Fluid intake

[Samuelkane]

My five month old son has recently stopped taking formula milk. I can get him to take his morning bottle of 6-8 ozs but any other bottles in the day are a struggle. I've tried everything beaker changing from Sma white to Sma gold, dropping a bottle cutting down on the amount but to no avail I am lucky to get 12-13 ozs in him all day. He will drink a litle water or juice but I am worried about dehydrating. I have spoke to a helath vistor and she says he's fine am I just an over anxious new mum?

If you're worried make any solid food he has sloppier.

Healthy babies of this age able to express preferences don't dehydrate themselves.

Sounds as though he might benefit from dairy in solid foods - fromage frais, yoghurt, that sort of thing.

Tiktok is right - trust that provided you offer plenty of fluids your son won't let himself get dehydrated.

My daughter took very little milk after I stopped breastfeeding her at 9 months (a bit older than your son, I know). I worried that she wasn't getting her calcium etc - the HV told me to give her plenty of yoghurt etc, which she loved. She also told me to persevere with the formula, and as soon as she was old enough (12 mths I think)to try her on SMA Progress - she said that formula tasted disgusting, but that in her experience many preferred the Progress because it tastes nicer. Dd survived her first year perfectly healthily, and at 19 mths now has a large bottle of milk morning and night with every evidence of enjoyment. So try not too worry too much, I'm sure your son will be fine in the long run.

As for 'just being an overanxious new mum', well, we've all been there and at the time it is all very worrying. Just hang in there, you do get used to it - one day you realize that you haven't looked at a baby book in weeks and your child still seems to be thriving!