Really don't know what is up with my 11month old dd - any ideas?

[missmakesstuff]

Hi, I am hoping someone might recognise something is whats going on with her, or just be able to tell me it's a phase!

Dd is 11.5months old, usually very happy and has had no health problems. BF twice a day, 1 bottle of formula during the day

She started a week or so ago to act strangely when feeding - latching on and of, on and off, eventually managing to feed, but usually getting really frustrated before then. This isn't all the time, but most days.

Then was sick two days in a row, just brought up everything - has only been sick once before, at 2 weeks old, so very unusual for her. has had days of barely eating anything, but then has had good days like today where her appetite is back to normal.

Has been waking early, very very upset, trying to feed but isn't able to stay latched on, then just inconsolable - before she was sleeping 12 hours a night.

She has been very clingy, will not be put down - but again, not all the time, she was fine today but this is after two bad days. Is also constipated - does this massive man sized poos, and really strains - no idea why, as she eats lots of fruit, drinks water. Has the one bottle of follow on milk a day. I gave her some prunes today so hopefully this will help.

I can't see anything in her mouth, she has 6 teeth so far.

I just feel so badly for her, cannot work out why she is struggling to feed, she just seems to get so distressed - the GP last week checked her ears, throat, nothing there.

Any ideas at all would be lovely! I just feel so badly for her as she isn't able to tell me whats up!

Is there any chance your supply has reduced? Or is your period returning? Or could you be pregnant? Any of those might explain your dd's reaction when feeding.

Otherwise, she might just not be feeling well.

Could your DD have oral thrush (do you have any signs of ductal thrush?) My DD1 struggled to BF when she got oral and I got ductal thrush at 8 months old. She was out of sorts and just not herself.

FWIW my DD1 at that age ate loads of fruit and veg and drunk water but still got very constipated very easily. Prune juice helped her and she did eventually grow out of it. She is now a very regular 3.4 year old

I hope you find out whats the matter and I hope your DD perks up soon xx

Thanks - have considered both thrush and supply - but she barely even gets letdown, its literally the first few secnds of every feed, once she is latched on its fine generally. hadn't considered pregnancy..eek! still don't have any periods but don't think its likely to be that. I don't have any symptoms, so don't think its thrush.

She does seem a little happier today, has slept all night, but still behaving oddly when feeding.

Shes had a massive poo this morning - so not constipated any more! I guess maybe some babies just are made that way with the constipation, she has always been like it, but we thought it had got better with an additiction to satsumas helping a lot!

She does seem happier, but then we this has been off and on, good day followed by bad days and nights, it's just very strange.

Off to google what foods give babies constipation!

Could she be self weaning? Is she also struggling with the bottle feeds? Have you tried her on a beaker when she's struggling to latch on?
My DS actually dropped his morning milk feed completely at around 11 months.

Do you think she might be considering walking? That is a huge milestone and often everything (eg feeding sleeping) goes tits up shortly before they do it and during those first toddles!

My daughter had similar symptoms when she had hand, foot & mouth (which she has had twice) - and sign if red spots/ulcers in her mouth on gums or tongue? Made DD really grumpy for a week including being off food/milk and trouble sleeping and wanting more cuddles than normal.

Thanks all, definitely things to consider, but I looked back at when she had been the worst and it seemed to coincide with struggling to poo - have put her back onto infant formula for the one bottle a day she has, and made sure she has lots of fruit - she does seem happier.

Monkoray I had considered that she might be dropping feeds, just wasn't sure if it was too early - she does eat really well usually, but she also seems to really want to feed, both morning and evening, so guess we will keep going for now - although she seems happier, she was doing the messing about again before bed tonight, maybe I will see if she really needs to have that one, sometimes she is too tired anyway and just wants to be left to go to sleep I think! We are going to try a beaker during the day in a couple of weeks, will wait till I am on hols I think, I can't cope with mopping up spilled milk all day yet!
Thepippy - sounds horrible, hope your dd has got over it ok now - No ulcers, or any other symptoms, thats why its so strange -and bumpsadaisy, walking, yes, possibly, although she struggles to stand, has been pulling up for weeks. Maybe she will surprise us!

Thank you all for the suggestions though, it's probably a combination of things, but touch wood, does seem better, for now anyway.

I do think it's possibly back teeth coming in. Some babes suffer terribly with their back teeth. Might be worth giving her some iboprufen 20 minutes before she is due a feed, then Anbesol immediately before.