Seriously, he is taking 3 ounces at a feeding (he's bottle fed), and it's taking him, on average, at least 40 minutes and up to an hour to finish the three ounces. It's ridiculous. Our pediatric nurse practitioner told us to move up to a level 2 nipple so we did that, and he's still taking forever. Should I try a 3? I don't want to drown the poor little guy! Am I just doomed to spend a lot of time on the couch waiting for him to finish eating?? Help?!
In the first few weeks mine fell asleep while eating so I would use a wet washcloth on their feet or forhead to wake them. After that they still took awhile to eat until they learned to do it faster. I took that time to watch tv or read. Annoying if you are out and about but a nice break at home. Eventually they got faster.
I really don't see the point in seeing the doc for this.
Heck, I breastfed and both my kids as infants, took a LONG time to feed! I am talking at least 30-45 minutes per session. And they were good feeders.
Yah, it was long. But they grew like weeds, ate what they needed to, and peed and poop like pros! LOL
My Hubby would see me nursing before he left for work.
When he came home from work, there I was... nursing. Yet again.
And he'd tell me "What do you do all day? Nurse?"
I would say " YES. Just be glad you aren't doing it."
Infants.
Bottle or breast fed... they feed as they are able to.
He is only 3 weeks old.
A faster nipple, whether a boob or bottle, will not always make it faster per feeding. If too fast, they will gag or choke.
Just feed as your baby can and does.
And burp him, in between.
take his socks off and tickle his feet , sounds like he might be falling asleep while he's eating. or unwrap him so he's not all snuggly and warm
Yup, you're doomed. :) Enjoy looking at that sweet little face, and cement it in your brain.
he is a tiny baby. right now dont plan on doing much except feeding the baby.
just sit there and enjoy holding your little one.. he will be crawling before you know it.
my baby turned 7 today.. I wish she was still 7 days old..
It takes time to get the feeding schedule down. Most babies whether bottlefed or breastfed take at least an hour to eat. You can't speed it up. Its his age and he sounds like he just wants to enjoy his meal :) Hang in there!
My youngest was like this. Her older siblings would suck it right down in record speed, but not her. It took her forever. It bothered my husband more than it did me. She had reflux which I think slowed her down. Her doctor said some babies just take longer than others. Switching nipples really didn't do much. Just reflux medication and time.
I agree... Take him in.
However... My son nursed for an hour. Every 2-3 hours (except nights). For 10 months.
Then he needed to be burped for an hour (30-60) minutes.
TOTALLY worth marathon burping, however, because without it he'd scream 12 hours straight by night time (as in he gulped air while eating, and by the end of the day would be miserable... And it would take all night to dissipate).
But, yeah. 2/3s of my waking hours were spent feeding or burping.
Life got better, when I discovered I could nurse w one hand, and read with the other. In 10 months I read;
50+ Rex Stout Mysteries
5 Jean M Auel Books
10 David Eddings Books
Entire Dragonriders of Pern Series (and 12 other series by Anne McCaffrey)
Entire Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody Mysteries (15?)
Stainless Steele Rat series
((I have a special place in my heart for books that kept me sane while nursing))
PLUS all of my school books (I started school when my son was 8 weeks). But since I had to take notes, I couldn't study while nursing.
I have no suggestions but Congrats!
Hi N., I think you're doomed, too. Sorry.
Margaret was a grazer too, and STILL is, 15 years later. SUCH a poky eater! But like your fella she had two big siblings to constantly distract her at feedings.
She was a skinny baby, toddler, and kid, always just eating enough to take the edge off. But very healthy and strong, too.
Can your husband and the kids take turns feeding?
On the other hand, ENJOY the time on the couch, with the toddler years looming ahead!
:)
Three weeks is sooooooo young. Give him time. Most babies who are slow at that age will speed up. If you think he's falling asleep, Beth has some great ideas for you. We had to wake up our little guy when he was that age.
It is very normal to do lots of sitting on the couch at that age. And it can be hard to get much done, including taking a shower.
This too shall pass. Hang in there! It's easy for me to say, "Enjoy!" when my kids are 6 and almost 4. But do try to enjoy this time with him. It really is precious.
If you are that worried, take him in to see the nurse practitioner during a feeding time so she can see what you mean. Saying he's taking forever sometimes gets lost in the shuffle with a stock response.
If she sees how you are feeding him, she can see if he falls asleep while eating(Mine did that, I would nurse him, then next thing he's sleeping, and the occasional suckle. Wrap, unwrap, tickle the feet, nothing worked for him until I changed the way the lighting was around him wherever I nursed him), or if he is having trouble with the style of bottle. I used a playtex drop ins bottle with a natural nipple when I pumped and someone gave me a break. The regular bottles made him uber gassy, and he had trouble eating later on.
Otherwise, enjoy the time, because they sure grow up fast. Mine will be eight shortly after Christmas.
Hang in there Mama!
