Small 6 month old, fussy eater etc

[SmallShips]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of this.

DD is 6 months, she weighed 7,12 at birth and has always looked rather skinny. I breastfed for the 1st month, but had to give up for health issues. Now shes never had more than a 6oz bottle, often leaving some, shes been pukey on and off, not projectile but more than possetting.

For the past month, she seems to be getting worse with her eating, she has been in an excellent routine since 2 months, in bed at 7 and asleep till 6am, that seems to have gone out the window. She screams painfully until she drops off (with me going in to reassure her) and screams in her sleep on and off during the night. She sounds like she has a sore throat, wriggles away from her bottle and takes about 3oz at the most. She looks about 3 months old. Though shes on track for her ages, has just started crawling etc. When shes not screaming she is smiley and happy. Since she reached 6 months ive tried her on a few solids, but im a bit weary as shes not taking enough milk.

Ive rang my HV and will be booking an appointment for the GP tomorrow, but wanted to see if you guys had any ideas?!

[FattipuffsandThinnifers]

Perhaps it's reflux? Don't be fobbed off if the HV says it can't be if she's not 'projectile' vomiting - they don't have to project it across the room to have reflux. Does she scream more after feeding? If not this, perhaps she's ready for a bit more solid food - does she seem hungrier in the morning? If she's only taking 3oz per feed she may be hungry for more. If she will take baby rice mixed with formula you can also be reassured she'll be getting enough milk this way if she won't take it from a bottle. Hope you get some help tomorrow.

[SmallShips]

she does take cereal mixed with her formula, but its about an oz, i think she had 15oz in all today. She used to be hungry in the morning, taking a full 6oz bottle, but has now gone down to 4!

And its definately after a milk feed when she starts crying!

[IAteRosemaryConleyForBreakfast]

Taking less milk comes long after they've started on solids. This is not your daughter trying to tell you she wants more solids. Baby rice etc cannot provide nearly the equivalent nutrition to milk so you're right in being steady with the weaning.

I agree, get her checked out by the HV and GP and if you are then reassured then possibly try to vary the routine a bit maybe? Also, are you feeding on demand? I'm sure if children have a routine imposed on them then as they change they will 'outgrow' it.

Def get the GP to have a look first though

[angel1976]

Hi SmallShips,

You are not the only one. My DS is almost 6 months and still possetting after most of his feeds, mostly on me! I thought he would have grown out of this by now... He's never been a big milk drinker either - hardly ever taking more than 5 oz a bottle. I weaned him and luckily he loves his food but I am trying desperately not to replace his milk feeds YET so he doesn't get a lot of solid as I know they need to get the nutrients from his milk. But today, he's decided to take even less milk. What I have done which might help you is to actually continue giving him a dream feed because usually at that feed, he will drink most of the 5oz and not throw it up. Maybe it's a developmental thing? I would be interested to hear what the others say. I plan to continue his DF until he is on 3 proper meals a day, otherwise, he would be taking only 20 oz a day!

Ax

[SmallShips]

She was on a 3 hourly feeding routine, but since all this started ive been messing around with it and going by her.

Angel - tis a worry isnt it?! Shes the complete oposite to my DS who was a big eater! Which is probably why im a bit panicing this time round. I went in a hour ago and gave her 3oz which she took. Ive started giving 3-4oz at a feed and topping up if she wants more. It wasnt fun tipping 7oz of not exactly cheap formula down the sink!

[angel1976]

DS is not big (under the 50 percent line mostly and dropping a little) but he does feel quite heavy. I've worried since day 1 with him. Even though he is growing, I still worry. Everything I read says they should be taking 7-8 oz a feed now and I'm like 'WHAT?' I don't really know how to work the weaning into his feeds as I can't literally drop ANY feed with the amount he is taking... I give him mostly 5 bottles but he hardly ever finishes it!

[desperatehousewifetoo]

Sounds like reflux to me too.

If she is screaming between meals she might have some oesophagitus i.e. irritation in the oesophagus.

Or maybe an allergy?

