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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Baby lost his appetite

11 replies

JRmumma · 27/12/2013 17:10

My DS is 20wks and had been taking 5 7oz bottles a day for a while and eats at regular intervals. The past week he has suddenly decided that he only wants every other bottle (plus now having one in the night where he hasn't needed this for a while). He might take 3oz out of the 'in between' bottles but often not interested at all. I'm still offering them and then offering more in between normal bottle times, but he doesn't want it.

He is getting 25-30 oz per day where he used to get 35. Is this normal?

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JingleJohnsJulie · 27/12/2013 17:24

Has anything else changed?

Original poster

JRmumma · 27/12/2013 17:32

He has been poorly, but his eating never changed until he was getting better so i don't think its that. He may be starting to teethe, always got his fingers in his mouth and is running his tongue up and down on his bottom gum alot.

He seems satisfied with what he is taking so i was also thinking that he might be coming out the other side of a growth spurt. He was never a big water until quite recently when his intake suddenly caught up to what he 'should' be taking for his age/weight. But now its dropped again.

He is only on the 25th centile but has consistently gained weight since birth.

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Clarabell78 · 27/12/2013 21:00

I'm in the same boat with my 24 week old and tried everything. Changed formula, temperature, bottles, teats all to no avail. I was really stressed about it but finally just accepted that's the way it is for now and let him take what he wants when he wants. It seems to have coincided with him being more interested in his surroundings. Everything is more interesting than milk. What has helped is feeding him in a quiet room, no tv on and away from other people although that doesn't always even work. He will also take more when sleepy. We are back to feeding through the night too sometimes twice when he used to sleep right through. I think so long as your baby is still gaining weight and has wet and dirty nappies don't worry too much. Easier said than done though!

Clarabell78 · 27/12/2013 21:02

Also, he may be ready to go to 4 hourly feeds? My ds can only go 3.5 hours despite us trying 4 hourly but I'm just letting him lead us for now.

Original poster

JRmumma · 27/12/2013 22:06

I wish 4 hourly feeds was the answer. He is all over the place! Today he took a bottle at 12:30, and then wouldn't take another until 8. Unless you count the ounce he took from a bottle at 5ish. He is asleep now but i imagine will wake for a feed at 4:30. I don't mind the night/early morning feed coming back, but i feel like he should be eating more in the day. Today it was 2 x 7oz and 1 x 4oz, plus 7oz in the night. He doesn't have any food yet.

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Clarabell78 · 27/12/2013 22:10

Yep I've been there too! I actually started weaning him a few weeks ago but had to stop as it meant he just wouldn't look at his bottle. Going to try again next week when he'll be 6 months. I didn't really find anything that worked other than time and he's still pretty fussy at most of his bottles. I think like everything else with babies it's most likely just a phase but it doesn't make it any less frustrating! I'd hold off on the food tho and give him a chance to start taking more milk again.

Clarabell78 · 27/12/2013 22:12

Original poster

JRmumma · 27/12/2013 22:22

Thanks, no i wont wean him just yet, i don't think he is ready for food. Ive just been sitting here thinking that maybe he IS ready to space out his feeds a bit more, and that getting him to take another ounce or 2 per bottle would work. Think ill try that tomorrow, as he is polishing off the 7oz when i can actually get him to take them!

It just seems to weird that a few weeks ago he was taking 7-8 feeds in a day but now he only wants 4.

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brettgirl2 · 28/12/2013 13:08

I honestly wouldn't worry baby apetites do fluctuate. He is gaining weight well. He probably just isn't 100% after being ill.

Original poster

JRmumma · 28/12/2013 19:10

Well, he seems to have gone back to normal now. 4x 5oz bottles so far today and still one to have before bed.

Just got to sort his body clock out now! Its gone a bit up the wall coz of illness and Xmas.

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Original poster

JRmumma · 28/12/2013 19:10

That should be 7oz!

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