Initial weight loss at weaning?

[jasperc163]

Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else? My LO is now 9 months but has only recently taken to food at all (been trying since 6 months). She has always been really hard work with milk (reflux) but we managed to keep up a reasonable and steady weight gain.

Now that she is eating a little (though still small amounts) she has dropped some milk (taking 20-25oz max) and lost a little weight (4oz in 2 weeks) at last weighing. I assume this is due to the fact that the milk is more calorie dense and she isnt yet eating enough solids to make up for this?

is this common?
thanks
alice

[CADS]

It could be the reduced calorie intake, but depends how much her milk intake has declined by and how mobile she is too. Hopefully, someone more helpful will be along so.

DD (8mnths) has reflux so I can sympathise with the frustration of trying to get them to take their full milk requirements and worrying that they might loss weight. We are back to sleep feeding this week because she is fighting the bottle so much during the day.

[CADS]

'sleep' should be night

She wakes up starving.

[jasperc163]

Cads,
thanks - she has reduced from 30-35oz (drip feeding all day most days) to 20-25oz. She has never had much appetite anyway and its always been hard work. She is also more mobile so no doubt that her energy usage has gone up, but i also think its quite hard to match the calories in the milk if your LO doesnt eat decent quantities of solids.

sorry to hear you're also struggling with reflux. We still do a 10pm feed just to try to get more in (but she only takes 2-3oz and isnt hungry next morning)>

anyone else?
alice

[sazhig]

DS lost weight around the time he started eating more solids (8-9 ish months I think). I think it was a combination of solids taking up room from the more calorific milk along with him learning to crawl and having a cold (so he took less milk as he couldnt breath when he was feeding - he was bf btw). Didnt worry me at all - he was clearly fine at the time & gained loads the next month to make up for it!

[jasperc163]

thanks sazhig

good to hear it does happen. LO is not eating much at all atm (not that keen on milk or solids) which i am hoping is just a combination of a cold and the heat. I am trying not to get too bothered - but its hard sometimes :-)