20 week ds refusing formula

[ThedementedPenguin]

Okay I need some advice, my ds is 20 weeks old. He used to take 6oz bottle every 4 hours during the day and could take 6oz every 4-6 hours at night. Over the past week I've noticed that he won't take as much in each bottle. His routine has completely vanished.

So just as an example last night he took a 6 oz bottle just before 12. Normally he would drink the whole bottle, then I'd wind him and put him back to bed. This usually takes about 20 minutes. Last night it took me nearly an hour to get the bottle into him, he started then stopped the whole time. He then took an ounce at half 7, then 3oz at half 9.

Since then he took 3oz at half 12 and 3oz at 4.

It's a fight to get it into him, he takes a few mouthfuls then moves his head away and cries. Then moves back to his bottle.

Before this I noticed he was falling asleep during bottles so I bought then next teat up.

So basically has anyone any clue what I can do? Or what could be wrong?

I thought it could be a teething problem or is he bored of his milk (is this possible)?

All help very appreciated.

[ThedementedPenguin]

Anyone?

[Rhubarb78]

Could be teething, they can go off food when teething. To be honest, the only time ds acted like that was when he needed a faster flowing teat, could you go up again? What bottles do you use? also is he demand fed? I think ds was feeding around every 5 hours by that age and going through the night, the only other thing you could try is leaving him a bit longer and then trying him to see if he is more hungry.

[ThedementedPenguin]

I use Avent bottles, ill buy the next one up to try it. Yes I demand feed, anytime he wants it he gets it.

I've tried leaving him but he screams in anger so I end up giving him his bottle. He will occasionally take 5-6oz but not that often.

Is it normal for them to go from 30+ ounces a day to 10-15 ounces a day when teething? So far he has only had 11ounces.

[Rhubarb78]

to be honest my ds has not really done a proper hunger strike but my niece did, she hardly took anything in 24 hours once. Having said that ds is now 11 months and barely ate anything all day due to teething but he has had bottles though. I have got through a lot of these awkward times by telling myself 'its just a phase' it always passes, in the short term if he is still having wet nappies then i wouldn't worry too much, he isn't going to starve. I would try the next teat, if i remember rightly from dsis the avent bottles have a +1 month teat and +3 month teat, he may need the +3 month or even the +6 month, ds did before he got to 6 months. Try that and if that doesnt work then maybe a trip to the health visitor may help? I do feel for you, it is stressful when they wont eat but they are clever little things, they know what they need to do to get by and he would let you know if he was hungry

[ThedementedPenguin]

Thanks very much for the help. I had just got him the +3 month but after your last post I went and bought the +6 month ones. So trying him out on them. Hopefully this will help.

[Rhubarb78]

hopefully that will work then, good luck!

[ThedementedPenguin]

Thanks again. He drunk a whole 6ounces before bed. With no problems or stopping. Must of been the teats. :)

[Rhubarb78]

Great, glad to have been a help :)