https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 17:58:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1994595 Mon, 22 Dec 2014 15:03:07 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 1994595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meridian: that's interesting because I dropped my LO MOTN bottle. I thought she would eat more during the day also, but she seems to actually eat less! She still wakes up during the night, but I just nurse her instead of giving her the bottle. She doesn't actually eat a lot from nursing, it's mostly for comfort. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1994539 Mon, 22 Dec 2014 14:29:05 +0000 Meridian 1994539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumpkin Pie: Very interested in this post... I exclusively pump, and LO was previously eating 20 - 24 oz/day up until about 2 weeks ago when he dropped a MOTN feed, so 7 bottles instead of 8. I was thinking he would eat more during the day to make up for it, but his daytime intake stays the same, 2.5 - 3 oz, and a lot of times he won't finish his 3 oz bottle. </p> <p>Not sure if it could be diet related on my part because I haven't changed anything, and he was eating more previously?? No blood in his stools either... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1994522 Mon, 22 Dec 2014 14:07:04 +0000 Anagram 1994522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumpkin Pie: I wouldn't say it was sudden, but it happened gradually. When I was trying to BF, LO definitely seemed to prefer to bottle and would just gulp down a bottle after I finished trying BF her.</p> <p>But some time after 2 months, she started eating less and by 3 months it was a full-blown major issue. I literally would spend all day (and night) trying to get her to have a few ounces. My pediatrician was really unhelpful and would be like, well, as long as she gets 12 oz a day, she won't dehydrate herself. If she goes below 12 oz, you can take her to the emergency room for rehydration--but no help on what was causing the issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1994511 Mon, 22 Dec 2014 13:57:07 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 1994511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do babies suddenly develop MSPI? @Anagram: you mentioned that your LO started refusing bottles at 3 months. What about before then? Did your first suddenly change at 3 months? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1994373 Mon, 22 Dec 2014 12:03:21 +0000 Anagram 1994373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumpkin Pie: sometimes the blood is totally invisible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1994340 Mon, 22 Dec 2014 11:37:06 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 1994340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try elimination diet. If she had MSPI would she have bloody diapers? She's never had a bloody diapers. I'm just trying to see if I can eliminate MSPI as the cause. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1994025 Mon, 22 Dec 2014 08:07:19 +0000 Anagram 1994025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumpkin Pie: My story was similar to Mae's.....My LO had trouble from the start latching correctly and fussing/screaming at the breast, so I ended up switching to EPing by 3 months, but at 3 months she started refusing the bottle as well. She wouldn't scream at the bottle, she just wouldn't take it into her mouth.</p> <p>We had many, many days of trying to get her to eat all day, and we would only get 12-17 oz total into her, and her % started dropped. 50% at 1 month, 36% at 2 months, 28% at 3 months, 26% at 4 months...sometime around 3 months her bottle refusal was at its' peak and like Mae, I asked my doctor if it could be an allergy and the Ped said no--that my LO wasn't displaying signs (like crying all the time. She was a very calm baby, except when I tried to get her to eat).</p> <p>However, about a week after she turned 3 months, I noticed teensy tiny streaks of blood in her stool and I called the Ped back and insisted on bringing her diapers in for a blood test (it's a super simple test they do by smearing some poop onto a little testing kit)--and sure enough, LO had blood in her stools.</p> <p>So at that point, my doctor did suggest eliminating dairy. However, I'd read enough at that point to know that often, infants are intolerannt to both dairy and soy and I figured I would rather just eliminate both for 2 weeks and see if there were any improvements.</p> <p>And there were! Within 3 days of me eliminating, LO drank a 4 oz bottle STRAIGHT. She hadn't done that in almost 6 weeks at that point. I remember crying and calling my husband at work, I was so relieved and excited.</p> <p>After I eliminated, it because *so clear* that LO had a major intolerance. After a month or so of eliminating, my doctor still seemed skeptical and suggested I try alimentum for a trial 3 day period (I think she didn't quite believe that LOs issues were MSPI and not "just a stage") so I pumped while giving LO Alimentum, and her diapers were like, full blood. SO MUCH blood.</p> <p>I was kind of angry at the doctor for suggesting alimentum (since it's not 100% dairy free) but I also felt vindicated, so that was nice. =) LO started drinking 30 oz a day--sometimes more!--and jumped back up to 40% by the time she was a year old.</p> <p>I ended up staying dairy and soy free (not even soy oil or lecithin) until LO was 11 months, then I started slowly adding soy oil back into my diet--then last, soy lecithin right before I stopped pumping when LO was 13 months).