Help - cannot get baby to eat enough

[Amberc]

My 15 week old DS has recently (last 2 weeks) been turning his nose up at his bottles (FF always has been). I am sure he had silent reflux as after giving him Infant Gaviscon his back arching and crying on the bottle stopped and we have discontinued use (as per instructions) and he has been fine. However, it's still a massive struggle to feed him as he just doesn't seem to ever want anything. Now it's also at night and he's refusing his dream feed - he didn't want any of it and arched his back and turned his head away. He did have some at 1.45am when he was starving. Then 5.30 again wouldn't feed at all. I got 120ml down him at 7.30 this morning. I wrote down what he had yesterday and we are about 8 oz of formula out from what he should be having p/d. He has the recommended amount for a 2 week old baby. He is super skinny but very long. 0-3 month things are too big round the waist. I don't know what to do - any ideas? The HV will tell me his weight is ok but he has no fat on him at all - 0-3 months are too big round the waist - it's all length. I wonder if there is such a thing as a more calorific baby milk?

Can understand why you are concerned, Amberc - babies of this age are often chubsters, but not being like this is not necessarily a bad thing. If your HV is happy with his weight and growth, and, as you say, he's long, then maybe he is the way he is 'cos that's what he's meant to be

Turning away and refusing is perhaps his way of indicating to you he doesn't want more - perhaps your HV could refer you to a dietitian for more explanation and investigation if needed.

Standard baby milks are all more or less the same as each other, and have to be, to comply with statutory requirements, and the calorie count is more or less the same, too. You can get 'high density' speciality formulas which are available on prescription, normally given to babies whose slow growth is causing serious concern - you could as your doc, HV or dietitian about them, but they may well not want to prescribe them if they think your baby's ok.

Thanks tiktok - I am fairly sure I have heard other people refer to you as a bit of a guru so does make me feel a bit better - maybe he just is meant to be long and thin - it's just the fact that he has so much less than guidelines state he should for his age that worries me (and the fact he's getting more and more fussy).

Could the fussiness be due to him just trying not to feed more than he wants to, though? What about going with the flow for a few days, giving him what he wants without struggling to get him to take more, and maybe offering smaller amounts more often...would that be worth a try?

Still worth seeing a dietitian or someone who can really assess what's happening and reassure you properly, IMO.

Amberc - do not worry about what he 'should' be having - the recommendations on the back of the formula packet for daily intake should be ignored. My DS ate a lot less than they said, and he was mix fed so it was hard to know how much he was having. Is baby gaining weight and producing wet / dirty nappies? My baby was in 0-3 month clothes till 5 months and now he's massive. Some babies follow their own little growth pattern. And do what Tiktok said - don't push him to drink more than he is, feeding will be more relaxed for both of you. At this age they do know seem to know how much they want to drink imho. Having said that..

Not sure why you have discontinued gaviscon if silent reflux diagnosed? Could be his throat still burning a bit. Could be he's turning away cos he's frightened his throat will burn.Why not speak to your GP / HV about trying a thicker formula e.g. aptamil easy digest or cow and gate comfort, as one of the functions of Gaviscon is to thicken the formula. My DS found these easier to drink although it took him a lot longer. They are also (slightly) higher in calories.

ephrine, I agree about your points relating to gaviscon/reflux ...it's worth Amberc checking out, and the 'easier' formulas might be worth a try.

But the calorie difference in the formulas you mention is negligible - I know you say 'slightly' only, but how much difference is there? I haven't got time to check, but I think they are the same as standard formula, or within a calorie or two per 100 mls. The calorie content of non-prescrip. infant formula is strictly regulated, and for sound, health-based reasons.

Gaviscon says it is not meant to be taken for more than 7 days (it makes their poo really solid!). I will speak to HV - perhaps those thicker formulas might be an idea - I wondered if he was frightened that the burning would come back but he fed fine once we stopped using Gaviscon, this is new. Thanks again for advice ladies - will definitely get it checked out.

My little man (8 months tomorrow) was on the 25th centile and just slightly chubby to start with, but when he was about 4 months old started to lose most of that and dropped eventually to just above the 0.2 centile, while 50th for length. Now he has a smal head so that accounts for some of it, but he was simply very skinny, no tummy at all, double chin gone etc.

But he was ever so healthy, never ill, very very active and super alert, always on the go, so hv never was particularly worried.

Now he is on solids, the double chin has reappeared, more tummy than he has ever had and even some fat over his ribs. And still always on the go.

He is bf so no idea what goes in, but I would say relax a little. I wish that I had not always fretted so much. hv and others are always quick to pick up if there is a problem.

of course if you think he is still refluxy that is another matter, but the stressy behaviour you describe is what I recognise from trying to feed a baby who does not want feeding and who sensed my stress.

Yes I should have stated it is only a couple of calories per 100ml. Definitely worth ruling out a reocurrence of the reflux - have not heard of stopping the gaviscon after a week before.