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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

7mo slow weight gain since starting weaning

13 replies

TittyBojangles · 25/05/2011 19:38

I'm sure everyone is going to say this is fine and to stop worrying, but just seeing what the general opinion is.

7mo bf DS has always been on the 75th centile but in the last 6 weeks has only put on a couple of oz, he is still above the 50th so I wasn't worried until the HV (I know, I know) said 'we're not worried but can you come back for another weigh in next week?' I can't so she said to come in 2 weeks. No advice on whether to change anything so if they genuinely aren't worried then why the reweighing? Is it just protocol? Or should I be doing something differently in the meantime?

We are BLW and DS does seem to put away a reasonable amount, tho less then a spoonfed baby I suspect. I've not actively dropped milk feeds and still feeding on demand (though I have a feeling he has cut down a bit himself), don't really offer solids at any regular times, just if I'm eating and/or DS seems amenable to it. Should I cut back the solids so he has more milk? Or increase them? Or do nothing and find something else to worry about.

He's the same in himself, hasn't been ill, has had 5 teeth come through in this time but they've not bothered him massively I don't think.
Any thoughts?

PS, the HV recommended NMs for advice Hmm, I told her I was more of a MNetter and she didn't even know it existed!! ShockSmile

Also posted in weaning.

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 25/05/2011 19:52

Think I read on here recently that you should bf an hour before offering food, that way you know that the main part of their diet is still bm. Have you given that a try?

RitaMorgan · 25/05/2011 19:58

A 7 month old is pretty robust, if he seems happy and looks healthy I'd be tempted to just not have him weighed anymore. I haven't had ds weighed since we started weaning because he looks fine to me, I feel his weight doesn't really matter now.

Original poster
TittyBojangles · 25/05/2011 20:00

Like I said, I don't really offer solids at specific times but I do make sure I don't offer them before I'd be expecting him to bf iyswim. It probably does work out as a bf at least an hour before any solids. But some days hardly any solids, like today, just some pear this morning.

OP posts:
PenguinArmy · 25/05/2011 20:00

I didn't have DD weighed from 6-9months, in that time she had put on just 1lb.

She had however started walking. The pead. didn't know this and was not concerned at all. Just looked at her, declared she was fine and that was it.

It is normal for it weight gain to slow down especially if he has increased mobility starting crawling etc. There are more calories in milk and if you're worried just fit in extra BF but I wouldn't cut back solids. We used to offer BF before every and after every nap and she fed frequently throughout the night, if she woke we fed her.

I personally think it's silly to weigh weekly at this stage unless you have other worries and even then it seems a bit Hmm

Original poster
TittyBojangles · 25/05/2011 20:01

RM, I'd like to do that... if I can bear the suspense of not knowing! Anyone know if anything's likely to happen if I just don't go back to clinic? Like getting calls from the HV about being a terrible mother or something?

OP posts:
Original poster
TittyBojangles · 25/05/2011 20:04

Any ideas why the HV might want me to go again so soon then? I'm wondering if I can safely ignore this. Or whether it's better to just go?

OP posts:
fifitot · 25/05/2011 20:05

I got a 'telling off' for too much BFing when DS wouldn't eat much and was gaining weight slowly at 7m. I even got a home visit and was told I had to cut down on milk feeds blah blah. I just ignored her, got on and did my own thing and he seems fine. haven't had him weighed recently but expect he hasn't gained much. They haven't rung me about it.

PenguinArmy · 25/05/2011 20:06

HVs seem to have their own logic that the rest of us can't always keep up with. Worse thing is that she recommends you to a pediatrician. If she tries to get yo to anything you're not happy with, ask for a referral and say you want their advice.

You might get a ring if you don't go back you might not. Depends on how organised she is. None of mine were ever aware of us enough to have chased people up but I did people who did.

PenguinArmy · 25/05/2011 20:06

the nod and agree is a good tactic

RitaMorgan · 25/05/2011 20:08

I'm sure the HV just wants to keep an eye on things - they are a bit weight obsessed ime and get very twitchy at any deviation from the line!

I really don't think it matters if you go or not - either way isn't going to affect your ds's weight or health. Whether or not they chase you up probably depends on how much time they have on their hands. The HVs where I am are busy/over-stretched so wouldn't bother.

Original poster
TittyBojangles · 25/05/2011 20:17

Yeah, but if I don't go and then they DO chase it up won't it look worse?

OP posts:
PenguinArmy · 25/05/2011 20:20

Not for the first time, you just claim you've been busy etc but you've got some advice and you're trying a few things. You can also say I've decided to do this through my GP. They won't ring SS just because of this.

MamaChocoholic · 25/05/2011 20:29

you can always go to this or a different weigh in without the red book. then they just write it on a bit of paper and you transfer to book. that way they never know what line your baby is "supposed" to be on, and you can assure hv you did get him weighed.

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