Baby not feeding..please help

[babylonian]

Hi my dd now just over 5 months has always been a poor eater...bottle fed from week 2 has always had the same bottle, teats and milk. But recently has been eating less and less, crying at feed times, every single feed time reduces both of us to tears . I have tried everyting...weaning, not weaning, reducing feed intervals, increasing feed intervals...we have had multiple check with Dr to check for infections...nothing works...I am told shes happy and growing (which she is) so dont worry...but i just cant help being upset about it...its not the amount (i have come to accept that she will never take more than 5oz a feed) its the high drama that goes hand in hand with feeding times . I honestly have reached my limit and need to hear from people with simlar problems and preferably solutions or even just how not to get upset...

She is now only taking the bottle 4 times in a 24 hour period, and not more than 5 oz (occasionally 6 oz) a feed...surely thats not enough to sustain her? and if i add solids then she takes even less.

[babylonian]

oh did i mention that every single feed she cries for 15-20 min before eventually taking the bottle.

[nailpolish]

are you using faster teats?

[Seona1973]

If you are giving solids, try to mix as much milk as possible in with them - that way you get your lo to have the nutrition of the milk without her having to drink it from the bottle e.g. cereal, potato, rice pudding, etc, etc (you can use formula for all of these) Fromage frais will also count towards the daily milk intake.

I also wouldnt offer the bottle any more than once every 4 hours during the day and as the last poster said - try using a faster teat as maybe your lo is frustrated with the flow.

[babylonian]

I am using a faster teat, and i dont think she would manage any faster as she dribbkles on this one...i offer her the bottle every 4.5-5 hours but still the same result...i have tried mixing milk with solids she just refuses the solids, but will take them unmixed with milk...i have not tried the fromage frais..is it allowed before 6 months?

[Seona1973]

petit filous is marketed as being suitable from 4 months. you can also get baby danone which is made with follow on milk and is also suitable from 4 months

[Seona1973]

have you tried not using a bottle but offering milk from an open cup instead, e.g. a doidy cup from here

[babylonian]

Thanx Seona...will try baby danone...i still would like to know why she has to cry before taking the bottle?

[mmmmchocolate]

My 5month old did exactly this, and i tried a different milk and worked for a couple of months but she only drunk 3 bottled aday of about 4oz with her dinners on top i was told some babies just go off milk but now she is 7 months and doing the same, i wasn't worried just gave her yoghurts and vegatbles with grated cheese in them. HTH

[babylonian]

oh mmm chocolate...that really helps. i knew it was silly to worry, but i couldnt help it, it oes help to know that other people have gone thru the same thing. hope your dd is thriving well. i have to try the yoghurts...will hit the shops today.

[mmmmchocolate]

Any joy with the yoghurts???? DD is doing fine and only on 1 bottle a day of 7 oz, i worried as all books etc say 4 bottles a day. But each baby is different and the milk isn't the nicest so don't really blame them for not wanting it. I found if she cried to not give her the bottle otherwise she gets so worked up and upset easier to just try half hour later. Also DD will only drink it if its really hot.....

[babylonian]

hi mmmmchocolate...it seems ouer dd have alot in common, i also find that once she starts crying i better stop and try again a bit later..it still upset me though...i cant help but feel that the way i fed her in the past must be the reason she is off her milk...anyway got the petit filous, initially she grimaced (so funny) but then started taking to it. however i could not find the baby danone one, which is made of fortiied milk...do u use it and if so where do u get it from? does your dd make up for fluids by drinking water or juice? as mine doesnt really, but i think she has started to get the idea...