struggling with ff 15 week old

9 replies

qumps · 29/03/2009 21:25

just wondered if anyone had some advice.
my lo has been ff since 8 weeks. he has always been reluctant to start feeding again if you stop e.g. to wind him, but lately he has become very fussy with the teat. he takes about 2oz and then plays with the teat in his mouth and starts laughing. he is still feeding 3 times though the night as i can't get enough food into him during the day. if i really force him i can get him to take the full bottle as he suddenly stops playing, realises he is hungry and takes the whole lot. however this can take up to half an hour of me ramming it in his mouth!!!
i am using the tomme tippeeclose to nature bottles but i have tried an avent and this made no difference.
i am going to go to the hv on tues but just wondered if in the mean time anyone had any bright ideas?

OP posts:

mummymash · 29/03/2009 21:35

I know this may seem a silly question but does he need the next size hole in the teat?
My DS did the same around similar age then my mum mentioned it, it made a huge difference.
If you wanted to try it tonight but no shops open, use a sterile needle or shape knife (heat over the flame on the hob) to pierce holes in the teat. Don't make them too big as he might gag on the milk then be put off his milk again!
Good luck x

notquitenormal · 29/03/2009 21:44

Try him on the next size teat as he may be getting bored/frustrated with the current flow.

Otherwise just make smaller bottles, feed him more often and get used to throwing milk away.

My DS went through a stage or being more interested in everything else. He was just taking enough milk to take the edge of his hunger before going back to playing. It passed.

Original poster

qumps · 30/03/2009 13:06

he is already on 3 month ones and has been for a while. presume 6 month ones would drown him?
'force feeding' resulted in him sleeping from 1130 to 430 last night which is the first time in his life he has slept that long.
thank you for the responses though. you would think second time round i might actually know what i was doing!

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SlebMner · 30/03/2009 13:08

have you tried variflow teats? gives the baby a bit more control over the speed of the flow

i would stop 'force feeding' or ramming the bottle in

if he is playing with the bottle, take it away, and do something else with him

Original poster

qumps · 30/03/2009 20:06

never heard of variflow teat. can you get them for the tommmee tippee bottles?
sorry i am aware that when i write force feed it sounds awful. i promise i am not brutal.
today he feed at 1015, cried at 230 for food but then only took 2oz. he must be starving so trying to find other reasons for him not taking it.
also selfishly we need to get past feeding 3 times a night but if i can't get more food in him during the day i guess he will continue to wake up.

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yarrow5 · 30/03/2009 20:47

Yes tommee tippee do variflow. just wanted to let you know that you're not the only one. Ds was exactly the same. I used to get so stressed out over it. in the end i went against the hv advice and changed his milk and he started taking it again. it may not work for you but its worth a go if you're happy to. try the ready made carton 1st to avoid wasting money if it doesn't.

Original poster

qumps · 30/03/2009 20:51

thanks yarrow5. how old was your ds when they did it? tried avent bottle again tonight and he seemed to take it much better. loathed to throw out 8(?!) tt bottles but if i have to i will.
btw how does a variflow work?

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yarrow5 · 30/03/2009 20:59

he was about 12 weeks the 1st time so i changed his milk then he did it again about 3 months later but i knew that time that all i had to do was change his milk. i wouldn't fancy throwing away 8 bottles they're not cheap!! variflow teats have like a cross on the top over the hole so the harder they suck the more milk comes out. i tried them but didn't have much success with them.

Original poster

qumps · 31/03/2009 12:58

well hv was fairly useless. said she had heard of it happening before but had no idea. and wasn't i good as she would have been completely panicked!!
she said his weight is fine so to just force it in him during the day. he is on aptimel and she said that was the best so to stick with that and not to change the teats. she said boys can be quite chewy and hopefully he wil grow out of it.
not sure how reassured i feel but he seems happy and went until 4 again last night.
thanks again for advice.

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