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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

TOO MUCH MILK

16 replies

odo · 08/11/2004 11:41

long story ,but 2yr old has been on formula - due to eating difficulties when young - now been transfered on to cows milk, which he has accepeted, but he is not making up the lost calouries with solid food - therefore night waking and lacking in ususal energy - what do i do now?

OP posts:
KateandtheGirls · 08/11/2004 12:18

What does the doctor say?

WigWamBam · 08/11/2004 12:29

What is his average daily diet?

Original poster
odo · 08/11/2004 12:43

have not been to the doctor would you advise this?
Daily diet is extremely variable - yesterday he had one cracker with cream cheese and that was it, plus his milk. on a good day he will eat one meal (pasta), a piece of fruit, a yoghurt, a couple of rice cakes - but this happens only every four / five days - so then i give in and give him milk as he refuses all other offers.

OP posts:
LIZS · 08/11/2004 12:56

Yes, go to the doctor. Formula/cow's milk isn't in itself enough to sustain a growing toddler. If you continue to give it to him you are filling him up but not encouraging him to eat, thus perpetuating the problem.

Your gp or hv would be able to help you devise a strategy to encourage him to eat better - perhaps only letting him have milk first and last thing for example and offering smaller quantities of food during the day. If needs be your dr could refer you to a paediatrician and/or dietician, especially if his diet , or lack of it, is having a detrimental effect on his health.

Original poster
odo · 08/11/2004 13:14

thankyou for this advice - have now made an appointment to see gp - earliest date 17th november......!

OP posts:
spod · 08/11/2004 13:16

17th November for a childs appointment! thats ridiculous... phone them again and tell them you dont think it can wait that long.

WigWamBam · 08/11/2004 13:38

If you can't see your GP until then, what about having a word with your health visitor? She will probably have more time to discuss this than the GP would, and initially may be more help than the GP. Plus she will probably be happy to see you at your home.

Original poster
odo · 08/11/2004 14:29

doc appt now made for Weds (thankyou Spod )- hv contacted and waiting response - this is my first visit to this web page and whoever you all I am just overwhelmed by the speed and kindness in all your responses - this has been worrying me so much and within hours you lot have given me a way forward and not an ounce of criticsm detected!
does anyone want to be kept posted on outcome?

OP posts:
zubb · 08/11/2004 14:31

odo - how much milk is he drinking each day?
Hope the HV gets back to you soon, and can help.

sleeplessmumof2 · 08/11/2004 15:01

Odo, please to read that you have already had great support and have found a way forward, its just a thought but but my ds1 has also had loads of eating difficulties and it has been an ongoing struggle to get him to eat more and a good variety however my point is that eventually i did stop him having his milk in the morning as he was filling up on milk and therefore not feeling the need to eat? Do you think there may be something like that going on here?

Original poster
odo · 08/11/2004 15:31

Zubb - he drinks 24oz a day - 8 in the morning, 8 at lunch and 8 at bedtime - though he has consumned 16oz at bedtime on occasion as he has not eaten during the day - perpetuating the cycle , but breaking it just nappears impossible - if he does not have the milk, then he is awake throughtout the night and is then tired the next day and does not want to eat..........

OP posts:
Original poster
odo · 08/11/2004 16:01

sleeplessmumof2 - this sounds about right - i know he is filling up on milk - but how did you stop him?! it just seems such a viscious circle - the less milk i give him the more tired and irritated he gets, the more he refuses to eat....

OP posts:
zubb · 08/11/2004 16:38

if you drop the lunchtime milk does he eat more in the evening?

Original poster
odo · 08/11/2004 17:17

do not know the answer as have never not given it to him - again the dilema is, if he has refused lunch, he is not going to make it to tea with out something so once again he has the milk

OP posts:
sleeplessmumof2 · 08/11/2004 17:51

ah ha, the key here (and i really hope this works for you too, it was fairly easy for us) is to dilute!!! Decide which feed to cut first, i would think breakfast would be good, or lunch time, we left bed bottle till last as wanted him full to sleep well and again only cut it because my ds started to cut out his breakfast intake.

Anyhow the best bet is to start by just adding some water to his milk say start at 6 oz milk and top up with water if he wont go for it add a bit more milk till he will and then gradually daily just dilute and reduce the amount at each feed too, although you will probably find that he will stop finishing the bottle himself because he's not enjoying it!!! Hope this helps and keep us informed how you go!!!

misdee · 08/11/2004 18:04

my dd2 was taking around the same amount of fluid as your ds until last week. then last week we told her she wasnt having bottles anymore. so now she is refusing milk in cups. so we have gone from one extreme to the other. but she is eating loads now.

hope you find something that works soon.

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