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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Getting frustrated with husband over feeding baby

30 replies

Austin0210 · 27/01/2023 22:23

My DC is 10 weeks old and hasn't been putting on enough weight (dropped a couple centiles) GP and HV are both involved and have been suggesting alternative milks etc to help with sickness, I feel like I'm constantly feeding every other hour at the moment in the hopes that they keep it down.
I feel like I'm the only person concerned about this and I'm being irrational in regards to making sure she is fed! My husband will just give up if she kicks up a fuss or is sleeping so she ends up missing the feed. What really annoys me is when he's feeding her and he's either on his phone or glued to the TV... Doesn't notice that milk is pouring out the side of her mouth or she's gulping/gagging. It infuriates me.
I've spoken to him about it and even given him tips on how to wake her up, granted it doesn't always work but it's not a 1 minute try then don't bother type thing. He seems to take it in but when I next look at him he's sat there with the bottle in hand, baby asleep and watching the TV. I end up taking her and feeding her just because I know if I don't it pushes her back hours when she could have another feed in that time. If she wasn't on a weight gaining mission I wouldn't take her and I'd leave her with him to sort out but I feel like this is important and needs to be taken seriously.
Am I being an arsehole getting annoyed at this? Just feel like he needs to take more responsibility for his daughter's health and not just thinking it's all good and she's fine.

Bit more context, she went from 50th to 9th centile and is verging on the 2nd. She gets sick after feeds, screams etc. We've tried infacol, anti reflux milk and now on lactose free as GP thinks it could be a potential intolerance.. I feel like it's the only thing I think about and it's driving me crazy

OP posts:
bussteward · 28/01/2023 06:21

You need to read him the riot act. Rather than taking over the feedings – because then it’ll always be you, and he doesn’t sound like he’ll compensate by doing everything else around the house – you need to turn off the TV every single time, and take his phone out of his stupid hand. Is he normally this useless?

starpatch · 28/01/2023 06:40

She has a sick baby I don't think she should be reading him the riot act - she needs to concentrate on the baby.

Margo34 · 28/01/2023 07:00

bussteward · 28/01/2023 06:21

You need to read him the riot act. Rather than taking over the feedings – because then it’ll always be you, and he doesn’t sound like he’ll compensate by doing everything else around the house – you need to turn off the TV every single time, and take his phone out of his stupid hand. Is he normally this useless?

OP, you don't need to parent the grown man in this way.

You need a partner who is supporting you and your DD. And it doesn't sound like he is currently the man to do that.

Split the load between you, feeding the baby is clearly not his strength. Do all the feeds yourself because he has demonstrated he has a lack of awareness and doesn't understand how important this is. This doesn't mean feeds will always be you. Let him do the rest and tell him what you expect that to look like. You don't need to tell him how to do tasks and you don't need to confiscate things from him.

Everydayimhuffling · 28/01/2023 07:49

OP, I would be pointing out to him that his inattention is literally killing his child. Honestly he's lucky there's still a TV. I'm not sure there would be in my house.

Be angry. He's potentially letting your child die or at least become very ill because he can't be bothered to concentrate for a few minutes a day.

Imogensmumma · 28/01/2023 08:24

Austin0210 · 28/01/2023 02:41

Thanks everyone, I am feeling really overwhelmed by this as thought I was iver exaggerating how important getting her weight up is. Glad I'm not and you all seem to agree that it is important!
Interesting about the cows milk allergy, I have an appointment on Monday so if no change I'll push for that. Weigh in on Tuesday with the healthvisitor so I'm just really hoping she's gained enough weight, feel like a bit of a failure at the minute with it all

You are not a failure it’s really tough my DD has been below the 3rd percentile since birth and she is now 6 months old, we have changed formula and bottles and no change and it’s so stressful especially seeing the other babies grow and develop and we aren’t in the same situation.

you sound like you are doing a fantastic job while also dealing with weaponised incompetence.

Does he understand what the drop in weight means and why health professionals are concerned. Maybe get the GP or HV to explain the importance of you can to try and help you… he should be helping with the tv off!!!

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