should I be concerned about slow weight gain?

[mrsmindcontrol]

I am so tired right now that I can't think straight. Would appreciate some advice.
DS3 was 9lb6.5oz at birth and is now 23 weeks- has been EBF- still on a 3 hourly feed but haven't fed at night for about 2 or 3 weeks now.
Last weighed at 16 weeks and had been sticking to 91st centile. Since then he has started crawling and had a bout of bronchiolitis and an ear infection with antibiotics.

A few times I have noticed a ketones type smell on his breath and wondered whether he might be losing weight (maybe due to a combination of dropping night feeds and his illness and crawling). I have tried him with some baby rice a couple of times but he is not interested at all so had decided to wait until he's 6 months.

However, I weighed him at home yesterday and he is 17lb4oz, only 6oz more than he was 7 weeks ago and has dropped to below the 50th centile. Oh and his night time sleeping has been atrocious the last few nights- I hadn't thought to feed him as assumed he was able to go without.

Do you think he is starving, poor lamb? What should I do? I think I may be ready to stop BF so willing to consider formula. Should I introduce food ASAP?

Any comments welcome.

I think if he's waking in the night I'd probably just feed him. Maybe it's worth trying him with some finger foods or more interesting tastes than baby rice too?

Food is much less calorie-dense than breastmilk or formula so if you are concerned about weight gain then I would offer more milk in preference to rice and carrots.

If he has been ill, then it might not be a huge concern if he has lost a little weight (or put it on more slowly), especially if he's being much more active at the same time. Also remember weighing at home isn't really very accurate, my (digital) scales often register up to 0.2kg (about 7oz) different when I get on it twice in a row, which is quite a lot to a small baby. Also remember that if he's just had a feed and hasn't pooed for a couple of days, then that will make a big difference v just had a big sleep and a poo.

Not every baby will follow the growth curves, they are averages and not every baby is average! But having said all that, if you are concerned then take him to the clinic, get him weighed properly, and see the HV.