I'm sure we aren't the only parents who have faced this issue with their infant, but it seems so backwards. Collen will NOT drink his milk. Well....he doesn't flat out refuse it, but he won't drink much of it...at all. I'm used to babies sucking down bottles like they're going to be taken away from them!! But ever since we started solids, Collen has been elusive when the bottle has been presented to him.
He is now on formula only. (:(....makes me sad) I tried to keep up, but my body just wouldn't let me. I was on Reglan, trying to boost my supply, but as soon as I stopped using the Reglan, it would drop right back down. For a while, I pumped and supplemented with formula, but then it became difficult to keep up with Collen and find time to pump during the day. So, I had to make the difficult decision to switch him over completely. I think it was harder for me than for him.
Anyway, so the formula doesn't seem to be disagreeing with him. He is on the Target brand of formula, and he actually does better with that than Similac (wooo...saves some major $$$!!) For awhile, he was doing great...taking 6oz per bottle, about 4-5 times a day. And that was with 2 meals a day of solids. For some reason, though, he just won't take in the volume he once did. I'm lucky if I get 20oz in him a day.
Usually, he will take about 5oz in the morning when he wakes up. Throughout the day, I offer him bottles in about 4 hour intervels, (with a snack bottle in the afternoon) and the most I can get him to take is about 3oz with each bottle. By the time 5 o'clock rolls around, he might have had 10oz...maybe 12. He will usually get a big bottle in (6oz) before bed. So, most days, he's getting anywhere from 18-22oz or so.
It's so strange to me, and the micromanager in me starts to become frazzled because I have a number in my head all day....a minimum (I believe the minimum he should be getting is 24oz)...and if hasn't reached the minimum, I start stressing out.
I'm trying to just go by his cues and feed him when he wants it. He isn't dehydrated, he has enough wet diapers, he has plenty of drool. Hopefully, this is just a phase, and he'll get back to taking larger amounts soon.
Still....I have never heard of a baby NOT wanting a bottle....crazy!! I tell him all the time, he's missing out on some good stuff (although, I have no idea how he drinks that stuff...yuck). I don't know if it's teething related or not. He doesn't seem to be bothered by teething, but then again....it's hard to really KNOW when they can't tell you what's wrong. But, if it's his top teeth, I would think it could be a factor because I would imagine those are tough.
He still isn't sleeping well. He wakes up several times throughout the night. I have toyed around with giving him a bottle later in the night....around 11 or so. That was when I wasn't able to get him to take a good bottle before bed. That seemed to help, but he still woke up 3 or 4 times. I'm hoping this is a phase, too....because I stay exhausted. He times it perfectly - as soon as I've gotten comfortable and almost asleep....he wakes up. Makes for a long night.
If any of you have experienced this or happen to have some insight....it's all welcome. :) 
When ours started becoming ready for their cups, they started not liking the bottle as much. Do you think that, perhaps, he is ready to try a sippy or straw cup? Ours never took to the sippy style cup, but give them a straw and they were never looking back!
ReplyDeletethis sounds exactly like my daughter(my second as well). my oldest would guzzle bottles and never seem to be full but my daughter was so tricky with eating.it could be teething because the suction on the bottle they say hurts their gums but also when my daughter started solids she would get so full on them she didn't want much milk. it gets so tricky to balance it, but i remember my pediatrican said sometimes to try giving the bottle first at one of the meals so they're really good and hungry instead of after the food.
ReplyDeletethis is my first time commenting and both of your babies are adorable!
My fourth child was very similar. Just not interested in a bottle once solids started. He was on a sippy cup at 6 months and flat out refused a bottle. I fretted something awful over this. The doctor was not the least concerned. He is now 13 and as healthy as can be. Try not to worry if he's eating good, he'll be okay.
ReplyDeleteWhen Alexander stopped drinking milk and was super fussy about the formula, we decided to switch him to soy formula. HUGE difference. It was a bit more expensive but he had started sleeping through the night and we never had another issue. Just a thought for ya...maybe it's just a phase, though. Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter, who is now two, never loved her bottles. I had the same issue and always worried she wasn't getting enough. We wasted so much money because she never finished a bottle. The doctors would tell me she needed more but I couldn't force her to drink more. She never drank the recommended amount. I worried for a whole year but she is now a healthy two year old. I am hoping with my next child, I will not stress so much about counting ounces. Good luck! I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone! :)
ReplyDeleteHey Lyndsay,
ReplyDeleteLittle Collen is so adorable. I am not sure if you mentioned this, but is he on solid foods? If so it could be that he is enjoying those and getting busier so he just isn't as into the bottle anymore...or not as starving for it because he is getting food. That happened with both my kids and same thing with some of my friends. If he isn't on solid foods yet, he could just be more aware of all the fun things there are to do now that he is bigger, so he fills up with enough to get him by, and then is done. Don't stress over it...as long as he is happy and growing I wouldn't worry. I know that is hard when you have a specific number in your head, but just think, when you nurse you can't go with an exact oz so don't feel so pressured to get those last few oz. Plus, remember it doesn't have to be exact...those numbers are a guide to by...every baby is different so there isn't an exact one size fits all...some babies might eat a little more and some might set a few oz less.
Hang in there...I think it's pretty normal, but if you are really worried, talk to your pediatrician and see if he can offer some tips. You guys are in our prayers!
Maybe try a different bottle? Or a larger holed nipple? Then it could come out a little faster so maybe he'll get more in a short amount of time. It could be that he gets bored now and doesnt want to just sit for longer...
ReplyDeleteI nannyed for a baby who hated bottles and we did this. Well, he hated food too... he's like 20 months now and is still barely 20lbs.
