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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

5 month old not interested in feeding

30 replies

wools · 09/12/2005 20:04

Can anybody suggest what could be going on. My 5 month old ds is refusing his feeds. (he is bottle fed) Today I have only managed to get 11 ounces down him and that has been a big struggle. He has never been that fond of drinking his milk but I am now starting to worry. Should I just go along with it and see if his appetite improves or should I start to wean him (was hoping to start weaning at 6 months earliest)in the hope that solid food is more tasty than milk.

OP posts:
foundintransleightion · 09/12/2005 20:07

I wouldn't wean him just yet.
Is he off-colour in any way? Is the refusal sudden? How much does he normally take (don't know much about bottlefeeding)? How are his nappies?

NotQuiteCockney · 09/12/2005 20:07

I'm with FIT - he's probably off-colour, or maybe teething?

LIZS · 09/12/2005 20:07

teething ?

Original poster
wools · 09/12/2005 20:19

Can't see any evidence of teething yet although he has had a bit of a cold. Colds in the past haven;t put him off though. He has 4/5 wet nappies a day and poos every other day. He normally takes between 25 - 30 ounces but I do have to really persevere to get him to take it. For the last 3 days though, no amount of perseverance by me has got him to take very much at all.

OP posts:
foundintransleightion · 09/12/2005 20:26

I don't rwally think there's much you can do except monitor him carefully for further signs of illness (maybe take temp once a day) and for signs of dehydration and keep trying with the feeding. If it persists maybe take him to the GP. He is at an age where teething is likely to start - ds's first tooth came at around 5 months. I really wouldn't wean yet.

Original poster
wools · 09/12/2005 21:10

Thanks everyone. Will keep an eye on him and hope feeding picks up soon. Have to say, am not keen to wean just yet - would rather wait.

OP posts:
inameeting · 09/12/2005 21:17

Mine was the same - gave him a little Organix baby rice and he regained his appetite.

inameeting · 09/12/2005 21:20

Mine's bottle fed too by the way.

Original poster
wools · 09/12/2005 21:26

Thanks Inameeting...how old was your baby when you started the baby rice

OP posts:
inameeting · 09/12/2005 21:32

Ds was a big younger than yours, about 4 months and a week I think, was going spare trying to get him to take formula and he had very slow weight gain. If you are having difficulties feeding baby formula, in my opinion, then the advantages of waiting a full 6 months until you try weaning aren't as beneficial as if you're bfing. I have to say ds has come on heaps since I've been weaning him

tribpot · 09/12/2005 21:44

My five month old had a little spell of not being very hungry, I think he had an ear infection or a little cold. He seemed well enough in himself really, a bit more subdued than normal but obviously not poorly. I wouldn't worry too much, and I would definitely not assume it means he has decided he wants solid food, how would he even know that?!

I think mine has dropped a bottle of late (shows how much I monitor these things, doesn't it?) so yours may be heading in the same direction. 11 ozs is not very much though - see how he is over the next few days, at the very least I would get him weighed at your next baby clinic just to reassure yourself.

Btw, I think if they have an ear infection or are teething they can find it harder to feed - mine has started pressing on one of his ears of late, as if it's hurting him.

inameeting · 09/12/2005 21:52

are all you breastfeeding then?

inameeting · 09/12/2005 22:06

Wools, go with your instinct, try some baby rice if you like. 6 months is recommended by the WHO, but it's not set in stone. Don't wait for the 6 month deadline if it's not working for you. If I were you I'd speak to other bottlefeeders if you need more advice. It's different on many levels to breastfeeding.

NotQuiteCockney · 09/12/2005 22:10

Wools, how long has he been refusing his feeds? And is he just 5 months? Or nearly 6?

Is he sitting up on his own? Is he picking things up well and putting them in his mouth?

I'm not sure how different bf and bottle are for this, I've only done bf. I have weaned one DS at 4 months, and another at 6 months. Waiting until 6 months is definately less work, and less stress.

tribpot · 09/12/2005 22:10

Sorry, should have said, I am a bottlefeeder. I tried ds on some baby rice a while ago but he was not keen at all. We then moved house so I've been too knackered to press the issue!

I agree, if you think it might help, try a little baby rice (or other solids) and see what happens. But I do rather doubt your little one would be downing tools in favour of something he's never had.

Original poster
wools · 09/12/2005 22:44

Inameeting, that's a very good point you make about breastfeeding being different on many levels to bottle feeding. I guess I just assumed 6 months weaning was for all babies no matter how they were fed. I think I'll stick with milk for a little longer and if I see no improvement I will go down the baby rice route. NQC - ds is just five months today (hence my hesitation to wean). He has started to put things in his mouth but I wouldn't say he has started to sit up yet. Tribpot - I agree that it could be that he isn't feeling as well as usual and it could be putting him off feeding so I think a watch and see approach may be best for the time being. Thanks to all of you, it really is helpful to get all this advice.

OP posts:
sazhig · 10/12/2005 00:39

Wools you were right about 6 months being the age from which all babies are able to start solids. Department of Health Guidelines state that it is recommended for both ff & bf babies. DOH Infant Feeding Recommendation (pdf file) Seems logical to me - why would a ff fed baby's gut mature faster than a bf one?

Re not feeding very much - my ds often fed less if he was slightly off colour, but also fed less if there was a lot going on - especially at this age when they are very interested in everything going on. Maybe worth trying to feed in a nice quiet environment (if possible!) & see if that makes a difference.

foundintransleightion · 10/12/2005 03:39

mini hijack - hi trib - haven't been on the June thread much lately - must get myself back over there. ds nightmare sleeper atm

foundintransleightion · 10/12/2005 03:40

( cos it's a PITA, because I love him!)

Original poster
wools · 10/12/2005 09:47

Sahzig, yes quite agree with you re too much going on and putting them off. I tend to find he drinks his bottle best when he is absolutely pooped and ready to go to sleep. Thank you for the link - it is very helpful.

OP posts:
inameeting · 10/12/2005 11:10

How funny - my ds was just the same - would only take a decent amount of formula if he was half asleep!

inameeting · 10/12/2005 11:15

in fact i got to the stage where he was haning over half his milk throughout the night, Was exhausted.

Original poster
wools · 10/12/2005 11:20

It's almost as though they are saying "ok, I'll drink it now, there's nothing else for me to do" -I don't understand how he cannot be hungry - especially in the morning when the last feed he has had was 10.30pm. This morning I managed to get 4 ounces down him just as he was dropping off for his nap - he wouldn't touch it until then.....very frustrating....I feel I spend so much time trying to feed him - I've a good mind to wait until he screams for his next bottle.

OP posts:
troublesawmummykissingsanta · 10/12/2005 11:36

My ds went through a few phases of this. I even went to the doctor and he just explain that it was just ds adjusting himself. It lasted about a week and then back to normal and then did it again about 2 weeks ago and it lasted 2 days. He still put on weight at the same rate so i wasn't worried.

inameeting · 10/12/2005 11:40

Wools i remember feeling exactly the same - like I was feeding him all the time. I was saved by getting him into the 4 hour thing, are you doing that?

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