Hi yummies, I could really do with some of your fantastic advice again,

I have been weaning Mason for 8 weeks now and it has been going great. He has 3 meals a day along with his milk. He has been teething since 11 weeks and for the last few days he has been suffering with it badly but Calpurofen and bongela have helped.

Since Friday he has simply refused his bottles. He will eat his solids followed by a little water but will not take any of his bottles apart from his 6am one he wakes up for. I am starting to get a little concerned that he isn't having enough fluids. Will give you a typical example of his daily feeds

6amish, 9oz bottle

10am, Bowl of cereal made with his milk and usually the rest of bottle

130pm Bowl of vegetables and fromage frias or fruit and some water, no bottle

430pm A Rusk mixed with his milk and rest of bottle

730pm 9oz bottle

Am I doing things wrong or am I just being an over panicky first time mum, is it just because he is teething and the bottles are hurting him?

He has had a copuple of dry nappies but is still dribbling away so don't think he is de-hydrated.

Any ideas would be most welcome.

Katie and Mason.x x x

hey hun. Cameron has been teething for a while now too and he has been on and off his bottles quite a bit. i mentioned it to the hv and she said they do start to refuse their bottles when their teeth are coming. it just hurts too much to drink it.

i dont know whether or not he'll be getting enough fluids tho if hes refusing them totally. but it sounds like your making his feeds up with plenty milk so he'll be taking it in that way wont he.

its a tricky one, i am also a neurotic 1st time mum! hehe!

xx

Hi hun, I'm going to be devils advocate here and say maybe you started Mason on 3 meals a tad too early.

It is so common for bubs to go off their milk when they are fully weaned, usually about 6/7 months. It's normal - food tastes nicer than icky formula after all!

I'm not having a go - I weaned Gabe at 16 weeks, but I kept him on 1 meal until he was 20 weeks and at 22 weeks he is on 2 meals and still has 4 8oz bottles. Gabe prefers milk to solids but as far as I can tell from being on here, most bubbas prefer solids.

Personally I would reduce Masons solids slightly and see if he will take more milk. Milk is the most important food for them until 1 year old.

I REALLY hope I havent offended you honey, after all we all have our babies best interests at heart but sometimes another persons perspective helps....anythings worth a try eh??

As for dehydration - they do say babies should have 4-6 wet nappies a day and 1 dirty one (if bottle fed). You could always hide Masons milk in his food.

[Modified by: **Tiger Lily** on October 14, 2008 09:54 PM]

Hi girls, thankyou for your replies.

Listef I'm glad your hv said that to you as I went and bought 2 vari flo teats today for Masons bottles and he guzzled them down no probs as he didn't have to suck as hard.

Tigerlily of course you havn't offended me hun, am grateful for anybodys opinion and did expect some feedback to weaning Mason early. He has taken his bottles on the bigger teats so hoping its just down to teething. Hope Gabe is well hun and you all had a lovely holiday.x x x