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Baby is a terrible feeder - am I doing something wrong?

3 replies

mickitee · 09/02/2023 14:38

My baby girl is 15 weeks and a terrible feeder. She is getting enough food and growing well, but the issue is we can never plan anything as I can't predict when she will be feeding or napping as there is no pattern. Until recently she had only one wake during the night where she would take almost a full bottle, now we are back at 3-4 wakes with 2 smaller feeds, but we've put that part down to sleep regression.

We are bottle feeding on demand and currently making between 10-12 bottles per day, because she will generally only take 50-80ml from each bottle. Often it takes a full hour for her to even drink that much, because it's a process of taking small sips, then stopping drinking and fighting the bottle or pushing the teat round with her tongue We've tried changing bottles, going up a teat size, feeding her in a less stimulating environment, and trying to gently guide her into more of a regular pattern, all to no avail. She never seems that interested in the bottle even first thing in the morning when she's woken up hungry. She will take it, but wriggles the entire time then after about 20ml will start refusing and becoming upset when offered it, so we burp then have a little chat or song or walk around the house before offering the bottle again, she has a few sips and then we repeat this for an hour until we need to throw the formula away. Within half an hour she is hungry and wanting another bottle and the saga repeats until she falls asleep.

Has anyone had a similar experience? If so - how did you deal with it? Is this just standard baby stuff, or is there something I'm doing wrong?

Thanks x

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Lkydfju · 09/02/2023 14:49

Has she been checked for tongue tie? Or could it be reflux?

mickitee · 09/02/2023 14:52

No tongue tie, she has mild reflux (only one daily vomit in the evening and doesn't cause her any distress). GP said the reflux shouldn't affect her appetite or feeding habits.

OP posts:
CoalCraft · 09/02/2023 17:01

Could it be gas? Gas in the intestine made both of mine very fussy during feeds.

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