WWYD? Feeding related and long

libbyk86

DD has never been a good eater. Since about the 4 month mark, we have a major problem getting her to take an appropriate amount of formula. It's been an on and off thing. It seemed like she'd go through spurts where she was fine and then we'd be back to struggling to get her to take more than a couple of ounces at a time.

At the 6 month mark, we started solids, and she's done great with those. She did, however, drop off in her formula consumption even further. At 7 months, the pedi encouraged us to go to two meals. Again, her formula consumption dropped. Since about 7.5 months, she's been taking more finger foods and the sippy sometimes at meals. She LOVES feeding herself, which is great. However, for several weeks now she just about won't take the bottle for me at all.

Every bottle is a major struggle with me coaxing her to take more than an oz or two. She has been averaging 21-23 oz on a good day. Today she's on track for more like 15 or 16 (with 2 solid meals). She does marginally better taking bottles at the sitter's house, but still not great. I will say, though, that she seems perfectly happy and healthy otherwise. DH thinks she doesn't want the bottle/formula because she prefers to eat table food. 

In the past, when I express concern to the pedi about how much she's eating, the dr. plays it off like it's nothing to be concerned about as long as she's having wet diapers, etc. She acts like it's just a phase.  Well this is a phase going on for many months now. 

Would you try a different formula?  (She currently takes Sam's club brand generic for enfamil gentlease with lipil.) Just about the time I make the decision to try to switch her, she starts doing fine again. I've considered the idea that she might need to be on soy, but she eats yogurt and cheese with no problems. Her only "symptom" is the desire to not take a bottle or drink formula at all (even out of the sippy). 

Love2Teach

I feel your pain--my kid does the same thing to me.  He'll go on a bottle strike for several days or a week at a time.  On the worst days, he'll hit maybe 16oz.  I think it might have something to do with teething a lot of the time.

When he has several bad days in a row, I do limit his solids (he LOVES anything I put on a spoon) to force him to increase his formula intake.  I'm not sure that switching formulas is going to make a difference, especially if your LO takes it without a problem most of the time.  GL!

alli&pat

first, i'm sorry you're feeling stressed over this.  try to find some solace in what your pedi said.  sure, there is a goal as far as # of ozs of formula in a day, but some babies just dont drink as much and looking at diapers is where you know if there is a problem. 

have you considered a cup?  i know my DS struggles with bottles when teething and has mouth pain.  it's the sucking motion that hurts them.  or maybe she just doesn't like a bottle.  may be worth investing in various cups - ideally ones that don't require a lot of sucking (we like the take n toss ones)