Huge baby but not an eater

[Sugarmama]

Hi there,
Josie is 5 mos., weighs over 18 pounds and is over 28 inches long.

Would you believe, though, that I struggle to get her to eat over 3-4 oz. per four-hour feed?

She definitely sleeps better at night the more I can get into her during the day, so I'm interested in ideas.

Also, related is this: She's on a four-hour EASY: 7, 11, 3, 6:30-ish. We don't do the DF, as it doesn't seem to affect her night waking times, and she doesn't seem hungry when she wakes anyhow (so why does she sleep better if she has eaten more during the day, I don't know!). She wakes usually between 5 or 6, and I pacify her until 7.

She doesn't seem hungry at her eating times. In fact, she'd like, I think, to switch around the E and the A in EASY. She definitely eats better if she's been up for an hour playing. She also is disinterested in the bottle more now probably due to her age and her growing interest in her environment, but still ... Should I let her switch the E and the A, as long as I do some more A before S?

Yes, I've tried keeping her in a quiet environs during the bottle, wearing funky clothes to hold her attention, etc.

I've also tried feeding her a few ounces and then letting her play a half hour and then trying some more. The only time this works is when I literally lie next to her and feed her while she's looking up/playing with toys in her activity center. Is this a bad habit to get into, allowing her to play while eating?

Also, for how long should I try feeding her? Should I try for two hours or only right when she wakes up? Should I try until I get a certain number of ounces in her? Currently I try until I get at least six ounces in her or until it's a half hour until naptime.

Ideas?

Thanks!

[Sugarmama]

Should have added with above: My husband and I are thinking of trying solids this week due to the fact that Josie shows all signs of being ready EXCEPT that she doesn't drink at least 32 oz. of formula per day. We think she might be more interested in formula. Any thoughts?

[* Paula *]

What size teat are you using?  Do you think your lo could be bored with the flow and this is why she is not interested in drinking vast amounts of her bottle?

Is your lo teething?  This can be quite common and affect the amount they actually take in.

It is not uncommon for your a lo to have A before E etc, but trying to get her to eat whilst playing could be a bad thing and could end up turning into a prop.

[Sugarmama]

Hi there,
Yes, we have tried different sized nipples. We have gradually increased the size so that we use as large of one as we can without choking her/milk pouring out of mouth. This did seem to help a bit when we increased sizes but not enough to exceed her desired 3-4 oz.

As for the play thing, do you think I should wait to feed her until after she's had her A time, or should I try to feed her intermittently throughout A time. (This is hard, as getting her to take six ounces might stretch feeding attempts throughout a 1.5 hr. period--so much for doing anything with her but feeding!).

Thanks.

[* Paula *]

You could try to see if your lo would take her bottle after her A time, although you would need to make sure that she does not fall asleep on the bottle as this could become a prop.

Do you think that your lo could be teething? 

Has she always taken such a little amount per feeding?  Could she perhaps not be a very big eater?

[Sugarmama]

She hasn't wanted to eat much per her weight since she was around 8 weeks old, so for three months.

Yesterday, I tried to wait until after A time--one hour--to feed her, but I couldn't get more than 3 oz. in her. She was up early this am! So, I think I might have to let her play a little--feed a little, and repeat until up to 10 min. before naptime. That sound okay?

Also, simultaneously I stopped letting her eat whilst beneath her activity center, so that, too, through a crank in it, but I need to stop letting her play while eating, as I think this could really be a problem in the future, but is one more complication now, I think.

[* Paula *]

It is definitely worth a try, and see how she gets on.

Have you spoken to your HV or GP about the amount she is eating, and your worry?

[Sugarmama]

I just saw the post on Dysphagia. She has all the symptoms. This may be the culprit.

[* Paula *]

I would definitely suggest chatting to your GP / Ped about this.

Let us know how you get on.