Solids and Milk

So, I haven't really talked of our troubles for a little bit. But they haven't gone away sadly.

Our private paed (who is also head of paediatrics at Wgtn Hospital) is making a push for our focus to be on solid foods, seeing as Jackson clearly hates milk and is always going to have a bad relationship with it.

His milk intake has declined further recently, to about 500ml - 600ml per day. Though, because we have an energy supplement added, it's the equivalent energy to him drinking about 700ml - 850ml per day. To get that into him though I am still having to offer 5 feeds a day, including a dreamfeed. It's tiring. Each feed is a big deal.

We're now offering solids 3 times a day. He's ok with them... eats about 6 - 10 teaspoons at each meal (again, with added kilojouls). The thing is, I wouldn't say he's taking to the solids that well. He's very ho-hum about things. I have to act a total idiot to keep him amused and eating. Otherwise he just stares with a closed little mouth.

The biggest thing with Jackson is that he just doesn't seem to have an appetite. He would happily go 6 hours without food. His reflux is proven to be managed, and noone can find anything *wrong* with him. Just not a happy and enthusiastic eater.

I am really scared that he is not getting enough milk, though none of the medical profession seems worried. His weight gain is still at bare minimum, even with the added calories.

I don't even know what my question is here.... Maybe to get reassurance from people that a slow start to solids doesn't mean it will always be like this? Maybe someone has a crystal ball that says life will be ok sometime soon? I'd love to drop one milk feed, but I am scared that it will only make things worse. His 11:30am milk feed is always a bit of a disaster and I only get about 80ml into him. Is it worth the hassle?

I must say I am still pretty down. The first lot of ADs I tried gave me insomnia and I have just started a second lot, but we're starting off very, very slow cos of the side effects. Some days I don't know how to stay positive and keep my chin up. These feeding issues have never gone away and it is very lonely.

Sorry for the woe-is-me post. Just needed to rant.

I'm so sorry to hear that Jackson is still struggling and with solids as well. It may be that Jackson has some bad connotations with food or he could be a sensitive child. Our nephew has never had any food allergies/ sensitivities or reflux and he is a very fussy eater and has quite a limited diet.
My only advice is to keep it as low key as possible, stick to the foods he does like and try new ones but have the liked food on hand if he rejects it.
We used to mix apple into new foods because that's what Dom liked and it made the new food familiar.
Some people use distractions like toys and the telly and find that it helps with a fussy eater.
Just perserve it will probably improve when his reflux goes.

I just wanted to give you this I really hope the new ADs start working for you soon chicky.

I don't have any new advice for you although I've always found the mixing with a "liked" or famliar taste with new foods to be a winner. Not sure how you feel about putting Jackson in front of the telly (or a laptop screen?) but I do have friends who've had great success with fussy eaters putting Baby Einstein or Baby TV on during meal times.





Edited by kiwisj