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Infant feeding

4 month old not taking enough formula- at wits end..

19 replies

Cuppatea14 · 06/04/2015 19:52

Hi all,
Dd2 has never been a great eater. She used to fuss a lot on her bottles and the gp recommended adding gaviscon, which we did and which definitely helped with the discomfort.

She now doesn't seem to have any discomfort, doesn't throw up much, but will stop drinking on the spot as soon as she hits 3oz. I try to get another oz or two into her but it could take the 2 hours until the remains of the bottle have to be tipped. She is otherwise in ok form, and is producing wet/dry nappies, but I'm concerned that she's tsking very little for her age. She takes 7 feeds a day so is probably just about getting enough, but it means two dream feeds plus one night feed that she wakes up for herself.

Anyone any ideas? She's on aptamil + gaviscon at the moment. Thanks all!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 06/04/2015 19:55

What speed teat are you using? If she stops at 3oz I would let her and not try to force more.

TywysogesGymraeg · 06/04/2015 19:56

I wouldn't worry. If you were breastfeeding, you'd have no idea how many ounces she takes each time. As long as she's gaining weight, she's getting enough to eat.

dementedpixie · 06/04/2015 19:56

What weight is she?

A general rule of thumb is 2.5oz per lb of weight but it is a guide and not set in stone

Cuppatea14 · 06/04/2015 19:57

She's on Tommy tippee level 2, think they are medium speed test. Wonder would going up a size help maybe? If I let her stop at 3, then she'll only get 21oz a day which seems no where near enough for a 4mo?

OP posts:
Cuppatea14 · 06/04/2015 19:58

Teat, not test!

OP posts:
EggcidentalAnarchist · 06/04/2015 19:58

When my little one was like this - and also massively refluxy - I put him in his bouncer one night in despair and he drank the whole damned bottle!! He fed in his chair for months. Goodness knows why, but could be worth a try

TywysogesGymraeg · 06/04/2015 19:59

All babies are different though - just as all adults have different appetites. Is she gaining weight?

EggcidentalAnarchist · 06/04/2015 19:59

Also he didn't do well with TT - settled better with Dr Browns

Cuppatea14 · 06/04/2015 20:01

Is it awful that I don't know her weight?! Poor second child. I think she is around 15lbs so should be getting around 35oz by that calc.

OP posts:
ghostwritter · 06/04/2015 20:04

I used to go mad about the tiny amount my little man ate, and he used to cry-a lot! when he was 8 1/2 months he was diagnosed as cows milk protein intolerant and settled down on different formula, but dtill took no more than 6 oz ever. but the best thing was weaning him partial BLW. He is still (now infant school age) on the slight side, but absolutley fine. Try not to worry,

Cuppatea14 · 06/04/2015 20:10

Egg- yes she does better in her chair too, must be because they are a bit more upright? Makes me a bit sad because it's less cuddly than feeding her in my arms, but needs must. That's interesting about the Dr brown bottles, we used them for DD1 from the outset and never had any issues. We avoided them this time because they are such a pain in the ass to clean...

OP posts:
Cuppatea14 · 06/04/2015 20:12

Ghostwriter- did you wait til 6mo to wean? We did a muddled form of BLW in dd1 also, plan to do it again on this one...

OP posts:
Goldmandra · 06/04/2015 20:17

If her weight isn't causing you any concern stop worrying about it.

As a previous poster said, if she was BF you would have no idea how much milk she was taking.

As long as her weight remains healthy, stop trying to get her to take more than she wants. Trust her body to regulate her calorie intake.

squizita · 07/04/2015 10:12

Cuppa just read the back of my "just in case" SMA tin (I bf but have back up SMA in case I was ill or something ... such a worrier) and the MOST milk it recommended in 24hr on the charts on the back is 32oz for a big 6-7 month not on solids yet ... so really I wouldn't worry about trying to get her to take 35oz! Smile

I agree with PP who say get her weighed and if she's ok re that she's eating enough!

Cuppatea14 · 07/04/2015 10:57

Thanks all, just to clarify I'm not trying to ram 35oz down her throat every day, I am just concious that left to her own devices, she would only ever take 21oz which is not a lot for a baby her size. I was really looking for some feedback from other FF mums about whether they found their babies preferred different formulas/teats/bottles etc. Yes her weight is healthy but that is because I spend vast hours every day giving her half an ounce here and there. (I don't force it into her, if she really doesn't want it I leave her alone!) Unfortunately bottle feeding is not an exact science, babies will have preferences and intolerances to different bottles/formulas etc and it can be a bit trial and error at times.

OP posts:
Goldmandra · 09/04/2015 22:20

Yes her weight is healthy but that is because I spend vast hours every day giving her half an ounce here and there.

I hope you're not still saying that when she's a toddler and every mealtime is a battle because you're convinced that she will only eat enough if you work hard enough to get the food down her.

It generally really is better to allow babies and children to regulate their own calorie intake unless there is a good reason to worry about their weight or health.

5madthings · 09/04/2015 22:29

My dd was like this, even at six mths before starting to wean she never took more than four ounces and never got above 25oz in 24hrs, generally having 20-22. It did stress me out but she continued to grow fine, it was obviously the right amount for her.

If she is otherwise wrll, gaining weight etc I wouldn't worry.

5madthings · 09/04/2015 22:32

Btw my dd was above average size, about 80 percentile but she only needed small volumes if milk. Some babies are just like that. I got her weighed and checked by the hv and gp. The amount of formula recommended on the box is just a guideline. Please dint try to persuade her to take more than she wants. I understand it is worrying but follow her lead and look at her, not the amount of milk she is having to see if she is well.

lornathewizzard · 19/04/2015 10:50

My DD (nearly 9mo) goes through phases of not really taking her bottle very well. Before she started blw (so at some point before 6mo) she went weeks only taking half or some times less, sometimes more. I figured as long as she was taking more than half of what she would if she took her full 5 bottles over the day then she was doing ok. She was otherwise healthy and on the big side anyway. She knows what she wants.

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