Bottle time battle

[emilyeggs]

My ds is 20wks. I'm doing the gina routine but when it comes to his feed he will get through 2/3 oz the refuse any more, it's really upsetting me and I can't help getting stressed :( I persevere to get him to drink more but don't want to stress him also. His 10pm dream feed is fine and if I do a night feed that also goes down well. I always feed him with very little distraction and now am out of ideas and worried

[mummy2benji]

Babies rarely follow the same pattern, which is why I'm sceptical of gina ford. I do agree that having a routine can help some babies, but mine have always created their own routine after 4 months or so and been happy with that. There's nothing wrong with following set times for things if that helps you and your baby, but I think feeds should be more decided by the baby. Otherwise you can stress yourself and your baby if they aren't taking what they are "supposed to", when they are supposed to. My ds1 had severe silent reflux and developed a feeding phobia because of the pain - he was in and out of hospital 8 or 9 times before he was one for refusing to drink anything. I got horribly anxious about how little he drank yet he continued to grow and is now a healthy 4.5yo. Some babies prefer to drink little and often. Maybe he gets reflux and a larger feed is uncomfortable for him. Have a chat to your health visitor or GP if he seems unhappy and might have reflux or be very windy. If he is gaining weight fine then try not to worry. It's hard work having a baby who feeds little and often but this period doesn't last long, he'll be eating before you know it and having fewer milk feeds. It's important not to try to force him to drink though if he doesn't want it. My ds1 used to scream at just the sight of a bottle. Try to remind yourself that it's okay if he just has half a bottle, at least he's had something, and distract yourself with a cuppa or go and do something. I drove myself crazy getting hung up on ounces and the woefully inadequate volume that my ds was drinking. It's important to look after yourself and your own wellbeing too. Get some medical advice if you're finding it hard. x

[QTPie]

Appetites vary - go adults as well as children - and, at 20 weeks, he is quite probably beginning to teeth (and babies appetites can definitely become more erratic then).

Personally I really wouldn't stress it: encourage him to drink as much as you can, then move on.

I also fed to routine (not GF, but our own feeding schedule which we developed from 5 weeks - I saw patterns in feeds and encouraged...), but I BFd - so I had no idea how much he was actually drinking. I just fed him to full and stopped.

It is the same when you wean: their appetites will vary over time. You do not make them finish the plate, you just encourage them to eat until full and leave it at that. Getting stressed over their natural ups and downs in appetite (especially during teething) achieves nothing.

[Alanna1]

I use GF but don't obsess about it.It's a guide, not a bible. If they don't want it, leave it. We give a bottle in the morning too to make sure DD has one bottle at least while awake. Don't worry!

[emilyeggs]

Thanks ladies, I do bend the routine as I don't think any baby is text book but think maybe I am putting too much pressure on myself. He has two bottom teeth now so yes to the teething but seems ok with it at the moment.....I think like you say, as long as he is getting some milk and gaining weight he should be ok......it's hard not to worry though