Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

What should I do. He hasn't had any milk in him since early this morning and now it's going for 2 pm...

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

When are you giving him his bottles??? Why don't you make sure he has his bottle first and then feed him the cereal a little while later...

Michael would have a bottle in the AM, then cereal about 1.5 hours later (around 10).

I always thought that the majority of their nutrition in the first year is from their formula/breastmilk and that giving cereal is just introducing them to the concept of eating - different textures, tastes, etc.

But what do I know - once your kid hits one you forget everything!!! Well it seems like that for me!

ETA - I always went by this "rule" (a fellow LIFer told me this)... if they are having 24oz or less of formula decrease the cereal intake - if more than 32oz of formula INCREASE the cereal and not give more formula. (This is formula in the bottle)

I could be OFF on the 24oz - it could be 20. I don't remember. Niecey is the one who told me this and that rule seemed to work well with Michael (my son).

Message edited 12/15/2006 2:16:26 PM.

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

Well he has 3 tbsp of cereal in the morning and 3 at night.

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

and he is getting his bottle first and he still acts this way...

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

I am going to decrease all his solids and give him 2 tbsp of each and see how he does.

If it was teething it would be worse. I don't think he would take the solids. I really think the solids may be the problem here. He finally had 3 1/2 ounces and that was a struggle. I am giving him no more solids for the rest of the day and start fresh tomorrow.

He opens wide for the solids. Because as soon as I took the bottle away and attempted the solids. He opened his mouth. So I am going to try taking some solids away from him and see if that makes a difference if not then he goes to the doctor on Monday. Because at this point I really don't know what to do anymore.

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

Is he refusing the bottle??? Maybe the nipple is too slow and he's getting frustrated. I mean you don't want to overfeed, but I understand that you are worried that he's not getting enough. It is all trial and error for a while but don't worry it will all work out!

Message edited 12/15/2006 4:25:01 PM.

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

Posted by mommy2bellabean

Posted by bedda26

I am going to decrease all his solids and give him 2 tbsp of each and see how he does.

If it was teething it would be worse. I don't think he would take the solids. I really think the solids may be the problem here. He finally had 3 1/2 ounces and that was a struggle. I am giving him no more solids for the rest of the day and start fresh tomorrow.

He opens wide for the solids. Because as soon as I took the bottle away and attempted the solids. He opened his mouth. So I am going to try taking some solids away from him and see if that makes a difference if not then he goes to the doctor on Monday. Because at this point I really don't know what to do anymore.

I think you need to step back and look at what you are saying. He wants the solids. Why would you take that away? You are supposed to be slowly getting him to do this and he is doing it. Why would you stop I wish Bella caught on that quickly to the solids. She flat-out refused them for a long time...this is the time where they start drinking LESS bottle and eat MORE solids. Solids is where the weight gain will come from. As long as they are hydrated and have wet diapers, force-feeding him a bottle is just mean.

What if you were hungry and somene kept giving you a glass of milk?

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

Posted by bedda26

Posted by mommy2bellabean

Posted by bedda26

I am going to decrease all his solids and give him 2 tbsp of each and see how he does.

If it was teething it would be worse. I don't think he would take the solids. I really think the solids may be the problem here. He finally had 3 1/2 ounces and that was a struggle. I am giving him no more solids for the rest of the day and start fresh tomorrow.

He opens wide for the solids. Because as soon as I took the bottle away and attempted the solids. He opened his mouth. So I am going to try taking some solids away from him and see if that makes a difference if not then he goes to the doctor on Monday. Because at this point I really don't know what to do anymore.

I think you need to step back and look at what you are saying. He wants the solids. Why would you take that away? You are supposed to be slowly getting him to do this and he is doing it. Why would you stop I wish Bella caught on that quickly to the solids. She flat-out refused them for a long time...this is the time where they start drinking LESS bottle and eat MORE solids. Solids is where the weight gain will come from. As long as they are hydrated and have wet diapers, force-feeding him a bottle is just mean.

