21 weeks old not feeding, getting skinnier

[AnaKristina]

I didn't weight him but he is getting skinnier and has been eating much less since more than a week. Bottle fed and from taking 7oz every ,3 hours except for the nights where he sleeps 5-7 hours with no feeds to 4-5 Oz every 3-5 hours. Not hungry. Have to feed him in 2-3 goes as he stops after 2-3 Oz. Is this normal? Does it mean he needs weaning? Getting concerned now. Thanks

How old is baby? How many wet and dirty nappies is he producing per day?

Make an appointment with your gp/Hv. It could be that he has silent reflux or cows milk problems and so is associating milk with pain (& hence having less)

With all due respect, I would get him to the GP or Health Visitor on Monday, any doubts about baby should be checked out really.

Weaning won't help as anything he'll eat has less calories and nutrients than food. Babies shouldn't lose weight at all, I would see a GP as soon as you can, probably Monday now, and get an expert opinion.

He is 21 weeks and has reflux well treated with ranitidine. Wet and dirty nappies are fine, plenty of wet nappies. He is happy.

Friends pediatrician told her to exclude urine and ear infections so I'll call 111 to have him seen. My GP clinic is a nightmare and dismissing and minimizing concerns always when I go there. I would get a standard reply plenty of wet nappies he must be ok.

Teething perhaps? Does he appear uncomfortable with feeding (comes off the bottle a lot for eg?)

Thanks, no just stops at say 3-5 Oz and moves his head away. Like he had enough. Not crying because of hunger every three hours which is normal for him.

He may well just have been having a growth spurt - they feed extra for a week or so, get fatter, then appetite shrinks and they get longer and thinner. Are his babygrows looking a bit shorter maybe? I'd take him to the baby clinic and see if he has actually lost weight, if so then speak to a HV, if not I'd be inclined to relax assuming he seems happy and settled.

Thanks all. Out of hours GP had seen him. No signs of infections or anything sinister. I managed to collect a bit of urine for analysis. It could be teething she said. He did have a growth spurt recently and babygrows are now almost short in the body. But baggy as he is skinny. He is a long baby towards centile 99 but weight always between 25 and 50. Long and slim. I'll speak to the HV on Monday.