Feeding Problems

We've begun to have problems with feeding Izzie.

Abby is a bottomless pit and will eat anything and everything you give her. She's taking a solid 45 oz a day and some of that has rice and porridge with it.

Izzie on the other hand barely takes 30 oz some days. Her first feed she'll only take a few ounces, sometimes as low as 2. During the day I try to get her to take as much as 8oz in a feed but she'll no longer take the full 9 like she used to. The worst is her bedtime feed. She's begun to cry hysterically when we feed her. She'll be happy enough in her bath but as soon as you dress her and pop her bottle in, she goes mental. Jon has this ridiculous notion that she's got an eating disorder but I think she's just so tired at that feed that it's too much for her.

We've either been feeding her an hour earlier or an hour later after she's gone to sleep but I'm not really happy with either of those and she still won't take a full bottle. Last night during her dream feed she did take a full 9 oz and it was the first time in over a week.

 I asked my HV about it and she told me to just give her porridge or weetabix which I don't quite understand. If she's not eating, how will changing her food help? She's coming to see the girls on Monday, so I'm hoping she'll be able to help us more.

Any advice? I know that my girls are totally different people and will act differently but it's hard to not compare them with each other and when I have one child who eats brilliantly, I can't help but worry about the one who doesn't.

Firstly, is Izzie still weeing and pooing regularly and is otherwise alert and happy?  Those things are a much better indicator of how much food is needed that actual amounts. 

If it is not just a difference in the amount their bodies need to sustain, then you may want to consider a digestive problem or allergies.  Particuarly when you mention the screaming during feeds, I thought of allergies.  Ancedotal evidence only, but I have a good mate that had a child with severe allergies and she would scream horribly during feeds and otherwise would just eat as little as possible. 

Good luck with the problem and tell your DH that it isn't an eating disorder silly!

Hi Sara. Yeah, she's still producing the same amount of wet and dirty diapers and she's still a happy baby. Only thing that has changed is the feed.

We have started the weaning process, so I'll keep a close eye on the foods for any allergies. Cheers.

How long has this been going on Ashely? IME, it's best not to get too worried about these sorts of things at first. Lots of babies go through a 'thanks but no thanks' phase. Will your HV weigh her on Monday? As long as she's gaining I suspect they will tell you not to worry yet. How is she doing with the solids? Does she seem to prefer them to bottles?

I know my two aren't twins, but Sammy was a light eater and very picky. Jake has the appetite of an elephant and the palette of a gourmet chef. They are chalk and cheese! Sammy is now 4 and barely weighs 30 lbs, Jake is 2 and weighs about 35 and is only a couple inches shorter.

Allergies/GI problems are certainly a possibility but again, I suggest you approach things with caution. It's very easy to get sucked into that world and if Izzie isn't showing signs of illness or poor weight gain, then she may just be saying she's not hungry!

How long has this been going on Ashely? IME, it's best not to get too worried about these sorts of things at first. Lots of babies go through a 'thanks but no thanks' phase. Will your HV weigh her on Monday? As long as she's gaining I suspect they will tell you not to worry yet. How is she doing with the solids? Does she seem to prefer them to bottles?

I do agree with this, my baby is so obsessed with eating solids, that her breastfeeds have pretty much become non-existant (sob) and now in the evenings, after her bath (similar to what you say) I put her pjs & sleeping bag on and offer her the boob and she goes HYSTERICAL and only calms down when she has the dummy for a few minutes. I am thinking that this is a phase, and like other said, as long as everything else seems normal, I would wait it out a week or so.

When you start solids, it might all change yet again!

I do agree with this, my baby is so obsessed with eating solids, that her breastfeeds have pretty much become non-existant (sob) and now in the evenings, after her bath (similar to what you say) I put her pjs & sleeping bag on and offer her the boob and she goes HYSTERICAL and only calms down when she has the dummy for a few minutes. I am thinking that this is a phase, and like other said, as long as everything else seems normal, I would wait it out a week or so.

When you start solids, it might all change yet again!

That sounds like Izzie.

Izzie has had a few grumpy moment with her feed for about a month or so but this hysterics at night has really started about a week ago. My HV will be weighing the girls, so we'll see if she's putting on weight. I think she is, she's growing out of her clothes.

Thanks guys. I'll wait to see what the HV says and if she thinks it's ok then I'll just keep pressing on.