Struggling with feeds.

[Autumnbrownie]

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice with my sons feeding.

He's 9 months old and has always taken his bottle really well, absolutely demolishes it in a matter of minutes, he's currently having 3 x 8oz bottles as well as 2 meals each day and is gaining weight as he should be.

In the last 5 days he's been starting his bottles nicely as usual, then stops after 3/5oz and refuses the rest, he starts crying and smacking the bottle away, we've put this down to teething and have tried giving teething gel before a feed, changing the temperature, giving him a 10 minute break before trying to give the rest of his bottle but nothing is working. I'm worried he's not getting enough nutrition with not finishing it all, our next plan is to change his routine and give him breakfast first, then a bottle instead of his usual bottle first then breakfast.

Has anyone else been through this and has any advice?
Thank you.

Have you tried changing the teat? Or would he take some of the feed in a sippy cup?

Don't be too concerned. Could be that he just naturally needs less milk as he's eating more real food. Babies are pretty tuned into what they need and will instinctively adjust their calorie intake according to what their body needs. Unfortunately I seem to have lost that ability!

It could be any number of things. Teething, bring distracted and wanting to play, stomachache, earache ....

If he’s eating ok try to mix some formula into his food and give more yogurts etc . Hopefully it’ll pass. May be worth getting him checked by gp if he doesn’t improve

My ds is 9months too, he takes 8ozs in the morning and before bed and a 4oz at 2. He's on 3 meals a day. Would you introduce another meal and decrease the middle bottle?

My ds is 9months too, he takes 8ozs in the morning and before bed and a 4oz at 2. He's on 3 meals a day. Would you introduce another meal and decrease the middle bottle?

My ds is 9months too, he takes 8ozs in the morning and before bed and a 4oz at 2. He's on 3 meals a day. Would you introduce another meal and decrease the middle bottle?

Thank you for the replies!

@JohnLapsleyParlabaneI We not long ago upgraded to the next stage of teats so I don't think that's the problem, he takes his bedtime bottle absolutely fine with no problems, it's only the 1st and 2nd that we're having issues with. I hadn't thought of putting his milk in his sippy cup, he drinks from that quite well so it might be worth trying.

@Cmagic7 thanks, this puts my mind at ease a bit, I'm going to watch his weight more closely while we're having these issues just to be on the safe side, if he starts losing weight I'll take him to our GP.

@progestermoan I did wonder if it could be that he gets bored and wants to get back to crawling and playing, he spends every waking minute that he isn't feeding or being changed playing and exploring, we've just purchased a new type of porridge that is mixed with formula so I'm hoping he'll enjoy that.

@mrsm12 we're trying to introduce a 3rd meal but he never seems interested and simply won't eat it, he also has rice cakes and rusks through the day so maybe they're making him to full for a 3rd meal, perhaps reducing a bottle to 4oz could be a way to add a 3rd meal.

Both mine did this. Wouldn't be too concerned if he is having food and water.

@hairyturkey yes he's still having his meals well and is drinking water each day from his sippy cup. We spotted his 3rd tooth poking out this afternoon! A top one on the left side (his first 2 were front bottom row) so our assumptions were correct about him teething.