Formula Advice

[Eldia]

Hi all,

My LO has just turned six months yesterday and over the past week appears to be fussy during feeds especially in the second part of the day. It feels he is still hungry after a feed and started to wake up during the night every 3-4 hours. I would like to start topping him up with the formula and see if this will make a difference. Where to start? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Maria

[AllWeNeedIsluv]

I remember this happening with my daughter much earlier though she, was a very hungry baby. I started giving her 2once before bed a and continued with the breast through the night. Then 2 once in the morning and breast fed through day then I just went with it and mixed fed with what she needed as and when. Contact health visitor and see what that suggest good luck hun xx

[Eldia in reply to AllWeNeedIsluv]

Thank you, I finally ventured to trying to give him Hibb powder formula before putting to bed but discovered a new issue. He refuses eating from the bottle First time I left breast milk in the bottle he drank it all when mu Mom was babysitting. Next time I went out he refused so we thought he did not like a different tit or was not hungry but this time he just refused the bottle all together and was hiding his face and covering his mouth and then hungrily breast fed. Don't know what to do now with bottle feeding. He is 6 months and two weeks now.

[Kate91]

You could start topping baby up but babies do go through a few phases of cluster feeding and sleep disturbances usually around a couple months then six then 10 to 12 as they have growth spurts, you wouldnt do any harm topping up but be careful to pump so you dont diminish your supply and be aware baby might not want to go back to breast after bottle

[Hidden]

Have you started weaning him?! If he’s hungry it may well be because he is ready to start eating more than milk! Good luck xxx

[Eldia in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. He is not sitting up yet and is not sticking things into his mouth apart from paper! Gave him mashed courgette, he ate a spoon but then had a gagging reflex and vomited it back. Boiled carrot and other veg he is not grabbing yet himself and turns away if offered. Refuses bottle too. Worried what to do if milk supply suddenly diminished. xxx

[claire16c]

Hi Maria

Babies who have been sleeping for longer periods will often at some point start to wake more often - 3/4 hours is totally normal. Just breastfeed as normal. He might be getting fussy in the day because this is the prime age for getting distracted! Also - this can be the age of learning to crawl and roll etc which can mean these new skills wake them at night. Also things like teething! It’s also very normal for a baby of this age to need milk in the night.

You don’t need to use formula. Formula is not shown in research to make babies sleep longer - babies are also supposed to wake, it prevents against sids. X

[Eldia in reply to claire16c]

Thank you. Makes total sense. His first tooth also appeared yesterday so this might explain fussiness. Worried though as he refuses bottle so not sure what to do in an emergency ie if milk supply goes.

[claire16c in reply to Eldia]

dont worry about supply. It’s really well established by 6 months it won’t just disappear!

Also, now he’s 6 months you can practise with him using a sippy cup with his meals to have a few sips of water x

[Hidden]

Instead of formula feeding you can try to start to give him/her solids. There is lots of advice on weaning online and you can always ring your health visitor to discuss it.

[Eldia in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. He appears to be not yet ready for solids as he is not yet sitting up or grabbing food to put in his mouth himself. But hopefully will have a break through soon as he is well into 6 months now.