</p> <p>She is now 17 months and *still* can't tolerate dairy or forms of soy other than soy oil. She can have very small amounts of soy lecithin but gets an upset tummy if she eats a lot of it.</p> <p>In some ways, after I got used to eating MSPI style, I realized it was kind of a good thing--I'm very lazy when it comes to cooking, but LOs intolerances have forced me to give her almost totally unprocessed foods and she's a very healthy eater now. She happily eats salmon, broccoli, peas, green beans, roasted chicken, roast beef, all fruits, eggs, oatmeal---she's still not a fan of carbs (probably associates them with stomach pain since they usually have soy or dairy).</p> <p>hope that helps! Don't be afraid to try an elimination diet in spite of your doctor. I think 2 weeks of eliminating can't hurt--you'll either see a difference or you won't and you can go from there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1994021 Mon, 22 Dec 2014 07:50:23 +0000 Mae 1994021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumpkin Pie: I would definitely relax about it, at least for another few days. Getting less than 20 oz/day for a few days isn't going to be a long term issue. Also when I asked about ounces when I was EPing an my LO wasn't eating "enough" I thought. The ped told me that different women's milk has different fat content. Some women make more like "skim milk" and some women make more like "whole milk" so some babies just don't need as much. Over time your babe's weight should tell you (following her own curve not just pounds) + making sure she has wet dipes. But I do think the biggest thing is trying to stay calm in the short term. We're dealing with a little set back this week and both my DH and I have failed at feeding LO when we got stressed about it and tried to force it to much. When the calmer one switches out and deals with feeding it goes better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1993917 Sun, 21 Dec 2014 23:31:16 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 1993917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think my diet has changed at all, and I give her fresh expressed milk. I think I may give it another few days and then try a faster nipple. For a 3 month old the Dr said she should be getting at least 20 oz a day, but she's been getting less. She doesn't seem hungry, so could it just be that she doesn't require as much calories? Should I just try relaxing a bit, and not force her to eat? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1993863 Sun, 21 Dec 2014 21:59:29 +0000 lady grey 1993863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: I was also going to suggest increasing the nipple size. </p> <p>What about your diet, have you been eating anything that could be flavoring the milk that baby may not like? I think stuff like garlic and licorice can come through.</p> <p>Also do you happen to be using milk that's been frozen for a while? Here is info about lipase breaking down in milk that can make its smell and taste soapy:<br /> <a href="http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/lipase-expressedmilk/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/lipase-expressedmilk/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1993710 Sun, 21 Dec 2014 17:46:46 +0000 Mae 1993710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumpkin Pie: might be worth trying a faster nipple just to see. I can't remember when we switched the flow the first time, I think it was maybe close to 4 months but at that point we went from level 1 to level 3 because level 2 seemed the same as 1 and I figured what the hell, try level 3. We just switched to level 4 today with our 7mo lo even though the package says 9+ mo. Feeding babies is definitely more art than science! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1993687 Sun, 21 Dec 2014 17:04:27 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 1993687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't tried faster nipple, but she's only 3 months. I thought getting a faster nipple might cause her to gag and not control the intake. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1993672 Sun, 21 Dec 2014 16:38:58 +0000 Nskillet 1993672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nipple flow? Have you sped them up? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1993662 Sun, 21 Dec 2014 16:15:16 +0000 gingerbebe 1993662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah my son got upset when we forced him to eat but otherwise was happy and fine. He seemed distracted mostly - like eating was the last thing he wanted to do - but we'd just get him to zone out a bit and have him feed or let him nurse for a few minutes (which seemed to be okay with him) and then switch to the bottle. (LO is a poor nurser so we do pumped bottles but likes to nurse for comfort for a few minutes here and there). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1993630 Sun, 21 Dec 2014 15:38:34 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 1993630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO doesn't cry or anything when feeding. Doesn't seem like there is any pain. She just doesn't seem to want to eat after about 2 oz. She seems happy otherwise. I'm guessing it's not a reflux or allergy issue? