My son is 5 months old, and for the past month and a half has not had a great appetite. He often only eats 2 or 3 ounce bottles....sometimes as little as an ounce at a time. At one time he had been consistently eating 5 oz bottles roughly every 3 hours. I questioned my pediatrician at his 4 month visit and again around 4 1/2 months. He said he didn't seem too concerned right now b/c he was growing and having regular wet diapers. However, he did go on to say that my son should be eating around 25 oz every 24 hours. Well, he isn't even coming close & it's really starting to worry me. He still has regular wet diapers & seems pretty content, but he has hardly eaten today. He slept all night last night and then consumed the following: 2.5 oz at 8:30 am, 1/2 tub bananas & 3 Tbs cereal at 9:45 am, 4 oz milk at 11:00 am, and 1 oz at 2:30pm. It is now 2:56pm and I cannot get him to eat any more. Has anyone else had this problem? I know he should be eating more, but all I can do is keep offering. I can't make him eat. Should I give him more baby food or hold off until he will take more milk (I know the milk is the most important right now). I'd appreciate some help/advice, because this has been an ongoing problem.
I agree with the other posters. I would fill him up on formula first. Cut down on solid foods which he does not need till he is one. Personally, I would try cutting out all solid foods and just go back to formula and see if he goes back to drinking as much as he should.
Give him his milk first. Let him have as much as he wants. Then feed him.
He really does not need food to survive. He needs his formula.
.
I would drop the solid foods for now. They are not nearly as nutritionally balanced as his formula, and babies under a year do not actually "need" solid foods unless they are clearly interested and reaching for them. Since he's in a "low-appetite" phase, you don't want him filling up on less-nutritious foods. His lack of appetite is normal and will probably change next time he starts another growth spurt unless he shows signs of dehydration or illness.
.
I agree with the other moms who advise you stop the solids and concentrate on formula. He won't drink if he's filled up on any food. Actually I'm surprised your doctor would recommend solids already, especially in view of the limited formula intake, which is more important than solids for the first year.
It's good that your son is having wet diapers, growing, and content, it means he's healthy. Make sure your son is getting exercise, on his tummy is good as he'll reach for things and try to move himself and will need more calories. All babies have different appetites, but won't drink much if eating solids, so cut those out, keep your pediatrician in the loop and ask for a 2nd opinion if he doesn't drink more after stopping solids.
My first daughter was the same way at that age. She ate like a bird but she was just petite and didn't need a lot of food. We didn't really have her on a schedule and I too worried about if she was getting enough. Then our second daughter came a long and I tried to follow a schedule with her. We followed the babywise schedule (not exactly but close) and we also recieved a feeding schedule example from the doctor or preschool-can't remember which. At about 4 or 5 months babies start feeding every 4 hours or so. If there's food with a bottle or in between bottles they will stay full longer. Try to look at your own eating schedule, if you ate every hour or couple of hours you wouldn't eat much at meal time because you would be too full. Try feeding him on a schedule if you can and not a rigid one but one that works for you and him. If you feed him too often it's almost comparable to grazing and then he just won't be that hungry. I hope this helps in some way! Good luck!
Read "How to get your child to eat (but not too much)"
Great book, balanced advice.
the food is not the necessity right now... i'd rather the baby taste testing the food than the formula.... try to get him to drink the bottles, but snack on the baby food. the formula has the nutrition he needs... you may want to dial back a little on the food. don't worry, it's just heavier on his little belly so it may seem as if he's losing his appetite, but the food is just keeping him satisfied longer... especially the cereal... that stuff expands so once he gets it in his system he would and should be content for a longer period of time. as far as the grazing, you may want to attempt to get him on a schedule... occupy him with toys that light up, singing, etc. to keep him from fussing in between feedings. remember... for now, i would use the the food as a snack, but his main source of nutrition should be the formula... ~Happy Feedings! =D
is he small? my daughter was tiny and she took only 4 oz (at most) at a time until she was 6 months old. if hes not just a little guy then i would look into a diff doctor