When I was about his age, my mom stopped breast feeding as well. I refused to take a bottle of milk period. I only would drink water or juice. My mom struggled for a long time trying to get me to dairy and calcium that I needed. Come to find out I loved yogurt and that was her way of getting me what I needed. Come to find out when I got older that I am lactose intolerant. Hope this helps!! :)
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ReplyDeleteBella is 8 months and only takes about 3 1/2-4 ounces every 3 to 4 hours. She also eats 1 container of baby food 3 times a day and her growth has been good. I have tried to get her to eat more but she just gets frustrated and I finally decided that if she was still hungry, she would eat more. As far as sleep...she also wakes up 3 to 4 times a night and I am almost positive it is more of a seperation anxiety thing. I am really going to buckle down on routine this upcoming week and see if I can get her back on the feed-wake-sleep schedule that she did so well on. So I am with you on the feeding and sleep issues and it can certaintly be tiring. Hope Collen gets his schedule down pat soon as well!:)
ReplyDeleteyup... both Caden and Rigg did that. And I fretted over it...and there was nothing wrong. They just liked food over bottle. Rigg still gives me a hard time with drinking milk occasionally... he wants water. Hang in there,and remember... he will eat if he is hungery, just keep offering.
ReplyDeleteI used to mix milk in with food when I went onto solids. That way he will still be getting the milk it will also make food a little more tastier.
ReplyDeleteDont worry to much about it though he is just getting used to solids and enjoying them. x
I have been reading your blog for a while and have never posted. But we have a 6month old (will be 7 on the 8th) and she did this last month and still some now. We have found it was teething related. It took her about a month and will from day to day depending on how fussy she is. I hope this helps you.
ReplyDeleteFletcher is 7 months and since he started solids he has been doing this too. He will drink 3 ounces every few hours, but before that he was taking six. He is in a bad habit of wanting a bottle or two in the middle of the night. I want to break him of that, but hey if he is getting his liquids I am fine with that. Plus, Fletcher is a BIG boy and is still growing fine so I am sure it isn't a big deal. :)
ReplyDeleteMy child is 11 months old...will never take more than 4 ounces in a bottle/cup...she is small..but just fine. Babies come in all different shapes and sizes and grow and develop as they need to. There is no minumum required as long as your baby is growing on his (not everyone else's...his) growth curve and meeting normal developmental milestones. If you were nursing, you'd have no idea how many ounces he was taking...and that is perfectly okay, as long as he is happy, healthy, and growing! There is no perfect amount of milk.
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteBabies have a mind of their own, which you well know:) I think Jonah did the same thing. He was in daycare, and they had started switching to sippys at some point..regardless, I would give him his bottle as "meals" and food as snacks..not sure if that's how you are doing it or not?
Bottom line, as long as collen is making pee diapers and not dehydrated, you are fine. Don't focus on the number (like others were saying)...these babies are smart..they know when they are thirsty and when they are just being stubborn because it is so much more fun to play..
I wouldn't worry about it too much, but that is easier said than done!! As for sleeping through the night, I have no idea...I remember with Jonah at 4 months he randomly started sleeping, then a month later woke up, then slept the next month, then finally got on a pattern...I'm not sure what makes them wake...could be teething, could be anything...if he is fed, diapered, warm and snug, maybe see if he will fall back to sleep on his own after giving him his passy or something? you are his momma, so only you and jeremy know if he is crying because he is upset, uncomfortable, hungry, or if he is crying because he just wants to be with you..either way is hard, but once you feel like he is at a point he can self-soothe, see what happens...it does get better:)
I'm not one to comment much but since I can relate so well, I thought I'd put in my two cents :) It was always such a struggle getting my son to take his bottle too. He hardly ever finished it and it stressed me out so much! The one thing I've learned is you can't make them eat and you can't make them sleep. As far as the bottle goes, just do your best at making it available for him and if he doesn't drink it, let it go. He won't starve.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is just a few weeks older than your son. Her sleep habits are terrible too. She wakes up 3-4 times a night also. I think it's the whole separation anxiety. My son was this way and eventually he got with the program and started sleeping better. If it helps, you are not the only tired mom of an almost 8 month old out there. I'm exhausted girl! Ha! Hang in there. Sounds like you are doing a great job.
Lurker, now commenter :). Gabe was like this with any powder formula. He wouldn't drink it and what ever he did drink of it made him get up constantly throughout the night, due to a tummy ache. We ended up getting ready to feed and he's slept through the night and drank it like a champ. We also used Similac, but the sensitive kind. And we also tried the Target brand. I suggest going and buying a bottle of RTF Similac, it seems expensive, but in reality it cost the same as if you were to buy a cannister of the stuff. Gabe went through a cannister in 4 days which broke down to 5 dollars a day, and that's about how much the RTF is. Anyways, just buy a bottle of it (it comes in 32 oz bottles) and try it out. Gabe guzzled that stuff down, even during teething. HTH :) And by the way, your two boys....are adorable! Oh yeah, and just remember at this stage of the game, solids aren't suppose to be his main courses. He needs that formula for healthy growth and development, so if you need to back off solids for a bit too or give the solids second and bottle first I would do that as well. Solids right now are just a teaching tool for the future... :)
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog today. My son is exactly one month younger than yours. Reading this post made me feel like I could have written it about my own baby. I keep track of every single ounce he takes in and get worried if he's not taking in the minimum according to the guidelines. I, too, had to stop breast feeding because I could not keep up the supply through pumping. And my baby isn't sleeping through the night either. Your post made me feel normal and like my baby wasn't some oddity who won't sleep or always eat. When I read stuff about what babies should be doing at this stage, and mine isn't, it freaks me out. Just know that there is another momma dealing with the same issues, too! And btw, your baby boys are beautiful!
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