Doesn't like to Drink the Formula.

My son is the same. At 15.5 pounds, I can barely get him to drink 20 oz. a day. We just started rice cereal and he really likes eating that. If you haven't tried solids, now may be a good time to start and just try to get as much formula as you can. I know, it's frustrating.... It takes FOREVER to get him to finish a bottle and it dribbles all over because he isn't all that into it. But the Doc isn't worried since he isn't underweight. I feel better now that he is eating the cereal.

Some babies just do not enjoy eating! Is she gaining
and healthy in every othe way. If she is, do not worry.
If you worry she will pick up on it. Also now she is,
I am sure, getting to be a busy body LOL. Wants to look
around and just take in the world and eating just takes
away from that. They are incredible little creatures!!!!

So my advice, relax and enjoy. She may never be a big
eater.

Happy Thanksgiving.

I had three children and at one time or another I stopped formula and gave them breast milk they craved that more and they turned out just fine.

There was a mommy in my mommy group who asked her doctor if she could use milk since her baby would not take formula after being breastfed for 6 mos. She did use milk. I used goat's milk after my baby was 6 mos. after being breast fed and introducing food. I just thought he needed something extra. He is lean but never were we worried. He is still breastfed and eats a lot. He is just lean. There is some enfamil hypoallergenic formula you can only get online that another mommy used because she pumped for 3 mos. and tried different formulas and being an allergist she concluded here baby was allergic therefore she used the formula I mentioning to use. Good luck and ask your doc before you introduce milk.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi S.,
Please do not, as another poster suggested, try to give your baby milk. No pediatric expert would suggest this. Regular milk does not have the nutrients that babies need. The only things recommended for infants are mothers milk or formula. A desperately hungry baby will not decline their formula due to taste (remember, this isn't a drink for them, it is their food) and will be hysterical if they are hungry. While you didn't mention this in your post, I'm wondering if you've started feeding solid foods. Remember that solids are not recommended til six months and in the first year, should never take the place of breastmilk or formula feedings - your baby gets their nutrition from that liquid and very little nutrition from those baby foods. Solids should only be given after their milk feeding and if it's drastically cutting down on their consumption of breastmilk or formula, I would discontinue the food.
I think it's best to determine what your baby is taking in over the course of a whole day rather than an individual feeding. Has she always been this way? Is she continuing to have plenty of output in her diapers, gaining weight steadily and hitting all developmental milestones in the normal range? If she is doing all of these things, then it is likely that she is getting the nutrition that she needs.

Stop worrying about how much she eats. Babys know when they are full and will stop eating. If she is pushing the bottle away, then she is full. And if she is eating cereal or fruits and veggies she will be drinking less. As long as she's gaining weight and growing then there is nothing to worry about. Think of it this way, you just ate a big meal and your full (I know 2 oz isn't much but their stomachs are tiny, about the size of their fist) and someone for the next hour is trying to force feed you a piece of cake. If she is pushing the bottle away she's full.

Have you tried getting the next level nipple? Most brands have several levels (0-3 months, 3-6 months, etc). Also keep track for a day or two how much she drinks and how often. You can look online or check with the doctor how much she should be drinking based on her weight. Maybe she is spending so much time eating she doesn't have time to get hungry again. My babies were in the NICU and in the hospital they only allowed 20-30 minutes for a feeding otherwise it threw off the schedule. You could give this a try--feed her as much as she wants and stop after another 5-10 minutes. Then you do something else for a while and see if she cries and is hungry before you would normally next feed her.

My daughter was a slow feeder at first as well (narrow nose so it was hard to breathe and eat at once) but she has improved a lot between 7-11 months and now eats food and formula well and is growing a lot (she was on the small side before). I was a bit concerned when she was younger because she wanted to eat a little (2-3oz.) very frequently. But it sorted itself out with a little patience. I never tried switching formulas so I don't know how they compare. My kids got Similac Advance from the hospital and I just kept them on it (we don't have food allergies in the family).

the stoolw will become soft or hard until baby gets used to new formula. i'd go to the new formula. try carnation brand.

My first born had a similar reaction to formula and he absolutely refused it for 9 months. I only planned on nursing for 6 monhts as it was increasingly difficult to keep up the supply when I traveled for work, etc. My pediatrician gave the same advise and I stuck with it which was a long haul. It took eight different formulas before he found his one!!!! There is no secret... just keep switching till you get it. You can get samples as well to help with the cost. If you think about it, breast milk simply tastes better. My lactation consultant described breast milk as a vanilla milkshake opposed to formula as a grain & hops tasting drink so give it some time for yours to used to another flavor.