Baby Won't Drink Much Milk...

Hi R.,

My advice to be to feed him when he's hungry...whatever he will eat/drink...and don't worry too much about what a child "should" be eating according to some book or website as every baby is different. Don't stress too much about it. At this young age, babies tell us what they want not the other way around. If he'll take more milk...then by all means, let him have some.

Perhaps your son doesn't like milk and prefers formula? Or do you mean formula when you say milk? Either way, I'd say don't stress too much...as long as he's eating AND drinking, then there is no health or digestive problems to worry about.

My son, who's 3 now, was ALWAYS a picky eater and would go days with eating next to nothing at times. It worried me like crazy, but I realized that as long as they're eating something, then there's no medical problems.

If you're terribly worried, then I'd say to check with his pediatrician, but I'd simply advise you to go with your motherly instincts on this one...your child is eating and drinking...so we're good. :)

Good luck.

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My son only drinks about 24 oz. of formula a day too. I was talking to my girlfriends a couple weeks ago who have babies right around this age and their children also drink about the same amount. I think all these recommendations are just guidelines. If your baby isn't fussing like he's hungry, then he's probablyfine. If the pediatrician says his weight is okay, then I wouldn't worry. I happen to have 5 feedings a day for my son. 1 bottle when he wakes up. Roughly 3 hours later cereal and fruits. 3 hours later another bottle, 3 hours later veggies, then bottle at bedtime. And I put 2 oz of formula in his cereal to add to his total milk for the day. It happens to work for us.

But, I did ask my pediatrician at his last appointment b/c my son has started slightly refusing the bottle and she said it's very common when babies teethe. The sucking can make the teething pain worse. So she said to try a sippy cup if it continues. However, so far my son can't figure out the sippy cup. He just wants to bite it... LOL :)

4 ounces sounds like a pretty good amount to me. I am still breastfeeding and occassionally have to pump. Even though my guy doesn't like bottles and has refused them since he turned 6 months - I would say that the occassional missed feeding is between 3-5 ounces - and he doesn't always eat everything that's in there. Translation being: I am certain that my 7 month old isn't getting much more than what you described. My guy is on the thin side as well, but really healthy. I would look at signs of vitality above actual body fat - some babies are bigger than others. My guy has always consumed less then the calculated amount for what other babies his age "should" be drinking - that being said, I don't have any experience with reflux outside of the normal baby spitting up stuff.

I don't know if you do this all ready, but you could make his cereal with 2 oz of formula. That's what I do with my 6 month old who refuses to take a bottle. At least he'll get an extra 4-6oz per day.

R.
If he is a good food eater, I would just offer him formula at every meal and just formula at snack times. Try giving it to him with his meals in a sippy cup. He should be getting about six feedings; morning, snack, midday, snack, evening, bedtime. Just make sure you are giving him high fat high calorie foods. He can also have cheeses and yogurt @ 8 months. stonyfeilds makes a yogurt with whole milk.He needs the fat for his brain, and the high calories for his weight.
Good high calorie/ fat foods include, cheese, yogurts (dairy),eggs, avocados (in Brazil they mash it with a little sugar and in Mexico they mix it with salt and cream or yogurt) , anything high in protein will help, like meats. olives are great, and you could add a little olive oil to his foods too. If you do not have peanut allergies in the family, you could do peanut butter, although some sugest you don't do that until after two years. (With peanut butter, supervise extremely well, give it on crackers or toast, or in very small bits with liquid in between , it is a highly choke-able food.) All of these are good healthy fats to eat.
Good luck,
E.

He probably finds food more enjoyable , he takes a good amount in the morning , afternoon and before bed so leave it at that , give him yogurts , cheese and other milk based products , if you think about it , on average he takes 15-23 ounces plus milk on his cereal then he is getting the reccommended amount , that is just a guide and not all kids will follow that.

I think he is allergic to it! My son was the same way and the formula I had him on contained "casin" which is a milk protein. Not sure what you are actually giving him as you didn't indicate whay type. If I were you I would immediately try a soy based formula -- that will make a huge difference. AND you will see him pack on some weight! I would wait to give him anything with milk. Email me if you have any questions!!!