9 1/2 Month Old Not Drinking Enough Formula

Cut back on all the solid foods! His belly is very very full. Babies should have their primary nutrition from formula until their 1st birthday and then slowly shift toward solids for nutrition and milk for nutrients and fluids.

What is he drinking during the day? You say he's weaned from the bottle, but does that mean he's drinking from a sippy? If so, then put the formula in the sippy. Truly- you may be overfeeding him. Check with your pediatrician.

From what I recall, my son at this age...
- 8 oz bottle when he woke up on the morning
- "puffs" and 1 jar babyfood (cereal and fruit mix) for breakfast
- 6 oz bottle before his morning nap
- veggie/meat for lunch with small bottle
- "puffs" (or some kind of baby snack) and a bottle around 3:30
- bottle before going to bed 6-8 oz.

The APA website has pretty good guidelines.

Just FYI... my son is somewhat small for his age, but at 2, he weighs 25 pounds.

There is no rule that you cannot feed a baby during the night, if they are hungry.
Our Pediatrician, says to feed on-demand for the 1st year of a baby's life.
Solids and other liquids are NOT their Primary source of nutrition... breastmilk or Formula is.

Next, your baby is eating a lot of solids... and 3 times a day. So he is probably just too full, to drink his formula.
Eating solids 3 times a day, at this age, is NOT the goal.

If you give solids as the primary source of intake... and give it before formula... then this will make the baby "wean" from it.
This is per our Pediatrician as well.
I would, give him his Formula/bottle BEFORE any solids... and upon waking and at night if he wakes and is hungry.
Keep in mind, that at growth-spurt periods (9 months is a growth spurt time), a baby will often wake at night due to hungry. SO feed him.
Nothing wrong with that.
Again, per our Pediatrician and what I did with my kids as babies... is I fed them ON-demand the 1st year... day and night.

Try putting the formula in his sippy cup. Also, cut back on one cup of yogurt. It may be that the table food portions are a bit to large for him so when he finishes all of the table food there is no room for the formula.

M.

I have a 10 month old too. Maybe you could try weaning some of the solids and pushing more formula--do it moderately though. It may take a week or so, but it's worth a shot. My son loves to eat solids, but he doesn't get much. I've been successful in keeping a schedule and it has worked. If your son is still drinking out of a bottle, now is the best time to switch to a sippy cup because it will be tougher to do so later on, I learned that with my last kid. Here's what my 10 month old eats and he's 21 lbs. too:

Morning: 7 oz. of formula first thing (sippy cup)
Breakfast: Baby cereal w/fruit mix or bits of banana or toast
6 oz. of formula before morning nap
Lunch: 1 jar of baby food
6 oz. of formula before mid-afternoon nap
Dinner: Sometimes just formula or one jar of baby food
Bedtime: 6 oz. formula

If your baby is going through a growth spurt, he will probably get up to eat more at night.

I've noticed that my son will drink the ready made formula (Similac bottle) much better than he will the powdered stuff. Maybe you should try the ready made stuff if you are using the powdered...I know it's much more costly, but, just a thought.

Hope this helps!

M

I like Krista's schedule. Cut back on the food. I have a 10 month old who weighs 23 lbs and doesn't eat as much as your child. I also think that the wieght of your baby at 9 months is right on track. At my son's 9 month check up he was 21 lbs 4 oz and is in the 97% for height and weight. I think your baby is just full of other foods, that is why he is refusing the bottle. Just my thoughts.

Keep trying... worry less :) My almost 9 month old is only breastfeeding, so I have no idea how much he is drinking. He does eat 3 meals per day, and he eats a lot- all three of my kids have by this age. What I do know is that he is happy and healthy- oh, and neither of my girls were over 19 lbs at one year, and I don't think he will pass 20 lbs either. My kids don't sit still ever and they are just built lean- they have met all developmental milestones early and they are average or above in height for their ages. I just take it that I'm lucky I don't have to worry about them being overweight. If your little guy is healthy, just try not to worry too much. Like other suggestions, I would try to give it to him before or between meals and make meals smaller. I have also found that my son likes to drink more when his food is more "real" and less runny. I would agree with other comments about trying to give him different formulas and also try different kinds of sippy cups (my little one will only use the ones with soft spouts and my girls likes the soft straws really young). Good luck!

Hello, I am not a nutritionist, but I would say that if he is getting the proteins through his other foods (yogurt and such) then not to worry. However, have you tried the tippy cup? Also, if he won't do the formula, then why not feed him more of the baby food? Just a thought.
Good luck with your precious little baby.
K. K.

I know this was back in 2010 but this is exactly what is happening to my son right now at 9 1/2 months and he is getting dehydrated often. Wondering what ever came of this or how your baby got over this hump? Its been 2 months of rejecting bottles or only taking a couple ounces at a time but he will eat table food. Hope you can help!