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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

My 5MO Baby not drinking formula

28 replies

carolweir · 01/02/2022 18:39

Could I ask for sown advice please. I am really worried about my 5MO LD.
In the last 24-48hrs, she has completely gone off her formula. I can't even get the bottle in her mouth and if by chance I do, she doesn't drink much or pushes the teat out with her tongue. I thought maybe she is teething, but seems early and I read on healthline that loss of liquid appetite is not a symptom of teething. What could this be? We go away on Saturday and worried that I will be in a foreign country etc. thanks for any help u can give

OP posts:
LapinR0se · 01/02/2022 18:40

Sore throat or ear infection?

Dancingonmyownagain · 01/02/2022 18:46

Is there something perhaps wrong with the formula?

Dancingonmyownagain · 01/02/2022 18:47

Or the machine (if using a perfect prep or similar)?

MintJulia · 01/02/2022 18:48

will she drink water? Is she rejecting formula or is she not thirsty?

Some sort of infection? Have you done her an lft? just a thought...

Original poster
carolweir · 01/02/2022 20:19

Thanks all for getting back to me. I managed to give her, her bottle at 6pm. Took around 45 minutes. No temperature but unsure if anything else is wrong. Same formula / same making process used for around 3 months now. She is also very unsettled and eating her sleeping suit and won't keep her dummy in either. Nothing is settling her. I think I will call doctor in the morning.

OP posts:
Original poster
carolweir · 01/02/2022 20:19

Not done a LFT as she had Covid before Xmas. And no temperature or other symptoms 🤔

OP posts:
LefttoherownDevizes · 01/02/2022 20:22

Really does sound like teething, my eldest cut his first tooth at 3 months so not too early at all. Try giving calpol a bit before feeding in case there is pain

ItsSnowJokes · 01/02/2022 20:24

5 months is not too early at all for teeth. My eldest got her first tooth at 6 weeks! Try some anbusol on gums or some calpol and see if that helps with taking the formula.

popcorndiva · 01/02/2022 20:27

Are her cheeks red?
Definitely sounds like teething my DD started teething at 4 months. Get some teething granules, dribble bibs for the drool and give calpol when she can't settle

Original poster
carolweir · 01/02/2022 20:33

Thank you 🙏
It's my first child and i have anxiety, so this is sending my nerves / fears into overdrive 😩. I have just given her some calpol, which is 3rd time today now. I also think she is teething but finding that reading too much, is not helping me. Hence reaching out on this platform. Just feel like I am doing something wrong.

OP posts:
LapinR0se · 02/02/2022 06:52

I would be also worried if my baby was not drinking any milk. So that’s a normal concern. Is she having any solids and water?

Twizbe · 02/02/2022 06:59

Sounds like teething. The first tooth is the worst and it's really uncomfortable for them.

Calpol is great and takes the pain away. Obviously you can't use it before all feeds but try to time it right for a couple.

Once it's erupted she will feel soooo much better and you might find she drinks a lot more than her usual amount of formula for a day or two.

Original poster
carolweir · 02/02/2022 07:46

Thank you all. She woke up this morning after a
Really good sleep from 11pm to 7pm. However she won't now feed. Been trying for 45 mins. She hasn't cried, just doesn't want any food. Milk is even at a coolish temperature, which I read was a good idea to try. I wish I had given Calpol first thing, but as not crying or unsettled I didn't want to give straight away or for no reason. But perhaps I should have some. Babies r sure like puzzles

OP posts:
LapinR0se · 02/02/2022 10:58

@carolweir is she eating solids and drinking water? If not it’s a trip to A&E

Original poster
carolweir · 02/02/2022 15:09

She isn't on solids yet and not drinking water, as advised by health visitor not to do so until 6MO. I did though take her to the doctors this morning, who did a complete health check, and she is all good fr their perspective and her weight is fine too, actually it's too fine. She is in the 90percentile. So I need to keep an eye on her over the next few weeks and tell doctor if anything changes or gets worse.

OP posts:
LapinR0se · 02/02/2022 15:56

A few weeks with no liquids? That sounds really dangerous. Has she taken any milk today?

Original poster
carolweir · 02/02/2022 17:16

She is drinking but very fussy with it and not finishing her bottle. Once she has decided she has had enough, she stops and won't let the bottle anywhere near her again. Even after a break.
She is a 3rd down on her usual daily amount. She is normally a guzzler, so this is very unusual for her. She is drinking but it takes ages to get it ok her and she doesn't finish her bottles

OP posts:
LapinR0se · 02/02/2022 18:36

That’s ok then! When she stops, you stop. Offer one more time and then stop the feed.

Original poster
carolweir · 02/02/2022 20:15

Thank you LapinROse Smile

OP posts:
Vicky1989x · 03/02/2022 16:45

Have you tried a faster teat?

NoHeavenNoMore · 03/02/2022 16:50

Just wanted to share that my 5 month old has been the same for the last couple of days! She has two teeth already tho, so not sure it's that. She just seems to feed really well at night and first thing in the morning, then the rest of the day she just plays with the teat... pushes it out or grabs it. I managed to just get 4oz down her now, after she only had 4.5oz of her usual 7oz bottle an hour ago. So wondering if maybe she's getting over hungry? even tho she's not showing signals and only goes 3 hours max between feeds during the day. I'm thinking maybe I'll just start offering little and often again, she used to feed every 2 hours for first couple of months. I'll try anything at this rate 🙈
Good luck and hope your little one takes to her bottles again soon!!

Original poster
carolweir · 03/02/2022 20:27

Thanks NoHeavenNoMore. After a visit to the doctor yesterday, she is feeding at around 3rd of her usual amount. I am less worried, after knowing she is ok health wise and in herself. I really wish I knew if teething for sure. They r like puzzles, but never quite able to put all the pieces together ;)
I wish u all the best too and hope your baby feeds better soon too.

OP posts:
poorlybaby · 07/02/2022 08:49

@carolweir have you tried feeding a smaller amount but more often?

If she'll take a small amount and then just stop (perhaps she has teething pain), then you could try feeding a bit less each time but every 2/3 hours for example rather than more. Just to try and get more fluids in her throughout the day.

Is she sleeping through the night? As if she is drinking some milk, perhaps she doesn't need quite as much as she was having?

Original poster
carolweir · 07/02/2022 10:08

She is back to feeding every 3-4 hours and slightly less than before. She is sleeping through the night with a feed at 10:30pm, and then she sleeps until around 6am. My doctor thinks she is just less hungry at the moment. Her weight is amazing, so no worries there. I have a health visitor check up in a week, so will see then if any changes.
Thank you for your response Smile

OP posts:
Bluemamma · 07/02/2022 14:11

Hi @carolweir I hear you, going through the same..
My 4 mo drank 60 mil today! (And it’s 2pm). Since yesterday he will not touch the bottle. He isn’t sick and he has had days like this before. He will eat a lot for a few days and then a day or two he will eat very little… he is however gaining weight very nicely. It’s so upsetting I know and I wish someone could help…

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