Feeding and Sleeping - Help, Please!

strawny0807 · December 2013

Hi Ladies,

So, LO has been a tough cookie with eating and sleeping from the beginning and now I'm at my wits end. She will only eat 2-3oz. at a time no matter how long I space out her feedings. It's usually 2oz. but once or twice a day she'll eat 3oz. Since she eats so little at a time, she isn't sleeping longer than 3-4 hours at night. I'm not asking for a 12 hour night, but 6-7 hours would be great.

Do you have any advice as to how to increase her intake per feeding? She also is only drinking around 15oz. of formula per day (I'm calling the pediatrician tomorrow but the last time I called, he wasn't concerned). I'm using the fast-flow nipple, but it still takes her forever to drink 2oz.

I'm hoping the if I can get her drink more formula per feeding that she'll start to sleep longer at night. I should add that last night when she woke in the MOTN she only drank 1oz. Seriously, one.shitting.ounce.

Any advice you ladies have would be great. I don't know how much longer I can walk around like a zombie. I never thought I'd have an 8-month old that sleeps like a newborn.

Thank you!!

botanicalbliss · December 2013

I wish my kid would go 3-4 hours at a time regularly...

strawny0807 · December 2013

@botanicalbliss - I didn't say she sleeps 3-4 hours regularly, I just said that's as long as she'll sleep, ever.

Oohgurl · December 2013

Have you tried different formulas? Maybe there is something going on that you dont know about. Gas, reflux etc.

strawny0807 · December 2013

@beaubecca - we have started solids and she loves them. She eats 2 tbp. of cereal and 3-4 jars of food per day. Unfortunately, the solids haven't helped her sleep and it certainly hasn't helped her formula intake. I think she dislikes her formula even more now.

strawny0807 · December 2013

@Oohgurl - we have tried every formula. She is now on prescription formula for all kinds of allergies. Unfortunately, we are at the last formula possible. I'm sure it tastes gross, it smells awful and when the film dries on the inside of the bottle, it turns black. There are flavor packets for the formula but its only for 1-year old and up.

Oohgurl · December 2013

I would up the cereal. I think some pedi's recommend 4 tablespoons of cereal/oatmeal a day at this age. I would do 2 tablespoons of oatmeal mixed with fruit before bed. Worth a try.

Eta: make sure you are making oatmeal with formula to sneak an extra little bit of formula per day in.

strawny0807 · December 2013

Oohgurl - I will try to up her cereal intake. I'll have to do a better job of hiding it- she isn't a fan. And I do make it with her formula.

sarajim06 · December 2013

Maybe she's eating too much food? And isn't hungry for her bottle? Just a thought. Sorry you're dealing with this! That must be frustrating!

Shoegal36 · December 2013

I don't have any advice but I'm pretty much going through the exact same thing except LO is BF. She is waking every 1.5 - 2 hours at night so I decided to try giving her bottles to see how much she would drink during the day and she stops at 2 or 3 oz. I only get about 2 oz when I pump so even though I know they get more than a pump can...I think she is snacking. She has done a 4 hr stretch maybe twice in the last 3 months and it was amazing.

I give her 4 tbsp of cereal in the morning and veggies with meat or cereal for supper and it hasn't helped at all. It hasn't gotten worse...but it hasn't helped.

I've tried putting formula in the bottles to see if it would help and it doesn't. Also, any more than 1 oz of formula mixed in and she won't drink it.

I have tried stretching her feedings (not making her go hungry, but waiting until she actually shows signs of hunger) and I've also tried feeding her more often.

I have no clue what to do.

If you figure it out, let me know!

strawny0807 · December 2013

I have tried to limit her solids in hopes of getting her to take more formula but that back-fired.

Stubborn child...

Thanks for all of your posts!

@scormier123 - sorry you are having a hard time too. I guess these babies will sleep at some point, right? By that time, I might be bat-shit crazy and DD will be an insomniac. She already wakes up tired.

(

1and1is3 · December 2013

Did the 2-3 oz thing just start out had this been ongoing? I'm asking because I've read that they eat less when they're teething. If you feel the formula is the problem, you might be able to get donated breast milk to try. Idk if your comfortable with that but thought I would suggest it.

Also, Autumn went through this for 3 months and the only way she slept longer than two hours at a time at night was when I stretched her to eating every three hours during the day instead of every two. I think you said you already tried that but it might be worth trying again. The reason I stretched her is that she was only snacking and never really eating. So when she got fussy instead of feeding her right away I'd distract her with a toy. Distraction will only work if they're not truly hungry though because a friend tried the same technique and her baby just screamed his head off til he was fed. So if you're going to try it, I suggest having a bottle ready to go in case she is hungry and won't allow herself to be distracted. I know how frustrating getting up every hour our two can be so ((hugs)) that it will get better soon!!

mlandwehr · December 2013

is your LO eating solids yet?

Blueyed228 · December 2013

How far apart are her bottles?

strawny0807 · December 2013

@1and1is3 - my DD is on special formula because of allergies, she can't be on anything else. I suppose her intake could have tanked because she is teething. She just cut her first tooth and the second is right behind it. I also distract her, usually we go for a walk if it isn't "time" to eat yet.

