Formula feeding mamas
Ro is 9.5 months and even though he “eats what we eat” now his Ped wants him to still eat 24-30 ounces per day of formula. But he is SO disinterested in his bottles that I am trying to find new ways to get him to get his formula. Right now he eats 6oz per bottle but usually leaves 3-4 ounces in the bottle per time. Even when i sit with him while he eats he will just get mad and push it away. He eats 3 meals a day with snacks in between and i give him formula or water/juice for a drink with his meals.
No worries! I’ve been trying to get my daughter to eat more recently also. She was sick last week and lost her appetite and now she is slowly getting it back but being really picky about it. lol... Don’t let the percentile of his weight worry you. He is still in the normal percentile, and if he is eating and gaining weight at a normal pace, I’m sure he’s doing fine. Some babies are just skinnier than others. My son was a fat baby and now he is a super skinny 5 year old with too much energy and a big appetite, so you never know. lol
Thank you @crys for your clarification! I apologize at my horrible way of responding to you! I’ve been so confused myself but i took some advice from this thread and he’s been eating more consistently which i think is mostly what my ped was worried about.
He’s 10th percentile for weight so she seemed concerned he wasn’t getting enough food and calories so she had just advised us to up his formula to be sure he’s getting enough. But he’s always been super tiny (and this was her first time seeing him). He’s 19lbs and 30” haha. Super tall and skinny!
My original post should have been worded this way so it didn’t look like it was aimed at “you” specifically: “A PERSON cannot force their child to drink more if the child doesn’t want to, even if the dr wants them to.”
There’s the interpretation. lol.... a wrong use of the pronoun “You.”
I wasn’t saying you were forcing him to do anything. I was saying that it was odd that the pediatrician is asking you to feed him more when he’s not wanting it. That was what I meant by not “forcing” him to drink. I wasn’t criticizing you. Just thinking it was strange that the pediatrician was wanting you to get him to drink more when he doesn’t want it. Nothing wrong with what you are doing. I was only disagreeing with the dr saying he needs that much to drink... I’m not disagreeing with your methods. You can feed your baby however you want.
Very true jmedina. He eats extremely well! Absolutely loves his solids, but he doesn’t like liquids in general, even water or juice he pushes aside and just eats his meal.
It mildly concerns me that he may not drink enough in general.
Ok I think as long as he has a healthy diet and still drinking some formula he will be fine. If he doesnt want it theres not much else you can do lol I know breastfeeding is different but my son doesn't nurse nearly as long as he use to and know he's not getting as much. He is starting to want food more, milk doesn't seem to be enough anymore.
I never said anything about “forcing” him to do anything. If he doesn’t finish it i don’t make him drink it..
But for everyone else, thank you for your responses!
That seems like a lot of formula to force him to eat. My daughter’s pediatrician said that at 9 months, I needed to start making food the primary part of meals and milk should be starting to become less important. She also said by 12 months that milk should just be a drink and not food. My daughter is starting to push the bottle away and leave a few ounces. I don’t think you should be concerned as long as he is drinking a few ounces every meal and eating enough food. You can’t force him to drink if he doesn’t want to. Maybe don’t give him as much water/juice and only give him formula for a drink.
I think is better be full with food (veggies,fruits,etc,etc..) than with formula,
I wouldnt push him, lately my baby has been rejecting bottle and breastfeed short times now. As long as he is getting those lots of pure healthy vitamins in food, and in good weight ,dont see the reason to worry,
Yeah i have tried cutting snacks and even some of his meals but same results.
Also i have tried sippy cups and that helped a little but he still pushes them aside with just a few oz left.
Make sure his diet is good and give the formula he wants. Sounds a little unorthodox but if things seem to turn left then remove a meal or shrink them and give more formula.
There is no need to force feeds anything to a baby so if he isn't wanting it he may not need it. Your his mum you will know what he needs