Does it sound like my LO is getting enough food/milk

[wishfulyf]

My LO is 6 months , has severe reflux & hasn't gained much weight he's more maintaining (GP isn't worried he just puts it down to the reflux) I worry my LO isn't having enough food/milk but I only feed when he seems to want it. See below for what his day looks like!

9am - porridge along with omeprazole tablet
10:30am - 7oz bottle
12pm - 1 kiddylicious blueberry wafer
1:30pm- banana & apple puree
3:30pm - 7oz bottle
6:30pm - sweet potato, broccoli & carrots purée
8:30 - 6oz bottle

Obviously everyday the purée in that is different but this typically what it would look like. Does it sound enough? He takes 3 bottles & 3 spoon feeds as well as a "self feeding snack" (the wafer) . I should probably put water in there somewhere too. Now that he's 6 months it doesn't have to be cool boiled does it? This is my first baby and im not sure. But from your point of view does that sound enough. He's 17lb. He doesn't keep much down of what I listed. Like I said he has severe reflux.

I was always told to offer milk first about an hour before food - but last weaned 3years ago and advice changes all the time also did 100%BLW so that may be why as it takes a few weeks. Is he not having a morning bottle at all? Maybe have a chat with health visitor for current advice- this seems like a lot of good to me for a 6 month old but advice changes all the time and may be different because of the reflux xx

Is baby has reflux why are you offering such big feeds? I know it’s common but 7oz is a huge amount for a small baby to drink all in one go especially if they suffer from reflux. At the moment it looks like baby is having around 20oz milk across three bottles. I’m assuming nothing overnight. Firstly if baby was hungry they would wake for milk overnight so if that’s not happening I’d assume they’re full enough. But either way I would change to offering 4 or 5 smaller bottles per day. You
can get more milk into them overall this way, maybe make each bottle 5oz and the smaller feeds should mean the reflux isn’t as bad. I would also stop doing purées and switch to proper solids as in BLW because this should also help with reflux. Also veg purées don’t give everything a baby needs, from 6 months their diet needs to provide a bit more iron/protein and currently baby would be getting very little.

So I would do something like
7am 5oz bottle
8.30 porridge
10am 5oz bottle
12pm lunch of finger food, basically whatever you’re having, look up BLW ideas
1.30 4oz bottle
4pm 4oz bottle
6pm dinner, needs to be low salt but baby can try anything, pieces of pasta, bolognese sauce, mild curry, veg
7pm 5oz bottle

We only had 1 meal at this point and probably a bottle every 4hrs so 7,11,3,7 of 5/6oz. Babies don't need snacks until 12m as if you think they are hungry they need milk first

That’s a very low protein/low carb diet for a baby. There is no protein or fat in the food. There is a good chance they’re not getting enough calories.

As your child has a medical condition you need medical advice tailored to your child’s needs. My children were under a paediatric dietitian who said typically they need 3 meals when they get to 9 month and snacks only after their 1st birthday otherwise they don’t have enough room
for high energy density milk.

Have they ruled out underlaying causes of reflux? Have you seen a paediatrician or dietitian?

So suggestions are 1. Increase baby’s milk, offer at least 4 or 5 milk feeds possibly with 5/6oz rather than 7 oz. 2. gently introduce more protein into baby’s diet eg eggs, pureed chicken, fish, beans/lentils. 3. Check in with doctor every few weeks and ask to be referred to nutritionist if things are not improving.

Thank you all so much. Like I said the meals are different everyday! I should of given a better example of his meals to be honest. He definitely has chicken/pasta purée & he loves an egg custard! To be honest he used to be on 9oz 4x a day (before weaning) health visitor tried to encourage me to get another 9oz bottle into him making it 5x a day but I just couldn't baby was happy with 4x 9oz a day. When I started weaning my baby he only takes 6/7 oz. I know it sounds a lot but for example if I made a 4/5oz bottle he would scream for more milk. He seems content at 7oz ?

Regarding the reflux. Unfortunately we haven't got to the root cause (I wish) I'm picking up a prescription today for another medication for him ! He's been on gaviscon, milk thickners and omeprazole & no difference at all! We have also ruled out CMPA. I've been fighting with the drs for a referral to a paediatrician/dietician & I was told if this new medication I'm picking up today doesn't work , they'll then do a referral. I appreciate your replies!