Hi! This is OP. Everyone should know I am working closely with my pediatrician and have been exchanging messages with her of course. So I’m definitely on top of this, to the folks who helpfully say I need to work on this. I am! I was more hoping there would be folks who have been there/done that and could be reassuring it will be okay. We are doing weight check ins every two weeks, monitoring diapers, etc. he’s getting some formula in his oatmeal etc and I’m going to keep trying that. But anyway, I’m not looking to get more stressed out here than I am. To the pp who suggested changing nipple size, have tried that..... and different bottles ..... I’m trying spoon feeding the formula too.

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. We have seen the pediatrician twice in the last three weeks about this issue.... they don’t seem too concerned and said to try giving more solids. They said watch wet diaper/stools to make sure he isn’t dehydrated. I’m still super worried though and just wondered if anyone has been through this. I give the bottle at least 30 minutes before solids. And I offer the bottle numerous times throughout the day. I do a dream feed at night which is when he takes in the most formula but during the day - no interest! I am trying to stir formula (both in powder and in liquid form) into his solids. He isn’t doing a sippy cup yet - I’ve tried a few times- maybe I haven’t found the right one yet.

I wouldn't stir straight powder into his food. He needs the fluids too.

Hey OP, my almost 8 month old guy just in the last few weeks has become so much more difficult to bottle feed. He really loves his solids, but we are really trying to make sure he's getting 25-30oz of formula still. It's crazy, but the first bottle in the morning is even difficult after he's slept through the night with no feeds.

We've found this new routine works best for now: we do four 6oz bottles - one at wake up, one right before each nap, and one right before bed (the 2 before naps are easier than his wake up bottle, even though we feed him in the living room for all except right before bed in his nursery). And then we do two 3 oz "snack" bottles right after each nap. This has helped us a lot to sneak back in a fifth bottle since during the day he's not at all interested in drinking that one anymore. He doesn't always finish all of his bottles during the day, maybe leaves an ounce behind on a few, so sometimes we'll offer 7-8oz before bed just to make sure we're offering 30 oz every day. I think we avg around 28oz daily.

He eats breakfast and dinner, no lunch yet, but usually a frozen mesh teether or two with fruit or frozen pouch in the middle of the day as a snack and for teething relief.

We are also considering potentially going up in nipple size to see if it helps. We tried size 3 nipples around 4.5/5 months when he had another distracted eating phase and the flow was way too fast for him back then, but we may try again. Have you considered that?

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. We have seen the pediatrician twice in the last three weeks about this issue.... they don’t seem too concerned and said to try giving more solids. They said watch wet diaper/stools to make sure he isn’t dehydrated. I’m still super worried though and just wondered if anyone has been through this. I give the bottle at least 30 minutes before solids. And I offer the bottle numerous times throughout the day. I do a dream feed at night which is when he takes in the most formula but during the day - no interest! I am trying to stir formula (both in powder and in liquid form) into his solids. He isn’t doing a sippy cup yet - I’ve tried a few times- maybe I haven’t found the right one yet.

Give him his bottle at set times away from food!

And if he isn’t taking a cup is he not getting any water either.

OP, you need to work on this.

This is OP. We have seen the pediatrician twice in the last three weeks about this issue.... they don’t seem too concerned and said to try giving more solids. They said watch wet diaper/stools to make sure he isn’t dehydrated. I’m still super worried though and just wondered if anyone has been through this. I give the bottle at least 30 minutes before solids. And I offer the bottle numerous times throughout the day. I do a dream feed at night which is when he takes in the most formula but during the day - no interest! I am trying to stir formula (both in powder and in liquid form) into his solids. He isn’t doing a sippy cup yet - I’ve tried a few times- maybe I haven’t found the right one yet.

He is definitely too young to drop formula. Agreed on bottle when he first wakes and trying the sippy cup. Don't let him fill up on solids. If this was 3 months from now, even 2, I wouldn't worry as much. But his gut isn't ready to get his nutrition from solids and even when he moves to solids he's going to need liquids like.water and milk.

Have you tried giving formula in a sippy? Maybe he doesn’t like the bottle anymore.

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Yes, he will eat his solids and is totally interested in them - loves bananas, strawberries, sweet potato. I'm trying to stir in a little formula to get the formula into him. I am trying my best to get formula into him - do some babies just wean themselves off formula/milk? I feel anxious that he's not getting the nutrients he needs.

He’s not. Nor is he getting the fluids He needs.

Try at wake up, before and after nap and before bed. I used to sing to keep DS nursing at that age. Give formula away from kitchen. Also try a new formula.

Anonymous wrote:He’s telling you he’s hungry. Formula isn’t doing it anymore. Mash up some bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes etc. you can mix in formula if you want him to continue with formula.

Formula and/or breastmilk is supposed to be the main source of nutrition until they turn 1. OP, try offering formula first before solids. Also when he’s sleepy is a good time to try to get a bottle in. Talk to your pediatrician if you still can’t get him to drink it.

Give him a bottle at wake up, nap time and before bed. Also, it may be the formula brand and try different formula's as tastes sometimes change.

This is OP. Yes, he will eat his solids and is totally interested in them - loves bananas, strawberries, sweet potato. I'm trying to stir in a little formula to get the formula into him. I am trying my best to get formula into him - do some babies just wean themselves off formula/milk? I feel anxious that he's not getting the nutrients he needs.

He’s telling you he’s hungry. Formula isn’t doing it anymore. Mash up some bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes etc. you can mix in formula if you want him to continue with formula.

Your baby will come back to it. Offer at the same times without distractions before sleep and food.

Edited to add: the whole "food before 1, just for fun," that's not applying here - i feel like it's the only real food he will take. I don't understand what happened, he's been on a bottle since he was in the NICU. Now he just is not interested at all. ??

has this happened to anyone? he's entirely formula fed. he just wants to eat solids. it's stressing me out.