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1993612 Sun, 21 Dec 2014 15:04:43 +0000 gingerbebe 1993612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our son already has reflux and is medicated for it but he suddenly started refusing his bottles at 3 months and now at 14 weeks is just starting to take his bottles without too much of a struggle. Wonder Week 12 symptoms list decreased appetite as one so I chalked it up to that partially and he started drooling this week so I wonder if he's teething. My SIL has a son 2.5 months older and she said while her son doesn't have teeth yet he started having teething pains around now and the first symptoms were fighting his bottles too. So we think both things are going on. We force feed our son too and it's annoying but he needs the water and calories. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1993610 Sun, 21 Dec 2014 15:03:28 +0000 Mae 1993610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumpkin Pie: Our first doc? Not much, unfortunately. Which is why we switched. It was a lot of drama honestly. I suspected reflux based on her symptoms and made an appt and they stuck me with a PA who wrote an rx for zantac and had no advice. I was freaking out because it was like noon when I was in for the appt and I'd only gotten LO to eat 4 oz since bedtime the night before and she was all "oh really? well hopefully this helps." sigh. </p> <p>Then it did not help and things just kept getting worse. I called the doc and a nurse called me back and I asked if I should maybe try a hypoallergenic formula and elimination diet (I was combo feeding bc I had low supply) and the nurse said no it wasn't an allergy. And she said they weren't concerned bc LO's weight was okay. But this had only started a week prior so her weight had not had time to drop, plus we worked our ASSES of fighting with her 8 times/day to get her to eat. I knew it wasn't normal and they just didn't take us seriously. So I switched docs to one that I had heard was good with eating issues and she did take me seriously and her first suggestion was to try nutramigen + elimination diet. I did that and within 4 days my baby started eating awake again. Within 2 weeks she was eating willingly for every meal (although we still had to work a bit for it, she had a lot of requirements-- but if we did all the things right she ate). The doc had said that her later issues were behavioral based on her learning that food = pain and we would have to see if we could work her back to eating normally. And if we couldn't she'd send us to therapist to work with her on eating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1993603 Sun, 21 Dec 2014 14:44:46 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 1993603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: what did your doc say about the eating issues? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1993521 Sun, 21 Dec 2014 13:13:58 +0000 Mae 1993521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>sooo we have struggle with this on and off LO's whole life (just had a post about it a few days ago at 7mo). It really started at 2.5 mo though and she got progressively worse until she refused food entirely and we had to feed her only when she was asleep. For us we figured out the cause was silent reflux (I.e. she didn't spit up a TON but she did spit up sometimes and also arched a lot when eating) + MSPI. We think eating was hurting her and that was the root cause. But I also believe strongly that my response to her refusal did not make things better (and this was pretty much confirmed by the docs). I was so scared of her not eating we force fed her. We'd trick her into eating by switching the paci in/out with the bottle, try to distract her looking at the fan and sneak a bottle in, and downright force her through crying just to get her to EAT. What I've learned (about my kid anyways) is that she is stubborn. I think the more I pushed the more she refused. And I feel like if we hadn't forced it with her (i.e. let her go a bit longer and actually get really hungry vs. forcing it every 3 hrs) maybe it would've been better. </p> <p>So I guess my totally non-expert advice would be first to stop forcing it. Especially in the short term. Low ounces for a day or two are not going to seriously harm your kid. (The matrix the nurses told me is that as long as she had a wet diaper every 5-6 hours she was okay in the short term). That could help if she's just going through a fussy phase. I'd also try a faster flow nipple. When we've gone through less serious periods of refusal that has been a solution for us. </p> <p>And I'd also look for signs of reflux or allergy to talk to your doc about. If you see arching while eating, crying after starting to eat/right after eating, a lot of spitting up or vomiting, any blood or mucous in her diapers... definitely mention those to your doc. </p> <p>Good luck! Sorry, eating issues are the worst :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suddenly-eating-less#post-1993506 Sun, 21 Dec 2014 12:59:35 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 1993506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I bottle feed expressed milk to my 3 month old. She used to take 4 ounces 5x/ day, but now she'll only want about 2-3 ounces. It's a struggle to feed her because she keeps turning her head away. I basically force feed her now. The Dr said she seems healthy and doesn't see signs of reflux. I'm worried because she already eats on the low side. Anyone have experience with their infant suddenly being uninterested in eating? Any tips? </p>