6mo lost a lot of weight in the last week, I’m panicking

[greentitbirdnotboob]

My LO is getting skinnier by the day. He maybe lost an inch round his tummy since last week.

He seems happy when he’s awake, but cries a lot for hunger now (never used to do that). He pooped a lot more frequently in the last few days. I have no clue what’s wrong :(

I’ll go to the doctor tomorrow but its hard to sleep right now. If anyone can say anything to reassure me he’ll be okay I’ll be very grateful x

How much is he eating/drinking in 24 hours?

I BF, so its hard to be exact... I think around 700-800ml in 24 hours? (I pump milk for daycare and he usually gets through about 400ml while he’s there)

Feed him baby rice and banana? Start slowly? Maybe at 6 pm and then bf before sleep?

Have you started weaning yet?

We give him 1-2 teaspoons of baby food sometimes, getting him ready to start solids later on. But no big amounts and it’s not every day

Deffo start solid food weaning.also, be could be having a growth spurt so is extra hungry

When were you planning to start solids properly?

Has anything happened to you lately that might have affected your supply - have you been ill, for example, or had changes in routine? How long have you been back at work and pumping? Is he still night feeding and how much?

Do you have a breast milk stash built up or are you pumping on an "as needed" basis for daycare?

Coeliacs? Dnephew was diagnosed as soon as weaning started. Obviously was perfectly fine until then. Lost loads of weight, loose motions, miserable. Miraculous recovery as soon as gluten free.

His 6 months old? Is his nursery not recommending solid food?

Poo consistency is normal? Still normal nappies?
No visible growthspurt lengthwise?

At 6 months I would be offering finger foods and allowing him a little self-regulation in quantity. Granted most calories come from breastmilk still, but it's worth a try!

Has he lost weight or just dropped centiles? They are different things.

Is he getting more mobile – rolling, sitting unaided, etc? It's common for babies to slim down a little and lose that chubby baby shape as they start to become mobile? See what the doctor says, but I would make sure to breastfeed on demand (not schedule) and start to add solid food now that he's 6 months. Purees, baby porridge are ok but if you're comfortable I would skip spoon feeding and start allowing him to feed himself as long as he can sit up comfortably in a highchair. At 6 months he can have almost everything – just no whole nuts or honey, and cut foods like grapes lengthways to avoid choking hazards. Also keep salt low.
Foods like full fat natural yogurt, cheese, egg, avocado make great first foods and are really nutritious. Just give him a little of what you're having within reason and see how he gets on.

It is possible he has had a growth spurt and is now just longer and skinnier. They do change shape as they grow and start to move around more.

Big thanks for all the replies and tips!

I took him for a check up and it seems it’s a combination of factors. They said he probably has a tummy bug that’s going round (there was actually another family before us with very similar complaints). He has lost weight — nearly 100g — but he also shot up 2cm in length in the last couple of weeks.

The doctor said he should be fine, I just need to keep feeding him. She did also mention we can start adding more solid foods in to help with gaining more weight (he’s technically a week away from 6 months, so we’re only just getting to that stage).

Thanks again everyone x

Ok that's good. Yes now you are in the messy and fun food stage. Good luck!