My DS does not want to eat today :( what could be wrong? - Updated in another post - please share if you have any advice :(

So starting last night DS appears to have no appetite and then, when i try to nurse him he nurses for a few minutes and then gets upset - pulls away and yells and squirms and looks around until i hold him back up. He'll try again a few times maybe for a few minutes and then the same reaction. He has barely eaten today except for his first feeding of the day. i don't know how many ounces b/c i am excl. nursing. He usually eats 5 times per day and now we are looking at 4 barely eating times.

But, other than that he is completely himself - happy laughing and totally normal...what could be wrong with him?

he is 5 mos. I thought he might be teeting b/c he is knawing on everything - pressing his knuckles against his gums etc. but, his gums feel just the same to me? Could it be my milk? Maybe it tastes funny? Should I try a formula bottle?

ETA: UPDATED BELOW.

Message edited 2/10/2008 8:05:14 PM.

Re: My DS does not want to eat today :( what could be wrong?

It could definitely be teething. It does funny things to babies. I just hope it passes soon!

Re: My DS does not want to eat today :( what could be wrong?

Thank you for responding.

He is still doing this today so now it has been Fri, Sat. Sun...he is eating really at only 4 feedings a day and sometimes not very much at the fourth. But, otherwise - he is having wet and dirty diapers (2 today) and is fine otherwise - sleeping normally and happy. It is almost like he has no interest in eating - he will nurse for 5-10 minutes and then he is bored - looking around, wanting to play - anything but eat. Sometimes I can get him to eat again sometimes I can't. In fact he is pulling off of me to suck on his hands, bib, burp cloth, he will even "play" at my chest - blowing bubbles on me but not suck!

But, this is making me crazy :( :( I even tried yesterday pumping and giving him a bottle - again, he took it for like 6 min and then that was it :( My next step is to try formula I think to see if that works :(

Message edited 2/10/2008 8:04:42 PM.

Re: My DS does not want to eat today :( what could be wrong? - Updated in another post - please share if you have any advice :(

DS is going through the EXACT same thing. He is teething and it's bad. He is barely gaining weight, but the pediatrician saw him and said it was normal. She said as long as he's not losing weight, this is normal for a small period of time. He's acting as if he forgot how to latch on my breast. Don't give up!

Re: My DS does not want to eat today :( what could be wrong? - Updated in another post - please share if you have any advice :(

Definitely don't give up! DS has gone through this a couple of times. In fact, we went through it again yesterday because he has been teething so much. It could be just a nursing strike. This article was really helpful to me.

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/strike.html

Good luck!!!

Re: My DS does not want to eat today :( what could be wrong? - Updated in another post - please share if you have any advice :(

My son started this around the same time too. I thought it was a phase and it would go away and it has gotten worse. (I had written in my baby book for my 1st son's 5th month that at this time he got fussy with bottles - curious about the wrold around him and trying to hold it himself - but he was eating more at this time).

He is now down to 3 bottles - anywhere from 15-22 oz a day - I 'd say 18 on average. He had been drinking more like 28. For now I have been adding more formula to his cereal now and I added a 3rd meal a day earlier than I planned to since he does eat his solids meals mine. I know at my 5 mo visit my dr was fine with him going down under 20 (as long as their is wet diapers and weight gain - which is no problem here - he is over 20lbs already) but it still bothers me because he won't take a bottle at all before 2pm unless he wakes up super early and needs it to fall back asleep. I have my 6th mo visit this week and going to see what they think. I doubt he is teething related since his brother got his 1st tooth at 13.5 mos old and I don't see any coming thru. I see he is teething in a way but not near to breaking thru.

Message edited 2/11/2008 6:41:30 AM.