Illness and minimal feeding

[FrizzledFrazzle]

My 5MO has been quite ill the last week with bronchiolitis and hand/foot/mouth. He's seen the GP and was checked at A&E because he wasn't feeding well and was using secondary muscles for breathing.

He was feeling really sorry for himself for a few days but now seems to be on the mend and is much more like his normal self. BUT he's still feeding much less than before.

I don't think he's dehydrated because he's still having wet nappies. But it's breaking my heart because he's always loved to breastfeed and now when I offer him a feed he usually has one or two sucks, then cries and wants his dummy instead. He's had 2 proper feeds today, plus several tiny ones. He also wants his dummy almost all the time, whereas it's usually just for sleep.

Will this get better? How can I encourage him to feed more?

It will get better, he's probably feeling a bit rough.

Have you tried him with some Calpol? Has he got any teeth coming through?

One thing that might encourage him is having a bath together or some skin to skin in your bed?

Hi @FrizzledFrazzle sorry to hear baby hasn't been well. It's so tough when they're poorly, let alone then the added worry when they're not feeding as they usually do.

Not feeding as often when poorly is really normal and babies will go back to a normal pattern. This article has some information in case it helps:

www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/illness-surgery/baby-illness/%23:~:text%3DSome%2520babies%2520may%2520refuse%2520to,least%2520every%2520hour%2520or%2520so.&ved=2ahUKEwiC39_Kocr7AhUJhlwKHam7DMgQFnoECAwQBQ&usg=AOvVaw3_8CjYyYZZxkCv7h7NSlje

Perhaps trying different feeding positions could help. As @PritiPatelsMaker suggested, skin to skin and taking baths together can really help.

Five months can be a really tricky age where babies start to get distracted feeding anyway. Usually people find feeding in a dark and quiet room helps them to concentrate on feeding so could be worth trying.

Hope he feels better soon

Thank you both! Things have been gradually improving over the last few days and I'd say he's back at 80% of normal.

He had lots of Calpol and snuggles, which I think helped. And I now have his bug, which came with the worst sore throat I have ever had, so I understand why he was off his food!

Oh no! I hope you feel better soon