Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

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

Flip

Original poster

So difficult to feed!!!

11 replies

kay26 · 14/05/2007 07:55

Just wondering whether anyone has experienced anything similar and whether they can tell me whether there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

My DD is 5 months old and has always been a slow eater - to put it midly. The problem is it seems to be getting worse and worse. Every time I try to give her her bottle (she's always been bottle fed) she takes an initial ounce or two then point blank refuses (turns away, squirms, bats the bottle away, screams) to take any more. I have to keep trying and trying for over an hour sometimes just to get her to take a decent feed. She does in the end get enough but I feel like I spend half my day trying to get her to feed.

Can't figure out whether this is
a) a habit so instead of spending too long, give it half an hour tops then leave her to be really hungry for the next feed or
b) whether she may be bored of milk - I'm going to start weaning her in a couple of weeks or
c) anything else?....

Has anyone gone through anything similar? Any experiences or advice will help me stop tearing my hair out!!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

warthog · 14/05/2007 07:58

what happens when you let her do what she wants? ie. she has a couple of ounces, then refuses, if you stop trying to give it to her, what does she do?

Original poster

kay26 · 14/05/2007 08:51

Nothing really. She's happy to play and basically do anything else other than feed!

OP posts:

Original poster

kay26 · 14/05/2007 10:46

ok, so I waited until she was fussing for milk and she took 2 ounces and screamed as soon as I tried to give her any more. Forgot to mention that she also is biting her hands and putting everything she can get her hands on in her mouth. Would this have anything to do with it? If her teeth are bothering her then would this affect her feeding or is this a sign of needing to be weaned? Help!! Feeling completely clueless!!

OP posts:

Seona1973 · 14/05/2007 10:47

have you experimented with different flow rates/teats? Or even try giving it from a lidded beaker instead.

Seona1973 · 14/05/2007 10:48

yes, teething can affect feeding too - my ds got his first 2 around 5 1/2 months

Original poster

kay26 · 14/05/2007 10:49

yes, tried different teats and bottles - no difference.

OP posts:

frazzledfairy · 14/05/2007 10:59

oh my ds2 did this, bloody nightmare! we decided to just let him have what he wanted (quite often 1 or 2 ounces), a little rest, then tried again (which he nearly always refused) then gave up! although this meant he often had tiny feeds, it also removed all the stress from the situation. we also fed him more often so he didn't have as long to go between feeds.

i think he was just a little and often man. also i think he wasn't a 'sucky' baby so didn't really enjoy his bottle, just had enough to stop him being starving iyswim. (unlike ds1 who downed 9oz in 10 mins!)

he is 8 1/2 months now and feeds really well (4 6oz bottles a day and 3 meals)so there is light at the end of the tunnel

i know its hard, i used to dread feeds in public. as long as lo's weight is ok i would try not to worry

warthog · 14/05/2007 11:05

i'd just let him get on with it tbh. i know it's really, really stressful, but just trust that your baby knows best. it does sound like he's a little but often kinda guy.

SleeplessInTheStaceym11House · 14/05/2007 11:49

is it possible she has silent reflux?? its jsut ds was like that when he was younger then just before he turned 6 months started getting sicky with it. to begin with like you i thought he was just a pain, but now i realised that it was silent reflux....might be something to thin about.

oh and now a few weeks on hes got prescription formula and doesnt fight a feed, he'll happily take 6-7 oz most feeds!!

hope it gets better i know how worrying it can be!

Original poster

kay26 · 14/05/2007 14:29

what are the symptoms of silent reflux? she does spit up sometimes and it's been more difficult to get her wind up but she doesn't seem to be in any pain

OP posts:

SleeplessInTheStaceym11House · 14/05/2007 14:40

i can only speak from my experience with ds, but he would initially take 1/2 oz as he was starving but would then scream if you tried to give him any more, although i could tell he was still hungry.....he would arch his back and just screech. he would then be happy as larry until next feed and wed repeat over and over again. i think he realised if he ate too much it would begin to hurt afterwards so he didnt eat a lot!! a big pita if you ask me!

Flip