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5 month DS and feeding - teething? growth spurt?

2 replies

fabulosa · 25/02/2010 10:46

DS2 is 23 weeks and over the past 4 days has become very difficult to feed. He's never been desperately enthusiastic about his milk (he's formula fed)- the best we can say is that he'll usually take most or at least more than half of an 8oz bottle pretty efficiently - but now even achieving that is difficult. He'll have a half hearted suck and take 2 or 3 oz then plays with the teat, arches his back to come off and look around the room, just won't have it. I then try again over the hour and can get a bit more into him but it's all such a struggle! I wondered if he may be teething or having a growth spurt which is unsettling him. The only feed he'll take well now is the bedtime one, perhaps because he's so tired he can't be bothered to mess around with it. He's quite a sicky baby too and so I'm getting a bit worried that he's not having enough (it works out as about 26 oz/day) or that he might start waking in the night again to fill himself up then. He can get very grumpy and, I think, frustrated, as well - like having a newborn who doesn't like being awake again! Does it sound likely that he's teething and/or growing and does anyone have any advice?

In desperation I gave him a bit of baby rice yesterday and the day before, which he seemed keen on (my HV said it would be OK to do this). Could it be that he's losing interest in milk because he wants food? DS1 was never like this - always took his milk and didn't have problems with his teeth. I didn't realise how lucky I was!

Thanks

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SheWillBeLoved · 25/02/2010 15:54

He'll be teething, pretty sure of it. DD is just under 7 months, and for the past month has been a nightmare to feed because it rubs on her gums. Even now, I have to use Calgel/Ashtons powders before and during a feed just to get her to drink it.

He'll be fine without the baby rice for now, it has next to no nutritional value for him and won't stop him from waking up during the night. Stick to milk for now would be my advice, and try some teething gels before/during a feed

fabulosa · 26/02/2010 11:33

Thanks, I had a go with the calgel this morning and unfortunately it didn't seem to make any difference. All the feeds are difficult but breakfast seems to be the worst: this morning he had 4 oz and that was a struggle to get into him. You'd think after 12h with nothing he'd be hungry, but no . It's just so stressful!

My SIL came round yesterday and suggested changing the teats to fast flow as he may be struggling suck hard enough. I've done that this morning so I'll see how we go at lunchtime (don't dare hope!). She also fed him in his bouncy chair and he did well - better than I've been able to manage anyway - but I still feel like I'm having to coax him into it. All the books keep talking about babies being so hungry and how it can be hard to keep up etc etc but there doesn't seem to be anything about babies who just aren't interested!. Sorry, I'm getting really strung out about this. He seems fine (or at least no more fractious and demanding than usual!) but I'm still very stressed!

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