7 month old not wanting formula - getting worried!

[Mrsb999]

My 7 month old son has for about a week been pretty much refusing his formula. We are lucky if we get 20oz into him - and this is a real struggle. He has been teething which I know doesn't help but the tooth is through now so I was hoping things would improve! He's just gone up to 3 meals a day which he's enjoying but I'm concerned he ain't getting enough formula.

We have tried giving him formula in a soppy cup which doesn't work either plus upped his teat size as he seemed to be getting bored on the bottle but this hasn't helped either. He pulls off the bottle after about 3oz and refuses any more, he used to guzzle 8oz at at time!

We have also made sure the milk is the right temperature and that he's not tired etc but nothing is helping.

Does anyone have any advice as to how to overcome this or whether in fact he's getting enough formula? It just seems like such a dramatic drop in ounces a day and I'm getting worried

[Mrsb999]

I should also say that I've been adding some formula milk to his food to try and get an extra ounce or two in aswell!

[Orangeychoc]

20oz is fine at 7 months alongside 3 balanced meals!

My DS has 3x8oz = 24oz but often leaves some of at least one bottle. I think the guidelines are about a pint, but that can include milk in cooking/porridge etc.

[Mrsb999]

Thanks - the thing is the 20oz is a real struggle so today for example he's only had 13oz so far! Is there a minimum he should be having a day!

[Mrsb999]

? Not ! Sorry

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

The NHS advise moving to 3 meals a day between 8 and 9 months so I'd drop one meal and try him with ready brek made with formula or porridge fingers, again made with formula for one of his meals.

Try him with a dose of ibruprofen about half an hour before his main meal if he's teething and try a teething gel, like dentinox before his bottles.

Are you offering the solids roughly an hour after the milk too?

[Mrsb999]

I will try that thank you, he has porridge for breakfast made with formula already. He's only been on 3 meals a day for the last couple of days so I will drop it down to 2 again but to be honest I cut right down on his solids last week and he just wasn't interested in the formula still - surely he should've been hungry?

I've been using the teetha teething powder before his feeds, giving it chance to work then trying him on the bottle, he takes it to begin with then seems to get bored half way through which is what made me think it was to do with teat size. I bought the next
teat up but it was too fast for him and gave him lots of wind!

He's happy enough though and isn't crying with hunger either so I just hope it's a temporary thing!

[brettgirl2]

Some of them do just refuse it once they are weaning. People on here always quote the 20oz stiff but you can't make them take it. talk to your hv of you are worried

All this give it before food, make a meal smaller didn't work for me. Mine knew there was something better, they are little not daft

[brettgirl2]

stuff lol!

[bangersmashandbeans]

My DS did this at pretty much the same age (a month ago). 20oz is fine but its so annoying when it's a struggle. We made it work by doing 6oz in the morning but not as soon as he woke up, I wait until he 'asks' for it - usually 30-60 mins after wake up. He drinks 4oz and I use the other 2 for his porridge. 4oz bottle some point mid morning, again not until he asks for it (obv I mean gets grizzly!) and 4oz some point in the afternoon, often not until 4ish. He then has 7oz before bed. I guess what I'm trying to say is that waiting until he actually cries for it meant he drinks a lot more than sticking to rigid times.

[Mrsb999]

Quick update, we have changed routine slightly and it's been working a lot better and his formula intake has gone up again, yay! I think it was a combination of bad timing and him teething. But the main things is he seems to be really enjoying his formula again which is such a relief.

Thanks for all your replies