What if you were hungry and somene kept giving you a glass of milk?

Didn't say I was going to flat out take out all the solids. Just decrease it a bit. The formula is still an important part of their nutrition until they are 1.

Getting him to one ounce was an hour struggle. He doesn't want water either so what are my options. Dehydrate him but let him have his solids.

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

Ok, please don't take this the wrong way, but you are creating a problem now. The doctor told you 20oz a day was fine. Is he falling on the floor from being undernourished? Is he sickly from being dehydrated? If not, you need to CHILL out. Seriously. You need to understand that all of your anxiety is being pawned off on him. If you relax, he will. There's no way to know for sure what is going on, but I'd really just relax. When he's hungry or thirsty, he will eat or drink. I can almost guarantee that. Have a drink and relax! He's fine!

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

Jordana is BF, but my doctor told me that her milk intake will defeinitely decrease the more solids she eats.

At 6 months, the doctor told me she should be getting around 20 oz of BM a day. I don't know how that translates into formula oz. I also can't confirm that is what she is getting since I nurse 2 of those feedings and 2 are bottles.

Message edited 12/15/2006 2:51:29 PM.

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

Sounds like your son is fine. Some days Julia drinks more days than others - some days she enjoys her solids more than others - I can't afford to drive myself crazy to over analyze everything she does and eats.

Babies are constanly changing as us adults are - your son may be teething and that is altering his eating habits a bit - as long as he is popping and has wet diapers - I wouldn't worry too much about it - he sounds like a healthy boy to me.

Message edited 12/15/2006 3:18:31 PM.

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

Personally, I would decrease his solid foods. He needs the formula more than the food. Right now food is to learn from- tastes, textures, how to eat etc.. it is not for his main nutrition. And I would not give him water..it is empty calories. The baby will NOT dehydrate because he is drinking. He would have to be refusing ALL food, drinks and sick in order to get to that point.
Give him a bottle then offer him the food.
Banannas can easily cause constipation.
I am not someone who asks for the doctors help very often. I just do what I feel is best. Formula or BM is the most important "food" for a baby until they are a year old so I work from that fact.

Message edited 12/15/2006 3:30:32 PM.

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

I have decided to decrease the cereal intake since that can be very filling. Instead of 3 tbsp I am going to try 2 But I'm not decreasing the fruits and veggies.

Yesterday he did better than the day before. He had 22 1/2 for the day that includes milk that went into his cereal. Last night he even had a 6 oz bottle and then a 5 oz bottle 4 hours later.

I'm still undecided about changing the nipple size. We'll see how it goes.

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

I would bet the nipple size is the problem. Once they realize they can get full quick with food who wants to waste time and energy ssucking on a bottle for a few drops at a time. What are you undecided about?

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

I wanted to say that although formula is an important part of his nutrition, the goal of babyhood in some senses is to train the baby to eat solid food. I would keep everything you are doing exactly the same...our jobs as mothers is to train this kid to leave the nest one day and right now, he is in training to be on a diet of solids! Keep everything the same, feed the kid as much as he will eat and if he turns his face away...well, he has had enough for now, try again later.

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

I would say he is getting 20 ounce. 4x4=16+4=20. If he is happy and not fussy I would not worry

Message edited 12/17/2006 8:02:11 PM.

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...

I really would try not to worry so much. As long as he still has wet diapers, and he isn't crying or in serious distress, then all is good. When they start on solids the formula/milk intake should naturally decrease. And think about it, babies are HUMAN. Some days they'll be more hungry than others. Some days I'm stark raving mad hungry and other days I have no appetite at all - it's completely normal, particularly when they are teething. When Alex is teething, which is quite often, she'll go DAYS without drinking much milk, but she'll eat a lot. I believe the s u c k i n g motion to get the milk out of the bottle hurts their little gums more than eating mushy foods. Whatever he wants, I'd say give it to him. His body will demand and ask for what he needs.

Re: Don't know what to do anymore...