5 month old prefers solids over milk

[Fedfedfedup]

Hi
Was advised by paeds consultant to wean early as DS had developed a feeding aversion due to reflux. He seems to have taken to solids extremely well but still doesn't want his milk and it's a bit of a battle to get him to have it! Anyone been in a similar situation? How did you overcome it? I started with just a couple of spoonfuls so that he still gets his calories from milk but he will cry for more food and then have the same tiny amount of milk he was having before

You can make food with his milk mixed in so he’s still getting it.
Do you give bottle before or after food?
I always done before so he was hungry and drank it and food hour later.

Definitely a question for your health visitor

I had this with both of my DDs, particularly DD1. I tried to get to 6 months before weaning her but she was dropping down the centiles so HV told me to wean her at 5 months. She was mixed fed from a bottle and from 3 months I could only really feed her properly when she was tired, otherwise she would just spit the milk out or refuse the bottle. She would wake from a 10 hour sleep and only drink 2-3oz. I began waking her in the middle of the night and she would drink 3 oz or so when half asleep. She was only drinking around half of the recommended amount of milk each day, sometimes less. I managed to get a couple more oz in her with food, and she quickly returned to her centile line once I started to wean her. The older she got the less milk she would take and by 10 months she was only drinking 2- 3oz 3 times a day. I put vitamin drops in her water which she drank lots of. At 15 months she refused all milk completely. She's now 4 and has only just started to drink milk, have milk on cereals etc, she's a healthy weight but doesn't have a big appetite especially in the mornings. HV at the time said some babies refuse milk and if she hadn't returned to her centile line or had started to lose weight there were options like a high calorie formula that would give same nutrition from lower volume. I second speaking to your HV.

I had similar with DS. He was breastfed so I never knew quite how much milk he was getting (which probably made it less stressful for me!), but he certainly preferred solids to milk. How about 'hiding' his milk by mixing it into his solids? Eg soggy weetabix, add formula to his mushed veg etc.

Yes, make foods like baby rice with his milk quota.
Is he having his milk in a bottle or sip cup ? One of mine preferred a cup at this age.

You need a referral to a paediatric dietitian.

@Thatwentbadly already spoken to 1 numerous times. They keep wanting to put her on reflux meds or refer to speech and language therapy, neither of which I think he needs

Can you include milk in his meals (milk in his weetabiz perhaps, mashed potato etc) and give him yoghurts and cheese?

Can ask why you think he doesn’t need medication for his reflux if it is so bad that he doesn’t want milk?

SaLT would check for a be able to rule out other physical issues.

@MaMaD1990 I will try- he has CMPA so I feel a bit limited for options but will look for ideas

@Thatwentbadly His reflux has really improved since weaning and the medications he was on previously caused a lot if stomach issues for him. I feel like it's almost like he avoids milk out of habit/learned behaviour

You're right about SaLT...it's just that he will take everything else fine, just not milk so I'm doubtful that they'll find a cause

My DD1 was a bit like this but to a lesser extent. For her it was undiagnosed CMPA.

He’s developed a behavioural feeding aversion that is still unresolved even tho his reflux etc is now under control.

Solids can’t replace milk entirely so as you’ve found, weaning early doesn’t fix the problem.

Have you read articles by Rowena Bennett at all? My five month old twins had to do her program xx

So did mine. I did lots of yoghurts and cheese sauce! Now a strapping 14 y old with no problems!