Formula fed baby refuses to drink as much milk

[GinaDonnette]

Hi my little one is 5&1/2 months at about 5 months she started been really funny only taking 4/5 ounce of milk instead of her 8oz bottles she had been taking we started to wean her as she was showing signs of been ready and took to it very well very quickly she eats food no problem but is still refusing to take more than 5 or if I'm lucky a 6oz bottle of milk and I worry she won't be getting enough nutrients she's also started stirring in the night from 4 am not crying just awake she's then awake by 6 am and she will still only take about 5/6 ounce then. Is it possible she's weaning herself off milk a little where she's having food she has a little porridge after her morning bottle then usually some purée at lunch and then occasionally some more food around tea time

[Dontgiveaschnitzel]

I don't have any advice but this sounds like my baby too. She's 6 months and started getting funny about taking milk from about 5.5 months, now she takes between 3-5 ounces at a time when she used to take 6-8. Sometimes she just won't take any or a few mouthfuls. She has baby rice an hour after her morning milk and a fruit or veg purée at lunch which she eats no problem. I also give her chunks of banana and other soft fruits/veggies to try eating herself but she mostly mushes it about. I worry too that she's not getting enough calories/vitamins but can't make her take more milk.

[GinaDonnette]

Hi,
Just sometimes nice to know your not the only one going through it hoping hv may offer an answer but can't see her until 13th
April !

[Dontgiveaschnitzel]

Definitely nice to know she's not the only milk refusing baby! I'm in Germany, wish I had a HV to ask, I feel like the paediatrician will think I'm wasting his time. Think I'm going to try to read up a bit more on weaning. Apart from not wanting as much milk my baby is growing fine so hopefully it's ok!

[GinaDonnette]

Your never wasting there time they are there to reassure us and to make sure our children are healthy and I think it is proberbly a case of that they are happier with food and are cutting the amount down themselves
Good luck

[icklekid]

My ds did exactly the same dropping milk around 5 months so started weaning. I never could force him to take formula and he always had what he wanted and not a drop more. Life was easier when I accepted this and stopped trying to force him!

[GinaDonnette]

I've never forced her just curious if anyone else experienced this like you said she takes what she wants and is happy just curious if it's a phase or if she will likely want more again just wondered what other people had experienced X

[HarlotBronte]

They usually drop some milk feeds when solids are established, although five and a half months would be pretty early for that. How much formula is she having? Advice from NHS is they need vitamin supplementation if they're not having at least 500ml a day.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/solid-foods-weaning.aspx

[GinaDonnette]

Hiya she is having at least 500ml a day so I think that it is just her dropping a little sometimes she takes more one day than the next

[noimaginationatall]

My lo was a bit younger and not weaning but we went through this where he wasn't taking much milk and becoming more restless at night - we changed his teats on his bottle and what a difference!

Depending on your brand of bottle could you change tests to see if that helps? Try giving formula in a sippy cup ? Make purées with high milk content (carrots, butternut squash etc) to ensure still eating plenty of milk?