5 month old trying to sit up during feeds FF

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Hi everyone

I am at breaking point tonight. My 5 month old boy has been desperately trying to sit up during his bottle feeds for the last few weeks but it's been manageable. For the last few days it's got worse to the point it's interrupting his feeds and his volume has dropped significantly. For example, before bed he took 60ml before coming off the bottle, trying to sit up then refused to eat more.

We have tried holding him in various positions, in his bouncer chair. He is not ready for a high chair. He does have reflux but is medicated for it and is under control.

Has anyone else experienced this and how did you overcome it if at all or do I have to ride it out?

He usually drinks about 800-900ml a day but has now dropped to about 500ml the last few days.

It's really stressing me out 😪

What happens if you feed him almost sitting up, with his back against your belly and you just at a slight angle? He'll have to tip his head back a bit to be able to feed though.

@bedheadedzombie yeah we tried that one too 😖 he just plays with the bottle teat. He seems to only want to drink in one feeding position, which is the one we have always used, across our lap and head in the crook of our arm, slightly tilted up but just soooo distracted trying to sit up 🙈

I didn't have this but the first things I thought of were to try feeding in the car seat with you directly facing him. Or tbh i would try putting the TV on to distract him.

@Indecisivelurcher yeah we have tried him in various seats too but no luck! Seems a mystery!

Can he actually sit up?

@Seeline no not very well at all. He has good head control but is by no means stable to sit up. He either falls forward flat on his face or slips sideways

Random but have you tried a faster teat? Maybe it’s too slow for him and he’s getting bored quickly?

@Vicky1989x he is on a no2 teat (Dr Browns) currently. We actually did try a no 3 last night which did not go down very well as it was too fast for him

Sounds like normal development at that age. I breastfed but 4-5 months was peak distraction time, always something else to look at instead of feed! I'd try sitting him up comfortably also making sure the room is quiet no distractions

Hi I know you left this post last year, but we are having some issue with our 4 month old. Up until the last two weeks he's only drinking half of his bottles and constantly trying to sit up , is there anything in particular you did?
Thanks

Hiya have you had any luck? I’m also having this exact problem he’ll have about 3 ounces of his 6 and then is straining to sit up constantly leading to him not finishing his bottle or me having to put him down for a while until he’s ready to finish it, he also has reflux but don’t think this is the issue :(

Hi I was the guy on the last recent post. Our baby slowly started to drink again. What we did was make him a 180 ml bottle rather than the 210ml he usually had, let him drink to 90 which he did , then give him a break change his nappy/diaper and if not use sensory things on YouTube like "dancing fruit" works for us , he sometimes feeds when sleepy.

We were with a lactation consultant and were told babies at 5/6 months are peak for reflux babies and it does improve soon after, which it has slowly but surely , we were also told to get a probiotic which is supposed to help (forget the name of it) with their gut.

Basically, reflux is the reason for this. I hope this helps and that your baby gets back to full feeding. Any more questions for peace of mind just ask.😊

Thank you that is really helpful to know I did wonder wether it was the reflux peaking fingers crossed when he passed 5 months in a few weeks it may start to fade not long after, if you find out which probiotic they suggested I’d love to know :)