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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

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Original poster

No food No formula being taken by subborn 6mth old!

20 replies

angelbabies · 23/03/2008 20:37

I'm completly new to this but can anyone offer any advice on how to get my baby to eat something!!! He's my second so feel I should know what i'm doing but don't, i've being trying to wean him for last 4 weeks, he refuses to be spoonfed so am trying BLW but without much success, but what's worrying me more is that he is hardly having any formula either, this has been going on for last few days. Unfortunately because he's not eating much he's also waking frequently in the night due to hunger - any advice most welcome.

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MrsBadger · 23/03/2008 20:38

so are you feeding him at night when he wakes?

some babies do this when they get too distractable to settle down to a big feed during the day - I think it's called reverse cycling.

DD's doing the same thing but I have few tips .

have you tried offering milk in a beaker or even an open cup?

Original poster

angelbabies · 23/03/2008 21:01

I have been feeding him at night, last night it was 11pm 4.30am and then 6.30am, but after that he just hasn't wanted anything much at all. He takes water well from a beaker but not too happy to drink milk from one! Not really sure which way to go tonight, should I dream feed or wait until he wakes? Should I just offer water really at a loss would love your tips!

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Original poster

angelbabies · 23/03/2008 21:01

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OrganicBod · 23/03/2008 22:09

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fingerwoman · 23/03/2008 22:12

organicbod, there is a charge for advertising on this site.

Aitch · 24/03/2008 01:43

tbh i'd concentrate completely on the milk. do you think he's well in himself, might he be sickening for something? i'd also dream feed, why not? how old is he by the way?

(also, if you are doing BLW you just have to ditch the whole success/failure line of thinking and let them go at their own pace, that's the whole point really. i can understand that must be impossible when you're desperate to get milk into him, so that's why i'd deal with that first. )

Aitch · 24/03/2008 01:43

oh, and i take it you've changed teats and all that gubbins to see if it makes a difference?

Original poster

angelbabies · 24/03/2008 16:27

managed to get formula into at middnight when he woke then agsin at 6.30am! He also had a bit of baby porridge off a spoon - was amazed although he hasn't had much else since then (10.30am). Have tried different teats, seems to like the breast bottles best so am sticking to them. Think i'm going to concentrate on the milk like you suggest - he's 6.5mths so feel that I should be starting to wean but if he's not interested.....when should I start to worry about vitamins etc?

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Aitch · 24/03/2008 18:35

he's on formula, they're all fine for vits, packed with iron etc, don't even think about it.

Original poster

angelbabies · 25/03/2008 17:55

Had another day of hardly any food or formula/breastmilk of any description although he seems reasonably happy in himself, it's just me who's stressing as I already have a 2.5yr old who is incredibly fussy so mealtimes are never much fun here which is a shame because i love food and cooking!! I have even rung the HV in desperation today to see if they could offer any pearls of wisdom (no!). Nevermind hopefully i'll be able to get his bedtime feed into him, then do a dream feed later.

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Aitch · 25/03/2008 22:28

oh sorry, i thought you were ffing exclusively. well done for keeping bfing, how does that work? are you having to express at the moment? do you think he's possibly sickening for something, by the way?

Original poster

angelbabies · 26/03/2008 12:51

He's down to just 1 bf a day now although i feel that is mainly just comfort more than food! Am only able to feed on one side so not epressing. So far today (since 6am) he's had 6oz formula, tbsp porridge and 3 min bf so at least that's something. He's seems well in himself although i suspect teething may not be helping! Am going to try some more finger food and mashed pots today so fingers crossed......

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EnormousChangesAtTheLastMinute · 26/03/2008 14:11

hello. don't have any startling advice i'm afraid but just to let you know you are not alone as my dd2 refuses any formula (cup, sippy, bottle, various teats etc all rejected), won't eat 'solids' (ie purees) or finger foods (carrots, rice cakes etc) and is also feeding less and less through the day despite my best efforts to space her feeds so she'll be properly hungry (couple mins max is all she'll do). she also doesn't sleep and wakes frequently for feeds - so we're now co-sleeping to allow me to get some sleep.

(was sleep training with not too much joy but what partial progress we'd made destroyed by ear infection - hers not mine!)

If i find even a partial answer to any of these problems i'll let you know. meanwhile...I feel your pain!

Original poster

angelbabies · 26/03/2008 14:28

Wow you sound like you're going through the mill a bit too! I keep trying to space his feeds out so he gets properly hungry but then i start to get 'mothers guilt' and just try to give him anything, formula, puree finger food etc.... I really need to have a word with myself and sort out a proper routine but its really hard especially when you're tired, my DP spends about 3 nights a week on the sofa as DS takes his place in bed so I can sleep, much like yourself! I'm just going to try some food now - i'll report back later .

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drem · 26/03/2008 14:33

just joined mumsnet and this is just the discussion i came for! - my DS (26 weeks and BF) gags whenever i put any food in his mouth - makes no effort to swallow - i'm going back to work soon so needed to start the weaning process - i guess i'll just have to wait abit and leave it up to nursery

Aitch · 26/03/2008 14:37

have you tried letting him feed himself with a bit of steamed broccoli or something, drem?

EnormousChangesAtTheLastMinute · 26/03/2008 15:36

i have had to put thoughts of work on hold for the moment - unless i start a take-your-latched-on-baby-to-work movement!

we are pretty much where you are angelbabies, regularly banished father for sleep reasons.

tips i have tried, which might work for you;

*make teat hold bigger with sterilised needle so milk flows into babies mouth (theory is they have to swallow, dd2 disproved this, she can spit for England. which is handy )

*ensure milk is warm enough - ie body temp same as breast milk (tho your little one does take formula so maybe less of an issue)

*wait till they're hungry and then offer solids before milk

*mix breast milk to stuff to mush - banana etc

*keep offering solids, ideally three times a day when you and/or other children are eating so even if they don't join the meal they get the habit of mealtimes.

*get dh/dp or friend to offer milk while you go out/loiter in another room (which is what we're trying as i type. if dd2 asks, you ain't seen me...)

Original poster

angelbabies · 26/03/2008 15:52

Just had a reasonably successful go at BLW, DS had a good suck on some toast and broccoli although refused the mashed pots i'd lovingly prepared . He hasn't wanted much milk today but hopefully will have a good bottle before bed tonight . Thanks for your tips will give them a go. How are you finding getting someone else to feed? My DS will take a bottle from DP in the day but will not take from anyone but me in eve or through the night same applies to just general settling, he really is a mummy's boy and i do notice the difference having had my DD first !

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EnormousChangesAtTheLastMinute · 27/03/2008 15:39

twenty four hours later and we just had another refused bf, second one today. cries acts as though she's being starved so i cave in and she's on the breast for two mins max.

dh reckoned she took a mouthfull of formula from bottle last night but then rejected completely.

i just don't know what else to try. why won't she eat during the day?! how long will i be up all night?!

but glad to hear of your success with blw. i'll give brocolli a try. hope springs eternal, right?!
good luck with your weaning adventure!

Original poster

angelbabies · 27/03/2008 19:53

Really feel for you enormouschangesatthelastminute, when you know you're going to have a crap nights sleep because they won't feed during the day but are more than happy to oblige through the night . My DS took 9oz at 2am this morning but has had almost no other formula or breastmilk until I just put him down at 7 when he took 7oz, he's chewed on a bit of fingerfood but the feeling of dread is approching..... how many times will I be up tonight?!?* Also saw a HV today who was pretty bloody hopeless although she did manage to make me feel like a neurotic mother oh well, i'll be thinking of you in the early hours........

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