Sheldon's first time at the pumpkin patch!
So, I have to take a few minutes to vent about our current feeding issues. I'm writing this out to document what we are going through and what we have tried, and also in hopes that someone out there has some advice.
For the past week or so, we have been working on adding formula into Sheldon's diet. I have been replacing the noon feed with formula so that I get a little break from nursing and to ensure that Sheldon is getting enough to eat. When we began, he would take up to 6 ounces of formula at that feed. Since, he has started to refuse it, or take only an ounce. He seems like he is trying to outsmart us. He'll take next to nothing at that feed and then hold out until I nurse him the next time. I am not sure what to do about this. Yesterday, Ryan tried to feed him formula while I was out to lunch with some friends. He took an ounce. So, we decided to not "give in" and nurse him the next feed. We fought him tooth and nail to get another ounce in him. (He should be taking 6 to 8 ounces per feed). So, then the question is, do we keep forcing formula on him and just deal with him being starving and grumpy? We finally gave in and gave him breast milk before bed because I was too exhausted to fight him anymore.
Here's the thing, I don't necessarily want to be done breast feeding, I just want the option for him to have a bottle or two of formula each day. I think it would give me peace of mind and a little break. I also don't think he is getting near the amount of food he needs each day. He should be getting close to 40 ounces of food. I'd be surprised if he was getting 25.
The next logical solution would be to use solid foods. Yet, we cannot seem to find a time that Sheldon will eat them. He's either too hungry and just wants a bottle or to nurse, or he is too tired, or he has just nursed and is too full to be interested. Almost every time we try to feed him, he glues his mouth shut, or gets mad and starts crying. What is a mom to do?
I don't necessarily feel that this is the ideal time to battle this out. We are currently working on switching Coranelle over to a toddler bed, we are getting new phones, having a landscaping project done, and I am making lots of extra meals for some friends that just had babies. This past week, we had people over to our house for dinner 4 out of 5 nights. Yes, that seems like a random and small list of things, but it just makes it too hard to deal with a hunger strike too. I am also trying to extend the times between Sheldon's feedings from 3 to 3 1/2 hours, as I feel like he is old enough to just eat more at each feeding.
Any advice on a switch over to formula or getting kids to eat solid foods? I'd appreciate it!
1 comment:
no advice on the formula or solids part, but i remember feeling like i had a breakthrough with tristan when i read somewhere that starting at 4 months, they should be eating only every 4 hours. once i began that with him, he slept way better at night, and then by 6 months i'd just feed solids 2 hours after i had nursed him because by then he'd be open to trying it, but not before!! hope that helps a little bit.
i'm currently switching ava from 3 hourly feeds to 3.5 in preparation to switch her to 4 hours next month, if she's ready. and i know its easy for someone else to say this, but if he is hungry he will eat!! i know that you're worried about his weight, but you have a little bitty girl and she turned out perfect. if he seems happy and content with the amount he is eating, try not to sweat it. the 2 things parents seem to worry most about with their kids is: Sleep and Eating, and the funny thing is, we can force neither of these things upon them! i will be praying for you specifically that you'll be able to gain peace about this.
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