my 8.5 month old baby for the past 11 days has not been drinking his formula. I'm lucky if he even gets 12 oz a day but today it's only 3 oz. He eats fine and seems to have more of an appetite for solids and finger foods. I've tried offering his formula in so many different types of bottles (Podee, Dr. Brown, Playtex Drop ins, Sippy Cup, regular cup) and he just pushes it away most of the time. He'll drink water though without a problem so it's the formula I feel. He's been on Similac exclusively since he was 5.5 months. I've taken him to the doctor's twice and they dont seem to be too worried. He has dropped a few oz. but nothing significant. Any suggestions? I want him to gain more weight and it worries me that he's losing weight...he's already thin. He has always been on low (10%-15%) with weight gain) and his height is low/normal. He's hitting his milesones normally and "on time". I just hope he's safe and doesnt stay the same size forever...that he grows.
height is 27 in and weight 7.65 kg
i've taken him to the dr. twice at children's hospital and they didn't say much and weren't too worried.
So...starting yesterday he wanted more of his milk. He's taking about 16-19 oz a day. Still not a lot but better than the 10 oz he was drinking. I started giving him more variety of fluids...water and watered down apple juice and after that he got better. Maybe he wanted a variety of liquids since I wasn't giving him any..it was just formula day in and day out...Thanks for all the advice!!!
he does not need formula. i probably should not get on my soap box about formula, but really - the baby has some sense - follow it.
Good Luck with this amazing young man!
V.
Hi, if I were you I would scale back on some of the solids - at 8 months they should really only be a small portion of a baby's diet - and maybe he'll be hungrier for formula. Also, when you do give him solids try things like full fat plain yogurt with a little fruit mixed in (good calcium source), and other high fat foods like avocado, and maybe cereals made WITH formula. And give him formula first, not last, to make sure he's not filling up on the other stuff. Also, try other forumala's like people are suggesting - I didn't give formula to my kids, but I remember giving it to my nieces when they were little (20 years ago!) and I it smelled and tasted terrible. There are all kids of options out there now, so definitely see what other formulas people like.
This is per our Pediatrician:
try giving breast/Formula BEFORE solids.
If given "after" or "with" solids, a baby will be too full to drink.
For the 1st year of life, still feed breast/Formula on demand... for the 1st year of life, Breast/Formula is the PRIMARY source of nutrition for a baby, NOT solids, and NOT other fluids.
My son, liked the "MAM" brand bottles, which you can find on www.amazon.com
What bottle was he using when he was younger and drinking his bottles fine? Try going back to using that bottle again.
Or, try a different brand of Formula....
Many babies sometimes reject their breast/Formula feedings... maybe he's teething, maybe he's getting sick. Just make sure he does not get dehydrated.
Your son although on the low-end of the percentage, is not something your Doctor is worried about... so I doubt you need to either. He is developing normally and hitting his milestones, so that is good.
All the best,
Susan
have you tyied normal milk . ask your dr. weather this woould be ok for your little one maybe he just dosnt like the teast raised 4 dont worry too much they will grow up love A. no. ills
switch formulas..have u ever tasted simulac? i have...bleh! that's why he doesn't want it..introduce a new formula slowly..try Good Start Supreme Comfort Proteins maybe add a little more water to it at first ...it's that icky simulac...i bet he'll start drinking formula again.
Allergies - NAET.com and Say Goobye to Illness by Dr. Devi Nambudripad.
also, your child may be prodigy & advance, Indigo and crystal, allot of children who appear to have problems don't they are just too advanced.
You may want to look for books on prodigy & advanced children, Indigo & Crystal children, from Amazon.com.
Be well.
N.
This happened with my son and I was worried about his development too! It would be the fluids, and the other sources of nutrition that would concern me. I made up formula and since my son ate well I used it in his cereal and other foods. You can become creative with the ways to add his formula to meals, like making smoothies. Try giving him a vitamin and mineral supplement you will need to watch things iron and calcium intake. He is over 6 months so giving him dairy is not a problem so try yogurts and cheese. My son had colic and was prone to vomiting bugs he also had asthma....it was not until much later I found out he was intolerant to dairy I think he knew he didn't feel well after his bottle and thats why he refused it. I've been told that with lactose intolerance soya formula and cheese and yogurts should be ok, milk will usually be the big problem as it is less processed.
