need to revise feeding routine

[Gage and Sophie's Mom]

hi there. I am STILL trying to get my bub to eat, and I have tried all of the tricks ( bigger nipple, 5=10 min break,offering remainder of the bottle with meals etc). It was getting better for awhile, but now he is eating less and less. I think he is getting enough as he is almost 24 lbs and 28 in, but he is waking for a feed at night and draining a 6oz ( he probably would take more but I only offer 6oz. sometimes watered). It is not only formula but baby food too. I have been feeding him solids 1.5-2hrs after the bottle just to get him to eat a couple of oz.  :-[I wonder if he needs fewer bottles or stretch them out a bit. I just dont know what to do. IS anyone else struggling with this? Mabye he is like a camel and lives off of his stored food

Here is his routine:

6:00-7:00 he wakes somewhere in between
6:30-7:30 (ASAP after waking) formula  He is refusing to eat and taking in only 3-4ish oz after trying all of the tricks
8:30-9 breakfast 3 oz if I am lucky

11:00 formula 6oz If I am lucky
1:00 solids 4-6 oz this is decreasing gradually

3:30-4:00 depending on nap length 6-8 oz
6:00 solids 4oz

7:00 Last bottle is broken up 4oz
7:30 4-6oz

1-5am 6oz the closer it get to wake up time the more I water the bottle

[Leah's Mom]

Have you tried introducing any finger foods? My DD never took well to baby food and was completly on finger foods by 10 months.

[andibig]

have you thought about dropping the mid morning bottle? this may increase his solid intake at lunch time.could be filling himself up with milk b4 lunch

[LŠuren]

Alice

Calum takes about 24oz as well;

Here is our routine since I spoke to you last.
0630-7am wake
E0730  8oz (2oz of which as clearly disguised as readybrek and fruit  )
E1200  lunch 5 or 6oz + jellly and fruit with water juice in his sippy cup
E1400ish 7oz
E1630  tea 4 or 5oz with water juice in his sippy cup
E1930 11 - 13oz
no night feeds

Is there anyway you can do pu/pd for night waking, is he genuienly hungry?  What did you give him for breakfast? could you give him more milk in cereal?

Do you think he may be waking in the night out of thirst, do you offer lots of water with his food/snacks?
We went to 3 bottles last week when he got over his chest infection, he seems to be taking a few oz's more then previously when on 4.

Lauren

[estherofi20]

Well i guess my DS is also taking very little then, here goes our usuall day:

7:30 bottle with 6-7oz
8:30 breakfast (oatmeal with fruit) usually 6oz
12 noon bottle with 1-2oz MAX!!!!
1pm lunch (protein with veggies, and dessert as fruit) like 8oz
4pm bottle 2-3oz
6pm dinner 10oz
7pm bottle wich he only takes 1oz at the most

no night wakings to feed.

[LŠuren]

Esther try moving the 2nd bottle to 2pm ish (nap dependant) and dropping the 3rd.

7:30 bottle
8:30 breakfast (oatmeal with fruit) usually 6oz
12 lunch (protein with veggies, and dessert as fruit) like 8oz
2pm bottle
6pm dinner 10oz  (bring dinner forward unless he eats with yourselves)
7pm bottle

Looks like is is still full from his 10oz so he doesn't want his bedtime bottle, does Paul wake at night at all ?

[estherofi20]

Well, he doesn't wake to feed at night, he hasn't done it since he was 3MO, sometimes he wakes but give him the paci and he will drift off to sleep again, and when he wakes up in the morning he coos a lot so he isn't hungry, of course until he sees the bottle he starts complaining!!!! i guess seeing the bottle reminds him "hey, i must be hungry uhh?" LOL. But he takes his nap at 2pm usually... what would you do???

[LŠuren]

Give him the bottle before nap, but don't get in the habit of feed to sleep, if he dozes off wake him before putting him in the cot................ - you know the deal    x

[LŠuren]

Also at the meals do you mix formula in?  Make cereal, veg , fruit extra and put the formula in there, its amazing what you can squeeze in!

Just replying to you about this 

[Gage and Sophie's Mom]

I have been trying to feed him finger foods, but I have been really apprehensive about the whole thing. I have posted something on this in the solids forum. I do feel a little better, but still unsure as to what types to offer. I have offered cottage cheese, Gerber stars and giving him his purreed dinner. He doesnt really do much other than play. I keep trying though. He also gags anytime I give him something with a little more lumps and then refuses it. I thought for sure feeding solids was going to be the easy part of raising Gage

I am not sure if he is genuinly hunger or not. He was sleeping through at least half the time, but has been waking almost every night for the past 2 week. He does drink a full bottle even if it is REALLY diluted. I have watered down all night bottles before and he repeatedly woke, but that was a while ago. I will try it again tonight no matter what time it is. He may be thristy as I rarely ever give him water (unless it is hot out or practicing with the tippy) because he barely has room for any other food.

I think I would like to try and drop a bottle, but I am not sure he will make it through his nap (we are starting to recover from that struggle). I think I will try to follow you routine as best that I can lauren, and hope for the best.

Stacy, maybe I will go back to feeding after an hour as with dropping a bottle might (hopefully) make him more hungry.

estherofi20, I just want to thank you again for the crib blanket tip. Gage has not used the wedge for a nap in over a week  . We also have graduated from being one arm out for both naps and bed and have moved on to the sleeping bag. So far so good! Cross your fingers for us. Thanks a million! Oh Stacy, Gage took 2 long naps without that swaddle.  We are ahead in the *ss kicking department. lol

Ps. Off the subject..... Where the heck is my pm box? I get personal emails, but cant figure out how the check in on the BW site.


Thanks ladies!

[Mom2katiebug]

Can I lurk?

[estherofi20]

Lauren thanks for the tip , i'll try it tomorrow

gage's mom, hey glad to help!!!!

[LŠuren]

Ps. Off the subject..... Where the heck is my pm box? I get personal emails, but cant figure out how the check in on the BW site.

Alice I find the easiest way is to click on someones IM link as if you where going to PM someone, then at the top left of the box it has;
Babywhisperer.com
Personal messages
New Message

click on personal messages and you will see you list there.

[Gage and Sophie's Mom]

Thanks Lauren, I finally found the box.  What do you give calum for a snack?

[LŠuren]

Alice
Before he was unwell I was giving Calum;

Rice cakes
sandwiches on either strawberry jam or philidelphia
cooked carrots, turnip, etc.....
Fruit
breadsticks (no sesame seeds)

Lauren