haven't figured out why.  Initially I was breast feeding (first 2 months) and he had probs with the fast flow (overactive let-down)  He seemed to do OK with the bottles initially but now I find he gets very distracted even though I know he must be hungry. For example one morning his last feed (the night prev) was at 10pm .he woke at 7am .I waited until 7:30 and he would not settle to eat.He buries his head in my chest whines I dont know if he doesnt like the formula .I also started on fast flow nipples it makes a bit of a mess but is adjusting. 
He always seems to be distracted very spirited baby!

Sometimes I notice he lets some gas go.and I try again and will sometimes work....He is not on solids yet

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[Sydney]

dionne - have you been using the same formula since he has been on formula?  We switched to the Soy version of Similac as our dd had problems with the regular version.  Not sure if this will help but it may be worth a try. 

Yes, fast flow is a bit of a mess at first.  I still have to feed dd with a bib as she hasn't fully adjusted to the fast flow yet.

[LŠuren]

Sydney, I've just noticed that Sydney is nearly 5 months, Calum did this at 5 months - I was so frustrated that I went to 3 feeds instead of 4 (as suggested by someone else on a post) - luckily after  couple of weeks he DID stop it and start taking food again.  I think you need to persever with it - especially it sounds like she is taking it.   Calum clamped his mouth shut 

I would also keep feeding her in her nursery, if I feed DS in the livingroom I need to switch the TV off and stop anyone walking by!! I can't even talk to DH as Calum stops feeding to listen 

[Mommy of 3]

When my DS gets like this I usually feed him in the living room in front of the TV using a boppy and something to support the bottle (at that age) and hide behind the corner.  Usually he starred at the TV and feeds away. 

However, this week he's been acting up again, but he's teething. 

Jacksmom - I use Hyland's teething tablets for my DS before he goes to nap and bedtime.  Through out the day I use teething rings that I put in the fridge.  Also they have this teething thing where you put food in it, put it in the fridge and have them munch on that.  Food goes into some net.  Not exactly sure what it's called but I got one today.  Let you know how that works.

[potlaura]

 hi jacks mom
 when tom is teething really badly i use a damp facecloth to try and ease sore gums and sometimes the end of a sterilised tea spoon that has been cooled in cold water it sounds strange but it seems to ease his gums 

[Jacksmom77]

Thanks for the teething advice I'll try those & see how they work!

[* Paula *]

Hi all,

I seem to remember that DS went through the same thing at around 4.5 - 5 months - He would fuss on his bottles and eventually give in and start drinking them.

I switched to the fast flow nipple which worked for a while and then it started again.  I found that switching him from the 3 hour easy to the 4 hour easy was my solution.  At 3 hours he was hungry, but not hungry enough to want a full bottle.  So the next morning I woke him at his usual time, gave him an extra ounce in his bottle and this took him to 4 hours when he had his next bottle.

This seemed to solve our problem.  When he is teething he does start fussing again, but then it goes back to normal.

Please keep us posted on how you get on.