Baby feeding advice please...

[snowboarder]

Again thanks all for the advice - maybe I'll try and stretch the feeds out - I've been doing 5 a day for so long now our day has naturally formed around them so it will be quite a change but worth a go!

The bottle idea could actually be a total non starter after the fight we had trying to get some expressed milk down him today - he took about half and oz - most of that on his chin and top!

[The Nappy Lady]

Alieh,

I'm with you on putting your food down about night feeds...just had to do it with my 11 month old, after I was very ill and run down with a chest infection and just needed to start having sleep at nights again. She had been sleeping through on and off, but got into a 3am feed habit...so my hubby went to her instead over the weekend, then we left her to it - not crying, but 'moaning and grizzling' on and off...it took 3 nights of hearing her wake up, complain a bit then go back to sleep, with it being quicker each night, but she is now going to about 6am, and sometimes 6.30am if I'm lucky and that is much more civilised.

To be honest this is pretty much what we did with daughter number 1, except we did it when she was 3 months old and she slept through 12 hours 7 til 7 from them on....you can so tell this baby is my last as I've done it all so differently, and been much softer, but finally at 11 months enough was enough.

SB - really hope things improve, you've had more than your fair share of hard stuff to deal with, I'm sure he's going to be an angel of a teenager though after all the grief he's given you in these first few months. I would start to try him with a beaker, or a Dodi cup rather than a bottle from around now, they often get the hang of them amazingly quickly.

Coffee soon? Are you free this week? Send me a PM.

Molly

xx

[EDmummy]

Poor you. Sounds so much like my first. In those days they were on solids at 4 months and once he was properly (more food than milk) on solids (about 6 months) things had fallen into place. Some babies are just more hungry. When No. 2 was like this, although advice had changed about when to ween, I was advised to start introducing solids and it made such a difference. Perhaps you should seek advice from the baby clinic - they have seen it all.

[sandy_rose]

In my experience, craniosacral therapy can be very helpful with this type of thing. It should help calm your baby down and nip it in the bud. Babies respond very quickly and don't need many sessions. I can highly recommend Julia (Osteopath) at the Vale Practice.

Other than that, he may need some solids to sustain him and may be more interesting too?

[Crokes]

Snowboarder, I've sent you a PM as your words echo my own situation! You're doing a great job, hang in there!

[crystal7]

Hi Snowboarder

We're having similar problems. Baby C7 (7.5 months) used to be great at being fed in public but now the slighest thing distracts her and she comes off showing my nipple to the world! When I try and put her back on she arches her back, screams and everyone stares- urgh! I'm tying to remain calm and not push it and then feed her when we get home. If it's been long enough she will feed anyway no matter where we are. The problem is that the night feeds are definitely becoming fuller, whereas before it was just 1 or 2 minutes for comfort now it's 10 (a long time for my little guzzler). I worry that it's having an effect on her apetite for solids and her weight gain has been slow.

I'm feeding 4 times in the day and that has made a difference (giving water and solids in between). I have also just started to try to reduce the night feedings to 2 with OH's help but it is just so hard! So many tears and less sleep for all involved. Hoping that's temporary though!

Sorry not been much help but you are not alone!

[snowboarder]

Oh dear...well I'm glad I'm not the only one exposing myself to the world with a screaming baby on my lap. It doesn't seem so bad in East Dulwich but lordy when you go into town or out of London altogether (country pub in Devon!) - bit embarrassing. The general pattern seems to be temperamental feeders = bad sleepers. Maybe it just comes down to personalities.

No improvements to report. Apart from I have bought a doidy cup. And a carton of formula. No idea what I'm really planning on doing with either as yet...Trying to space out feeds not working due to initial rubbish morning feed of the day (prob due to having fed all night...circles..) and sleeps and daily activities planned around a previous loose schedule of 5 feeds. Sigh.

[Moos]

Poor snowboarder, it's so rough. We're all rooting for you!

BTW, and not that I'm suggesting this is linked to the sleeping because I'm sure it's not, but I stopped bfing Moosling aged 6 months, and did not regret it. Bfing for a year or longer is great if you can manage it/want to, but it doesn't have to be for everyone. Best of luck in whatever you decide.