Definitely go and discuss with your gp. It's so worrying with little ones isn't it?

Let us know how you get on. Good luck

[SmallShips]

DD is long, but skinny, she doesnt look in any way unwell, but like you said, everything says they should be on 8oz now.

Ive dropped her weaning right down to baby ceral mixed with milk as her 2nd feed, with a bottle before. But TBH it hasnt effected how much milk she takes. She still fusses. She has never been a big eater, but its the fussiness causing problems now. Im going to buy bigger teats tomorrow to see if that does anything.

Weaning my DS was easy, he took to everything and still had a good amount of milk. This time im stuck, like you, with what to do. Will hopefully get some answers tomorrow from the GP.

[SmallShips]

yes she does scream between meals, the more i read up on reflux, the more it sounds like she might have it. But does it just come on, after having no problems?

[desperatehousewifetoo]

Maybe she has had the reflux (if that is what she has) for a while and this has caused the irritation (oesophagitis) that is now causing her problems.

A hoarse voice could also indicate relux. So mention that to the gp.

Keep her upright as much as possible after feeds. Hopefully the gp will have some suggestions but there is a feed I tried called 'omnio comfort' that is slightly thicker than others. Didn't work with mine though may be worth a try.

(That was a few years ago, so there are probably others too now. Your health visitor can probably recommend something if gp doesn't)

[SmallShips]

Thanks all. Cant get an appointment with the doctor till next week. Shes had more milk today than usuaul, but still threw a bit up.

[angel1976]

Keep us updated SmallShips! My DS is still on his 'bottle' strike - taking about 4 oz a feed. Took him to the children's centre nearby and everyone commented on how well he looks. He's very alert and almost starting to crawl! One of the ladies there has had 4 children and told me one of her children refused to take milk from 6 months onwards and instead just ate lots of 'adult' food and to just feed DS solids and not worry so much about his milk intake. I wish I could be more relaxed about it! Argh! After a big throw up this morning, he seems to have settled a bit! Fingers crossed...

[desperatehousewifetoo]

Both of my two had reflux and it definitely improved once they started solids. But 'in my day' they started solids at 4months and they were both already on medication for the reflux.

[fledtoscotland]

DS never managed more than about 5ozs at a time even at 10months. he just was a small eater. even now he eats little but often and has much smaller portions than others his age but is definitely not underweight.

however he did go through a really fussy phase at about 8months when he was teething refusing to eat anything homemade (i made all my own baby food) and turning his nose up at anything that wasnt out of a jar

i totally agree with getting a GP to check for reflux but also remember that all babies are different and some may just not take large amounts at one go.

[SmallShips]

Because she has never been a big eater i swing between, she must have something wrong with her, or thats just how she is.

Aside from the fussy eating and being quite skinny, shes longer than average, bright, alert, smiley and has just started crawling.

Shes been alot happier today, non of her little screaming fits (aside from bedtime), but i gave her alot less solid food today, but still only taking about 4-5oz. Shes feeding every 3 hours and has had very little puking, just tiny bits of possetting!

Hope your DS has been ok Angel.

[angel1976]

Thanks for asking SmallShips! Glad to hear your DD is better. DS did quite a lot of pukes this morning but has been fine the rest of the day.

I usually split DS's last feed. I feed him at 6 and then at 7 again and in that way, I can usually 'persuade' him to take 6-8 oz (in total!) instead of his usual 4-5. Well, he barely taken his last feed because he has been having solids so today I decided to cut out his 6pm feed and just give him a good dinner at 5pm. So he had chicken and rice porridge plus yoghurt and apple puree for afters and strangely enough at 7pm, he was starving and drank 7 oz! I think I will continue doing it this way... That's at least one bottle less to worry about!

[angel1976]

BTW SmallShips, I know EXACTLY what you mean when you say you swing between there must be something wrong to that's how he/she is!

[SmallShips]

Thats good about the feed this evening. I think it might be a case of trial and error with them. Ive been known to split the evening feed or offer a top a bit later, seems to work!