Turning feeding into an Olympic sport...

FrauElyse

I know I haven't posted here in awhile, but I've been reading and trying to keep up in the midst of all the craziness that's been going on around here (finish MA, family illnesses, etc.).  I'd also like to thank you all again for all of your help with DS when we were trying to figure out his acid reflux.

Anyway, so his medicine is working great and he's even started to not have some of his high needs behaviours (like needing to be held constantly).  I can put him down for naps (most of the time), and he sleeps on his own mattress in our room (again, most of the time).  He also loves other people and is totally social...the pedi even commented on what a happy, flirty little sprout he was.  He's loaded with energy and smiles.  Problem is, he doesn't stop when it's time to eat.

We had to bottle-feed and when he gets hungry, he starts smacking his lips or putting his fist to his mouth (we do some sign language with him).  So, we feed him...but then halfway through the bottle, he starts wiggling all over the place.  We burp him really well and then start feeding him again, but he keeps on wiggling.  And if you set the bottle down, he gets mad, so he's clearly not done.  He just wants to move around (he does this even when you're just holding him too).  My mom almost dropped him when we visited last week because he was wiggling so much when she was feeding him!  

So, my question is...does anyone have any advice short of tying him down (which obviously I would never do)?  I don't want him to feel like he can't wiggle and explore, but I also don't want him to get hurt, not eat, etc.  (He does this when you change him too...constantly trying to roll to his tummy, but I can sometimes distract him with a toy then.)  I've tried turning everything off (even the lights can distract him sometimes) and then feeding him, but it doesn't seem to help.

Also, he has this new thing with grabbing faces.  I keep his nails trimmed but sometimes it really hurts.  

TIA for any advice at all! 

 

3003girl

Welcome to feeding an active baby! My LO became a "gymnastic" eater (I nursed her) around the age she started crawling  (6 months) and never really looked back. I did find that she was calmer when she was sitting up as opposed to laying down or being cradled. She also did ok with a necklace or playing with something around my neck wil ensuring. I'm not sure if you can transfer those things over to bottle feeding. 

Good luck! 

FrauElyse

I try to sit him up as best I can amid all the wiggling, but maybe we should try some other positions.  He's getting really tall, and I think that's adding to the problem (DH and I are both really tall, so it's expected).  He also does like to play with my necklace when I'm just holding him, so maybe I can find something for him to hold that won't keep him from getting to the bottle.  Thanks!  Good to know I'm not the only one with a future gymnast!