Something is wrong with my nearly 7 month old

[Herecomestreble1]

I don't know whether I'm going insane or genuinely need to be concerned here, if anyone has any insight PLEASE let me know because I am going around in circles.

DS is just shy of 30 weeks old (or 7 months) having been born 4 weeks early. He has always been a high needs/ fussy baby and suffered with Colic and Reflux. He has never slept through the night and still wakes three times a night for feeds.

Since the beginning of April, so about 4 weeks ago, he suddenly became very unhappy. A lot of this was due to teething but some other things began cropping up that have made me wondering whether something else of going on aside from teething and a 6 month developmental leap. Issues include:

A lack of appetite. His milk feeds have roughly halved. I offer the same amount and frequency as always but he takes about half only.

He is straining a lot and arching his back. He's not particularly gassy and it's almost like he's got colic again. For ref, DS has always been an every 4 - 5 day poo-er.

Absolute refusal to entertain any type of weaning be it purees, BLW, sweet or savory it doesn't matter. He will strain his whole body away from the plate as far as he can and won't look at it

I'm so worried about him. His mood is so low, crying a lot, tired a lot, doesn't want to be put down etc. Though he's never been an easy going or chilled baby this is pretty hard going even for him. We've been to the doctors and they've just said all normal for his age. I'm just worried.

As he was prem and is not interested in solids I think I would leave that for now and just concentrate on getting enough milk into him.
I would see the doctor again, but I would take with me a written record of his weight and whether that is static, increasing or decreasing.
How much milk/how many feeds in 24 hours.
How many wet nappies/dirty nappies.
Can you compare how the above has changed in the last month?
Has he been feverish?
How is his breathing? Faster than usual? Stuffy nose?
If he seems unwell to you, take him back to the doctor and don't be fobbed off.

Teething can make them really unhappy and grumpy. It also made mine more susceptible to being unwell or fighting off something
Food before 1 is just for fun the saying goes. So you could try stopping food and just offering milk for a bit.
Hopefully it will pass soon and he will be happier

Milk allergy, perhaps?

The way he's reacting to the sight of food makes me think food aversion. I'd stop offering solids and wait a few weeks. Mine was like that after a gagging incident.

Not an accusation at all but is it possible you have been over feeding him and trying to get him to drink milk when not hungry?

My babies were about 4 weeks early and wouldn’t touch solids until they were 8 months old so I wouldn’t panic about that aspect

It does sound a bit like a feeding aversion or something else not quite right Trust your instincts.

I have a baby that is a bottle refuser he’s 3 months and had no progression since 2weeks as far as milk intake goes. He gags, chokes and cry’s, with a whole list of other symptoms. I repeatedly went to the Gp and even A&E a few times and was always told the same… normal fussy baby or it’s reflux. I was given gavison numerous times and omprezole. I spent weeks sleeping sitting up with him on the sofa, feeding an 1oz an hour just to make sure he has enough milk. Eventually I got in touch with my health vistor who recommended a change of milk to one for cows milk allergy and it’s done the trick. I had to push for my gp to prescribe it. I think it’s worth a try cause it’s not normal the symptoms you’re saying and if your instincts are telling you something is wrong believe them, mums know.