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Infant feeding

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

Fuzzy feeding - suddenly! (12 weeks old)

12 replies

dodi1978 · 28/10/2013 08:46

Hi everybody!

I have suddenly got a fuzzy eater! He was 12 weeks last Friday and his formula-fed. Up until now, he has always fed like a dream - in week 7 we had to go on fast flow bottles because he struggled with medium flow - but that sorted the problem. Only last week I upgraded his bottles to 200ml because he started taking 180ml regularly. He used to feed every 3 1/2-ish hours duing the day.

During the last few nights, he has increasingly developed into a sleep through baby (good for me), first moving his 2am night feed to 4am, then 5am, and this morning he didn't properly wake up until 6!!! However, during the last three days or so, he also often didn't take full feeds any more - basically it was 100ml, then stop, and then me struggling to get the rest of the bottle down him before the formula expires. Which I often succeeded in, but I'd have preferred him to take the lot in one go as he used to.

This morning at 6am, after his sleep through night, I expected him to be ravenous. He did attack his bottle initially, but suddenly stopped after 100ml. He spent the next hour playing happily on his play mat, and every now and then I picked him up and managed to feed him some more, but it was a struggle.

At eight, he cried for food again - same thing, 100ml went down like a treat, but I don't seem to be able to get more down him without major spillage and struggle. Should I just be stricter again and say ok, if you stop after 100ml, you are not offered the rest of the bottle and you'll have to wait until you next feed? Or should I put this down to his 12 week developmental spell (he has learnt a lot in the last week or so - using his hands and feet, keeping head off the ground for ages!!!)?

Anyway, any advice would be appreciated!

OP posts:
tiktok · 28/10/2013 08:56

(do you mean 'fussy', dodi....I don't think I know what a fuzzy feeder is :) )

It's not usually advisable to try to get more formula into a baby than he wants - 100 ml may be the right amount for him at the moment. He may be progresssing developmentally and need more opportunities to play, to watch, to interact...and this means having his 200 ml feeds in two 'separate' amounts. Trying to get him to take more at one time is hard work, as you have found, and not following his cues. He needs to have his cues followed :)

It's not a disciplinary thing - being 'strict' with a 12 week old about how much food they have at any one time and making him wait because of being fussy isn't going to work very well, or not without a lot of stress. It's not necessary or kind, and as you suggest, this is a phase which will pass of its own accord :)

tiktok · 28/10/2013 11:20

dodi, I hope you didn't mind me pointing out fuzzy/fussy.....I now realise English may not be your first language, sorry :(

dodi1978 · 28/10/2013 16:30

Oh yes... I did mean "fussy" - thanks! My English is good, honest, but sometimes....

Well, I guess I am in for a couple of days of odd feeding patterns. On top of it all he went for his 12 week immunizations today. After the eight week ones he lost appetite for a day... so the next few days are going to be interesting!

Anyway, thanks for your advice! I'm sure we'll get back to a bit more normality!

OP posts:
ProudMum28 · 31/10/2013 10:11

Hi dodi, I seen to be having the same issue with my DD. She had her 12 week jabs on Tuesday and was initially fine, but yesterday was hell when it came to feeding her, difference is Im EBF so I have no idea how much sh is taking, but feeds only last for about 5 minutes. I have been trying to feed her every 2 yrs which used to be her norm before as she loved her feeding time but now seems completely uninterested.
To be honest, this fussy feeding started on Sunday, improved on Monday and back down on Tuesday and yesterday. I can feel that my breats aren't as full as they used to be and am now also worried that my milk production is decreasing which is the last thing I want.
So, sorry, not much advise, but if its of any consolation, you are not alone in this... :(

dodi1978 · 31/10/2013 14:07

Hi Proudmum!

Hope it is going better for you soon! He is still a bit on and off - having some huge bottles, then fussing over the next one.

I've been thinking that some of it may be early signs of teething (there are a few other indicators as well), so we shall see...

All best!

OP posts:
ProudMum28 · 31/10/2013 18:42

Hi dodi1978,

Some slight improvements but still not the same smily baby from before, had few decent feeds in the morning and as the evening approaches troubles and fussiness started all over again.

I thought it could be early signs of teething as she is dribbling like mad and her hands are contantly in the mouth. Her bottom gums seem to have thicken as well. My mum agrees that is seems like she may be teething so I webt to see my HV but she just dismissed me right away as in he opinion its too early for baby to be teething. No offence to any HVs out there but my ones seem absolutely useless.
I was thinking of giving her some calpol as she is in some sort of discomfort but I do know if I should...

Creamtea1 · 31/10/2013 19:04

Proudmum- it's not too early for teething at all don't listen to her! My DS got his first tooth at 12 weeks old, a shock at the time but explained a lot! He had all his teeth bar the big molars by his 1st birthday. So you could well be right

ProudMum28 · 31/10/2013 21:02

Thanks for the reassurance creamtea1, it really means a lot. Sorry to be a pain, but did your LO struggle to eat during this phase or? This is first baby and I am so lost and confused, and I feel that when I ask my HVs re my worries they just dismiss them like Im crazy.

Creamtea1 · 01/11/2013 16:55

No worries for asking I know how you feel - he was my first too, I remember he was just so so hard to settle and really hard work. Bf'ing at the time was like a real battle - almost like I was forcing him on sometimes. He also wouldn't take a bottle or a dummy. And was an awful sleeper at night, didnt sleep thru also until age 1, in hindsight I can see a theme now! Do not think you are crazy, when that tooth peeps thru make sure you show that HV! Try and have a good looks d feel of his gums, it was the bottom middle one which I discovered first.

Creamtea1 · 01/11/2013 16:56

Sorry just re read and realised you have a dd, apologies didnt intentionally turn her into a boy Smile

Creamtea1 · 01/11/2013 17:01

Also one more think from me - my dd aged 6 weeks only feeds 5-15 mins max per go and she has put on nearly 4lb since birth so the theory that they need to be on for hours doesn't seem correct to me.
It sounds like you are doing really well and you should take what the HV says with a pinch of salt and trust your instincts.

ProudMum28 · 01/11/2013 19:40

Creamtea1 you are my new bessie, I might get some sleep tonight without stressing myself out whether she is hungry. Tbh my dd also stays on for only 5-00 minutes and at her 11 week weigh in she gained just over 6lb, she's was 14lb 5, so all that fore/hind milk... I dont know if there's much in that, or maybe my lo just has a really good sucking technique :).
She's due another weigh in this Wed so Im interested to see how she is getting on what with all the fussiness.

Dodi1978, how's your lo getting on?

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