@mlandwehr - yes, she is eating solids and generally eats a lot (I offer her a bottle first) but today she doesn't want to eat anything.

@Blueyed228 - I usually offer her a bottle every 3 hours. However, today we were at a Christmas party so I just waited for her to get fussy to give her a bottle. It was 4 hours since her last bottle and she still ate only 2oz.

Her total for today is 8 whopping ounces. She'll have one more bottle before bed so we might get to 11. And she doesn't want to eat any solids for dinner.

I feeling like I'm doing something wrong but I don't know how to fix it!!!

(

And thank you for all of your responses!

coffeeandbooks · December 2013

My LO is in the exact same situation, 2 oz per feed, almost every time but will tank up before bed a bit more. Is your LO ok with weight/weight gain? If yes, I personally don't think it is a problem, and the sleep issue could just be its own unrelated thing.

1and1is3 · December 2013

It sounds like you're doing everything you can do... It may just have to play itself out. Or she may have a ginormous poop she needs to get out. Even with that in mind, I would call your pediatrician. If nothing else, than for your own piece of mind. Hope it clears itself up!!

edit: I don't think you're doing anything wrong. You're doing a great job! I know how frustrating eating/sleeping issues can be. ((hugs))

flyliceandcoffee · December 2013

I can't imagine how hard this must be! Just out of curiosity, what happens if shorten the time between feedings so she'll actually eat more during the day instead of trying to lengthen the time? If she's only eating 2 oz, but that's every 3 hours, what happens if you do 2 oz every 2 hours during the day? I'm just thinking that that would increase her intake during the day even if the amount she's drinking at any one time doesn't increase, and then maybe she'll start to sleep longer at night? I know for S, no matter how long she goes between feedings, there's only so much she'll eat, even if I know she should be hungrier and eat more. When she starts to do that, I just offer her bottles more often.

PumpkinAndThePeanut · December 2013

No advice, my kids aren't good sleepers. Solids hasn't really helped us sleep longer stretches either.
But I just wanted to say I'm sorry for your poor baby. It must be tough to dislike her formula so much.

Lolalipsy · December 2013

@scormier123 this is us to a tee. I timed my wakings last night and E was working on every 1.5 hours, taking a short drink then back to sleep. I don't know how I pass as alive.

@strawny0807 no advice but I hope this isn't forever.

coffeeandbooks · December 2013

@strawny0807 - I typically have a two ounce feeder during the day too and I do what @crazycoffeegirl recommends just feeding him more often. I had stretched the time between feedings thinking he would eat more but he didn't so I feed on demand and basically just offer him the bottle a lot. I think he would be considered a grazer because of this but that is what it is taking. Curious to know though if your lo is underweight and what your pedi says since I have a similar situation. Our pedi wasn't concerned because LO is average weight but I understand your concern..

Blueyed228 · December 2013

Just a reaching thought, but have you tried different bottles/nipples? Sippy cup?

Its probably not that because you said she isn't showing signs of hunger, but maybe its worth a shot?

strawny0807 · December 2013

Thanks so much for all of the comments ladies!!

@crazycoffeegirl - I was feeding her every 2 hours but I thought she was just snacking which is why I tried to stretch out her feedings. Since that backfired, I'm going back to every 2 hours,max.

@mslaurats - at least I'm not the only one with a small eater. My other mom friends look at me like I'm the devil when I make DD a 3oz. hoping she might eat 2.5oz. One actually asked why I'm withholding food from her...the nerve!! Also, my LO is not underweight by any means. At 7 months she was 17.5 lb. which is why her pedi is not concerned.

@Blueyed228 - funny you should say that, I just bought her 2 different bottles to try. When she was a newborn she'd only drink from one kind but maybe she needs a change now. I'm also going to try the sippy cup.

On a good note, she actually slept really well, only 1 wake up in almost 12 hours AND she's already had 9oz today. I count that as a win!! I did notice that a second tooth just popped through the gum overnight so maybe that was the problem after all.

coffeeandbooks · December 2013

@strawny0807
yeah if your baby is a good weight than I really don't it is an issue. The problem is more other people's expectations and what they think is normal.
IMO...there is a genetic predisposition to what your LO is going to weigh and your LO has a natural intelligence about how much he/she needs to eat.

strawny0807 · December 2013

@mslaurats - I totally agree with you! It's just alarming to see a tiny 4 month old eat 4oz. bottles and then there's my chunk of an 8 month old that eats 2-3oz. But, DH and I are both thin and graze all day so I guess DD gets it honestly.

DD is happy and healthy so I guess I should just stop worrying about her food.

mlandwehr · December 2013

@strawny - my dr. said to offer soilds first then a bottle, just an idea if she eats anything, solids/bottle before maybe she i will sleep.

But i bet you have tried everything

Want a personalized experience?

Feeding and Sleeping - Help, Please!

Re: Feeding and Sleeping - Help, Please!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards