5.5mth old refusing bottle

[Angeliki159]

My DS has been bottle fed from birth.
Started weaning him 1st Dec- gave him a little baby porridge just before his 4pm and 8pm bottles.
For the last week he hardly has his bottle
Out of 6oz he has 4oz on average. Sometimes he will only have 1oz.

He loves having his porridge and wolf's it down when we give it to him. But bottles just get pushed away.

Tried sippy cups, changed the teats to the size 3s, tried spoon feeding him milk, tried free flow bottles/cups. Tried giving him a bit of water...He drank a few mouthfuls but that's all.

Any suggestions?

I'm concerned he isn't getting enough fluid.
Also his weight is under at the moment so he is being monitored so he can't really carry on like this.

TIA

Teething?

The food has fewer calories but fills up his tummy space making him less hungry. Try stopping the porridge. It’s really not doing anything for him nutritionally and the focus should still be on milk.

We started giving him the porridge because at 5pm he would scream the house down for hours after his bottle because he wanted more. If we gave him more he spat up loads. Giving the porridge then the bottle 30 mins later satisfied him.

Okay. Doesn’t change the advice. You’re filling his tummy with fewer calories. He doesn’t want the higher calorie bottles because he’s not hungry.

Why could he not have had another bottle if he wanted another after 5pm?

He’s 5.5 months old and you’ve been giving him porridge for a month and a half? Was that on medical advice?

It might be reflux and he associates bottles with the discomfort. He may have been crying due to reflux when you originally decided to wean him.

Just advanced searched and there seem to have been lots of problems with feeding. You seem to change what you’re doing every 5 mins and don’t seem to understand/take any of the advice offered.

PoutySprout the most recent research is that weaning from 17 weeks is a good idea because it massively reduces the risk of allergy. Many countries (including the US, Australia and others in Europe) have changed their advice back to 17 weeks and the nhs will follow. OP I would continue with the solids but pouty does have a point that porridge may be filling him up too much. Maybe start with veg purees instead and work up to some finger foods. Perhaps he could have solids spaced more evenly through the day so he has little and often rather than wolfing it down come the evening? Do you mean he skips just evening bottle or all? If it’s all I’d have a word with your HV.

@Tinyteatime where are you getting your information about weaning from 17 weeks being "a good idea"? My understanding was that recent research has shown that introducing tiny tastes of possible allergens to babies with a family history of allergy may be beneficial. That doesn't change the general advice to wean at around 6 months.

Try the porridge after the bottle? If he isn't soundo of course you're doing a great job as a Mum

@AssassinatedBeauty an allergy consultant has told me the NHS advice will change to follow the rest of the world and that It’s incredibly strong research. A quick google will allay your fears. This isn’t whacky stuff, it’s now widely accepted and, as I say, the USA, Australia and much of Europe now advise to introduce solids including allergens between 4 and 6 months. Given that our allergy rate in the U.K. is now about 10% (I think) and is increasing we’re not talking about a small minority with family history.

A quick google does not bear out what you're saying.

Anyway, I'd try offering milk more frequently and prioritising that over the porridge.

an allergy consultant has told me the NHS advice will change

Must be true then.

Well the evidence is enough for most of Europe, the US and Australia. 6 months was recommended to try and keep mothers breastfeeding for at least that time. The ideal is that babies will continue to be breastfeed alongside the introduction of solids and allergenic foods. 6months exclusive b/feeding is still a sensible recommendation for the developing world, it’s a WHO guideline, but has little relevance here, especially when allergy rates are ‘epidemic’. Certainly with regards to peanut allergies the LEAP study has shown that early intro reduced allergy by 80%. NHS used to advise that we actually delay introduction of allergens, they do change their advice based on most recent research and they can be wrong. Don’t forget allergies are a killer. Anyway, this is nothing to do with OPs thread, but I’m sick of seeing someone sanctimoniously commenting on weaning before 6months on every thread asking for weaning advice.

In the US the advice is 6 months isn’t it?

@Tinyteatime Australian government website definitely says 6 months. So does the American Academy of Pediatrics website.

My DD did this recently, turned out it was the start of teething. Sucking the bottle hurt her little gums. Maybe try a bit of teething gel before a bottle? It will pass so try not to worry. My DD is not back on 4 full bottles a day as well as baby food xx

Tiny teatime, I totally agree with you, and have also read the research. I weaned using high allergen foods from 4m. The reasoning behind the WHO reccomendation is much more applicable to developing countries (one of the primary reasons being that it encourages longer lactation related absence of periods, therefore helps space children in countries with high birthrates) and thst there were few negatives to waiting to 6 months (as opposed to positive reasons to start then). Their recommendation was before the LEAP/EAT studies I believe...

@poutysprout wow thanks so much for going out of your way to point out what a terrible mother I am!! So helpful! Thanks!!

The porridge was given under advice from my doctor.

I saw the health visitor yesterday who said to just wean him. Give him 3 meals a day and offer the bottles. If he doesn't take it give him yoghurt or water etc instead.

Look. Im a new mum with no family or friends nearby, I have had a couple of run ins with HV before so I don't have anyone to ask questions. Forgive me for turning to mumsnet for a bit of advice!!

Did she mention about giving vitamins if he isn't taking the necessary amount of formula each day? I think he'd need vitamin D at least if the amount of formula is not 500ml plus.

It seems like unusual advice from a HV to suggest not worrying about giving milk to a young baby.

The porridge was given under advice from my doctor.

It wasn’t, was it? Your doctor told you to ask your HV. You went ahead and told your HV afterwards who went “batshit”, so you carried on. You said it yourself.

You do realise that was a month ago?!
I have spoken to my doctor and the consultant at our hospital and been told to keep giving him porridge.

Regardless of why/how you have introduced solids, the fact is that porridge, veg purées etc all have fewer calories and will fill him up so he may not want milk, and you are concerned about his weight. I would be minimising the amount of solid food offered and encouraging milk feeds. Worth considering sore gums and treating accordingly as that may help.

3 meals a day isnt recommened at 5.5 months....

If the advice you have been given is to keep giving him the porridge then maybe try bottle, small amount of porridge, then offer bottle again?

If they are concerned about his weight has anyone suggested a dreamfeed?