My son is almost 7 now and still will not drink milk. We use soya milk for his cereal and soya yogurt and a little cheese that along with his supplements and he is doing well.
Try not to worry aslong as he is drinking water, you will get creative for the rest of his nutrition. As with the previous ladies advise if you give the milk first then the solids and if that is not the problem it could be just your babies individual tastes.
Aslong as you have a happy energetic baby that is doing well you have no need to worry, babies are people and have individual tastes.
Rachaelxx
Hi Anh
I work with infants and toddlers,and see this all the time. When babies start eating solids many of them loose interest with their formula. I wouldn't worry so much. He is getting all and enough calories from his food and since he is drinking water, he is being hydrated. He is probably crawling? Active babies burn off the calories. Since he is "on time" it sounds like he is just always going to be genetically petite. He sounds like a healthy, happy little boy who is naturally following the needs of his body. This is why the doctors are not concerned. If he was getting sick, or showing signs of malnutrition, it would be a cause for concern.
Take care, and enjoy your strapping, healthy baby. He is fine.
My kids love Instant Breakfast by Carnation, lots of vitamins, but does have some sugar... I don't know how much sugar is in formula already, but maybe if you mix just a little in, he'll like the flavor, and decide to drink more... good luck and God Bless!
You might want to try the formula in a sippy cup, or even a regular cup (with you helping of course). My son started with the sippy cup and water (he is breastfed) at 6 months, just to get him used to it. We don't ever use bottles, even if I needed to do formula, I would do a sippy cup before a bottle. You may also want to try the straw cups, with supervision and help of course. My son started using those at about 8 months (he is 10 months now).
He definitely needs the formula, I would say cut back on solid foods, and feed him formula before solids, as others suggested.
Hi Anh T, I agree with the doctors, I have 3 children all grown now but from 9 mnts to a year my baby's only had one bottle a day period, that was in the morning while i was preparing their cereal, they wers on 3 meals a day plus snacks and then cereal right before bed time, they were all healthy and strong, they were big baby's at birth so they were healthy size babys at 8 and 9 months old, in looking at the size of your child you need to look at the size of your husband, I have a 4 month old in my daycare, she's chubby, but her ped thinks she a little behind in lenght/height but the mom and dad are little, their both short, so I told her not to worry. If you want him to put on weigh give hin unseasoned pasta, mac n cheese my baby's were on toddler meals at this age. As moms were always going to worry, if he's happy, crawling all over trying to stand and doing all the normal things an 8.5 baby does, try not to worry so much. J. L.
Try mixing formula into oatmeal and smoothies. If that doesn't work, try switching formula.
Anh T
If your pediatrician isn't too worried, then don't worry. He will drink regular milk when he is ready. If you are really worried try putting some regular milk in a sippy cup with some chocolate syrup and let him try it out. You can keep offering regular milk or chocolate milk he will take it eventually. There are also juices that you can try as well. I don't know what else to try, I have never had this problem personally. I hope these suggestions work. I know you will get other suggestions you can try out.
Try mixing the formula into other foods like baby yogurts, or similar foods he likes. As long as he still drinks water, you can sneak fat into other foods. Don't stress yourself too much, you don't want to make it a battle w/ your son. Just try to outsmart him. There are plenty of kids who refuse milk, but get the fat and calcium from yogurt, cheese, and other sources. I don't know if he eats eggs yet, but you can even put formula powder in scrambled eggs.
Do not be overly concerned. Reason doctors are not worried is because he is still within the normal range. You do not mention how tall you and the father are. With the problems of obesity in children rising it is best to keep him at the mid to low range. Most of my children were in the lower to mid range and did just fine. They are all taller than my husband and me. I am the mother of seven and grandmother of one.
