I have a seven month old and she hasn't been a big eater since birth and now she will only take 4 oz. per feeding every 2 1/2 to 3 hours. However the last couple of days she will only take two oz. and stop. I feed her about seven times a day and I give her a couple of spoonfuls of baby food. I don't want to give her too much baby food because she is not a bigger eater so I don't want her to not take her milk if she has too much baby food.
I wonder if her lack of interest in the bottle lately is because she is teething or if she is slowing down on her growth or if she is about to hit a milestone? I just want to make sure she gets at least 20 oz. of formula or breastmilk a day.
Wonder if this has happened to anyone else?
Thanks.
My granddaughter did the same thing. What finally worked was a faster flow nipple and serving the formula cold instead of warm.
Sounds like she is a snacker like my second. If you are worried about her not getting enough formula because of too much baby food then try giving formula/breast milk before the baby food. Two spoonfuls isn't very much at all and if she has already had her milk then let her eat more baby food if she likes. As always, check with your pediatrician since they may want to make sure she is growing and gaining enough weight.
I don't really KNOW, but when a baby doesn't want to suck then I pay attention to be sure it's not because ears are hurting. Any fever?
She may be fighting off an ear infection. When they pull on the nipple it causes suction in the Eustachian tubes that go from the ears to the throat where they drain.
She does not need more food than what you are giving her. She needs the nutrients in the formula. It is complete nutrition for her age group. Food is the filler after the bottle, you are doing it right.
I think just keeping an eye on her to see if she develops any symptoms of illness might be just the thing. The teething can effect the ears, the gums, and the whole mouth. It is normal to not want to use those areas if they are hurting. Maybe a bit of Tylenol, less than 1/2 of a her regular dose, about 1/2 hour before a bottle?
Sounds like she is teething and in between growth spurts.
She'll pick up again when she's ready.
Their most rapid growth is 0 to 5 months (they roughly double their birth weight), then it takes 7 or so months to add their birth weight again (triple with weight roughly by 1st year).
By then they are crawling/walking and weight gain slows down a whole lot.
Just when you get use to a pattern, it changes!
Maybe try using a different nipple... there are slow or faster flow nipples.
Also give her her bottle, BEFORE solids.
If after, baby will be too full to take her bottle.
Or she may be teething.
At about that age my son all of the sudden had a HUGE interest in babyfood. He was also teething, and it hurts to suck. I nursed him, and he also took the occasional bottle. One evening he was very crabby and would hardly nurse OR take a bottle. I took out a jar of peas and gave him a couple bites then put the lid back on, and he started screaming. I opened it back up, and he took the entire jar. He is a year and a half old now, and eventhough he feeds himself, he STILL prefers babyfood when he is teething. Teething is really difficult for my son, it wasn't that bad for my daughter, but maybe your little girl is like my son. If babyfood is all your little one wants, give her rice cereal with the breastmilk or formula mixed into it...or oatmeal cereal...whatever you prefer. That way she is getting the milk she needs. Good luck!!
as long as her dr doesn't tell you to, i would not limit her baby food. it is sustenance and just fine for her to have. maybe she's more interested in that than the bottle. nothing wrong with that.
she is eating 14-16oz/day thats A LOT imo around that age my daughter was mainy on table food and ate 12 oz a day, maybe a little less. and if she wants the baby food then yeah let het eat the babyfood or oatmeal cereal mixed with baby food/formula. she may be teething and/or getting a ear infection and the eating from a spoon FEELS better then sucking.
