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Have a healthy baby that doesn't eat a lot?

BigPoppa22BigPoppa22 member
in Babies: 3 - 6 Months
My DS was in the NICU on feeding tubes for a full month, and is out, healthy, and 5 months +  1 week now.  The NICU had said that different babies adjust to regular feeding at different rates, some 2-3 days off the tube, others weeks or months.  My LO just doesn't get it.  Doesn't like to eat, fights us half the time and we have to force it down (just lightly tapping the bottom of the bottle so a few drops come out at a time).  We try to dream feed him a few times per day to save the trouble. We have tried to keep a pretty regular 3-4 hour schedule, and we have tried to let him lead and feed on demand.  He does not increase the amount he eats every day by feeding on demand.  We consulted with Speech & Swallow specialists maybe 5 times at the NICU and see a gastroenterologist every month, who has him on 27 calorie formula to make up for the feeding issues.  We continue to feed him every night at midnight, and 5 am, while he is sleeping because he won't make up for the missed calories if we cut it out.  For the past 2.5 months now, he has been eating 20 - 22 ounces per day, not increasing.

That last bit has me stressed all of the time.  That is really not a lot of formula and he is getting pretty old now!  The gastro has told me not to stress.  He is healthy, and eating issues aside, he has been gaining 1 lb - 1.4 lb every month (except one month where an ear infection derailed gain for 2 weeks).  He is 15.8 lbs now, and has stayed in the 30-35 percentile weight and 35-40 percentile height since he was 2 months old.   I just worry that at some point, it will catch up to him and he will not grow as he should be.  Also, the ways we have to feed him are stressful and I worry about future eating habits, whether it will always be this hard, etc.

So...  after that long rant...  do any of you have normal, healthy babies that are not big eaters?  Still thriving, but on much less formula/milk than you peers?  Does seeing people post about their 18 lb baby who eat 35-40 oz a day make you cringe/sad/jealous?   Anyone else out there?
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Re: Have a healthy baby that doesn't eat a lot?

  • VPGIRL06VPGIRL06 member

    My little girl has always been in the 75th-80th percentile (she was 8lbs 12 oz coming out and at 6 months was 18lbs even) and has ALWAYS eaten less than the "norm".  She goes days where she eats maybeee 15 oz if I'm lucky (i'm too pushing to get it in for her!) and she won't wake up at night for more, and the nweeks where she's on average taking in 20-22. she eventually increases (right now we're more at a normal 26-28oz)but it doesn't mean she won't drop her intake again.

    and she's completely healthy, gaining and growing at a healthy pace, wet diapers, doesn't seem dehydrated, etc.  Some babies don't need as much as others and as long as he's growing and doesn't seem like it's hurting him-just keep doing what you're doing.  I would ask the doctor if cutting out the night feedings is/isn't a good idea before you do something like that, and I can definitely see where contemplating that is scary (when my LO used to go on her hunger strikes and only intake 14-18oz I ended up buying a scale!). the smallest thing causes my LO to loose her appetite-teething, wonder week, grandma visiting, the dog barking a lot, sickness-anything and everything. i'm the same way!

    BabyFetus Ticker Little Riley-our first little girl coming March 1st, 2013 (or sometime around there;)
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  • HmschultzHmschultz member
    Hi- LO did not have eating issue per say but LO was tongue tied and for a while eating was very stressful. I saw a speech language pathologist who helped us make eating less stressful. If you can find one who works with babies they might be able to help you out. Look for someone who specialized in pediatric dyshpagia- this way you know they have experience with babies. That is how I found mine. Hope that helps. 
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  • oandmplus1oandmplus1 member
    We struggled for a long time with feeding my DD, we were often only getting 12 to 15 ounces in her, then all at once she just started doing better. She was never a big eater though, and never quite ate as much as other babies, but her growth has always been ok.
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  • gradbethgradbeth member
    My LO sometimes only eats 18-20 a day, a good day is 22-24.  This is perfectly normal.  She's growing/gaining weight and very happy.  Don't focus too much on how much your LO is eating, just focus on the weight gain and making sure they have the wet diapers.  If your doc says LO is healthy, he probably is!
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  • BigPoppa22BigPoppa22 member
    Thanks for all of the support, I feel a bit relieved! 
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