Help....Fussy Bottle Feeder

Upsydaisytoo · #1 (**permalink**) 07-04-09, 21:30

My friend has a wee boy, age 22 weeks. He was 4 weeks premature. Was wondering if anyone could give me any advice as all the advice so far has been very helpful but not very successful. Anyway LO has been on Aptimal stage 1 and doing fine until 1 month ago, he has became very, very, very fussy ad upset when taking his bottle to the point today he only took in total 25oz when he should be taking 35oz approx. This is becoming very stressful 'cos as a Mum it is your job to fill them up and he is not playing the game. He takes the 1st wee bit fine and then stops and thats it. Very difficult to get him to take any more. Some people have suggested weaning and some suggested teething but have not started weaning yet as he is only 22 wks and was premature. He is putting on average 5oz per week and seems happy except when trying to feed. Have also tried a thousand different flowing teats. Teething gel before feed, Infacol.....help. Any experience suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance xx

rachaelmae · #2 (**permalink**) 07-04-09, 21:37

sippy cup? longer between feeds? smaller more frequent feeds?...

hmmm some los are just not milk drinkers!! every feed was a battle with JM she thrived on weaning..

will keep thinking..

Upsydaisytoo · #3 (**permalink**) 07-04-09, 21:49

Thanks so much Rachelmae....am still on the phone to her and have read her your reply. She was thinking of a sippy cup too. Could be a winner

rachaelmae · #4 (**permalink**) 07-04-09, 22:13

does he show an interest in food? or appear to be ready for weaning?

if hes still gaining weight thats great, i know its a worry thou

maybe hes just having an off spell and will hopefully start drinking more! does he drink water ok?

he hasnt got a blocked nose or cold?

hope your friend gets some success!!xx

ladybug · #5 (**permalink**) 07-04-09, 22:44

Has he maybe got oral thrush hon? Would make his wee mouth sore. Check for the white dots etc.

rachaelmae · #6 (**permalink**) 08-04-09, 07:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladybug

Has he maybe got oral thrush hon? Would make his wee mouth sore. Check for the white dots etc.

lol was laying in bed last night thinking the same thing...

EvansMum · #7 (**permalink**) 08-04-09, 07:31

My litttle man was 4 weeks prem and in SCBU for 2 weeks. I started to wean him onto food when he was about 4 and a half months and he was fine. I started him off on the baby rice, I think. If your friends LO isnt ready for it, he wont take it! Maybe she should just try it and see if it helps???

I remember debating on when to wean Evan as he was early, some say do it from their actual birth date and others say do it from their due date IYGWIM? If he was something like 8 weeks prem, then I would say wait, but at 4 weeks prem, if he was ok at birth and been hes drinking milk ok up until now, then I personally dont see why she cant start weaning him now!

cole · #8 (**permalink**) 11-04-09, 09:19

Georgia was 9 weeks early and only drunk about that much on a good day. Theo was 5 weeks prem and drunk about 50oz of milk. I think it could be teething, just being fussy, ready for weaning, thrush (theo suffered a lot with this), unwell.

I was advised to go with my baby with regard to weaning a premature baby. Theo was ready for food at about 4 months but made him wait till 6 other than a few tastes. With Georgia she is and always has been a fussy eater and wasnt really ready for food till about 9 months but was adivsed to feed her a 4 months cause of reflux. In my honest opinion that was a load of crap as it did not help her reflux one bit and she was not ready for food and I forced her and now she is a fussy monkey.

Oh well we live and learn xxx

samsmith2006 · #9 (**permalink**) 17-04-09, 11:02

Has she tried buying a carton of ready made formular in a diff brand? Maybe a diff taste will encourage him to take more.

It took 4 diff typres before I found one my 1st daughter would drink a full bottle of. I ended up buying the ready made ones or I was wasting whole boxes of the stuff.

CarlaK · #10 (**permalink**) 22-04-09, 22:58

My LO was 8 weeks prem and I used the 'closer to nature' teats.

What about moving LO only stage 2 apitmal? My LO was also on aptimal and she was a lot happier when I moved her up a stage- I think she felt more satisfied.

I waited to wean- she let me know when she was ready for it. She weaned at 8 months (6 months corrected age)