How long can a baby go without milk

[myfirstbaba]

My little boy is going completely off milk as he's not feeling so good. I took him to doctors yesterday he said he wasn't as concerned yet but to keep an eye on him.

How long can they go without milk?

Should I keep giving him more weetabix with his milk so he's getting something?

He's 4 and a half months

[NickyEds]

How long is it since he had some milk?
How much did he have?
Fever?
Bf or Ff?
Are you weaning generally or are you giving weetabix to try and get something down him?

[DragonRojo]

Does the doctor know you are giving him Weetabix? It seems a bit earlier than usual. Will he drink small amounts of cool boiled water?

[myfirstbaba]

I've just managed to get 4oz down him, before that he only had 1/2oz at 5 am and 2oz at 1am but he is not weeing as much as he usually would which is concerning me

He is formula fed

I have been weaning him for the past couple of weeks and he loves his food

He's been off his milk like this for a week but gradually just getting less which he's taking

[NerrSnerr]

If you haven't had medical advice to start weaning I would stop for now. The advice is to give solid food from 6 months unless directed by a doctor or health visitor. If he stops having the weetabix he may start wanting more milk again.

[user1471950254]

I would call NHS24 and seek advice as not taking much milk and therefore not many wet nappies. Then follow their advice

[WellErrr]

He's too young to be weaned. He's probably getting filled up on solids which is making him refuse the milk, whereas he actually needs more milk now.

4 months is far too young to wean.

[myfirstbaba]

Yes doctor knows he has had food and weetabix.

My health visitor has said it's ok to wean from 17 weeks although they do prefer you to wait until 6months.

[WellErrr]

And when you DO start weaning, anything with sugar and salt in like weetabix really isn't suitable.

Have you spoken to your dr about this?

[peaceloveandbiscuits]

Agree he's probably filling up on Weetabix so not wanting milk. Milk should be his sole source of nutrition until six months, and main source until twelve months.
Fewer wet nappies than usual is a worry. Call 111 or take him back to the GP, and stop the Weetabix unless medically advised.

[NickyEds]

Definitely stop the weetabix- at least for now. It might give him some appetite for milk.

[orangebird69]

He NEEDS milk. He does not need solids yet. You're filling him up on solids that dint have enough nutrients and if he's not weeing enough he's also dehydrating which is very serious. Why are you weaning so early? Unless there's a medical reason, your hv needs shooting. Quit the solids and just stick to formula.

[hoddtastic]

he'll have a massive lump of weetabix in his stomach.

why did your HV tell you to wean early, or had you already started?

[myfirstbaba]

I didn't post on here to be criticised. I know my baby and before he got poorly he has been taking his milk aswell as his food. Yes he has been taking less milk for the past week i.e. 5oz instead of 7oz but he's obviously been coming down with the bug. It is only the past couple of days which are concerning me.

[WellErrr]

Cross posted.

If you've been advised to wait until 6 months, why are you wearing at 4? What's the rush?
Your baby needs most of his calories from milk now, and by filling him up with stodge you're stopping him from being able to drink enough milk. You're creating problems.

I don't mean to sound harsh but there are very good reasons why you are advised to wait until 6 months, not least because of the problems you're already experiencing.

[MrsJayy]

Weetabix is bulking him up he will be going off his milk because he is full while he is not having milk stop the weetabix im sure he will pick upthe milk. Weaning is not meant to be full meals in place of milk did your hv not tell you that.

[myfirstbaba]

I actually said the health visitor said it's OK to wean at 17weeks on my post

[WellErrr]

Instead of getting all offended OP, please stop and think.

No one here is trying to be mean, and we have ALL independently said the same thing. Please consider that you could be wrong on this one. All parents are wrong sometimes

[myfirstbaba]

Yes I have NOT been replacing his milk with food. I've simply been giving him a little bit of food inbetween his 12 and 4 o'clock bottle. Which the health visitor said was completely fine to do!!

[Schmoochypoos]

First foods if you do decide to wean before the recommended 6months are things like puréed carrot/squash/apple/pear, certainly not fibrous things like weetabix. I think you need to get some more advice from the HV as to what food to start the weaning process with. I suspect your baby is being filled up with the solids and dropping milk.

[hoddtastic]

yeah,. you know your bubba best. Had you already started weaning your baby when you told the HV?

the only kids who are told to wean early are (weirdly) some preemies and kids with reflux etc. Milk is the main source of calories for your son, until a year food is merely meant to be tastes. Is he sitting up independently etc.

[myfirstbaba]

My baby was only 14 weeks at the time when my health visitor discussed weaning him at 17 weeks. I wouldn't of done it unless I got told it was fine to do so

[MrsJayy]

You are being all offended all posters are saying is stop the food for now till he is better and concentrate on his milk if he is off colour he wont be feeling like his milk but as long as he is taking some milk he is ok atm while he is ill just give him a bottle.

[MrsJayy]

Why did the hv say to wean him anyway

[BertieBotts]

It is okay. But as he's ill its best to hold off food for a little while as it will fill up his tummy so he won't take as much milk. It's also harder for him to digest so fluids are better. Make sure it's first stage formula too, not hungry baby. At least until he's feeling better. The nutrients in the first stage milk are absorbed most easily.

Keep an eye on signs of dehydration in babies and take it seriously - like A&E seriously, if he's showing them. Little babies can go downhill very fast once they start so you don't want to wait and see.

Good luck!

[SleepFreeZone]

Wow, this is depressing reading.