Need Help for 12 Week Old

Sounds like gas. If you lay him on his back and rub the letters L O V E in the lower back area (pretty large) it should help move things along. Also, if you lay him on his back and push his legs until they are scrunched up against his stomach it helps to move things also.

I had this problem with my now 11-year-old son. He was a large boy too and it with him, it was the nipple. He needed it to come out FAST! Did you try the fastest flow nipple for the oldest baby? I even enlarged the hole in the nipple myself with a very hot needle (then tested it and washed it first) and that helped us. My son was a HUNGRY boy and wanted his milk fast! Good luck...sounds like you're a great mommy! :)

Hi, I don't want to sound like I'm selling you short or anything, but you didn't mention if you burp your little guy. Sometimes its the simplest answer. My grandsons needed burping after 2 ozs. and if I didn't burp them, they acted exactly as you described. Gassy and definately lost what they drank later. They also rejected any more formula if I didn't.

Sounds like it might be reflux. The arching their back and turning of their head makes it more comfortable for them when the acid is splashing up their throat. Get him tested at your dr. or just ask for some zantac. Reflux peaks at 16 weeks and they don't need to spit up to have reflux.

My daughter had it and I look at video of her as a baby and say poor thing I wish I would have known sooner, maybe she would not have cried as much.

Hello,

This sounds exactly like our son Tyler...who is now 1. He would arch and pull away from the bottle after just a few ounces. He would also spit up continuously throughout the day. Our Dr. recommended switching to a soy based formula and also put him on axid for reflux. He was a completely different baby after we made the changes - he didn't arch any more and barely spit up at all. I haven't had a problem with him eating since. The reflux meds do take a week or two to show any affect so you could try them again if your dr. recommends it. According to our pediatrician the arching is a classic sign of reflux and gas. We would also give Tyler non-medicated gas drops which seemed to help as well. Good luck!

All babies are different. Some will eat more and go longer between feedings others may eat less and eat more often. Yours sounds like the later.

He could be arching his back and getting fussy because he is gassy or he could be telling you that he has had enough and to stop trying. If it were me I would pause the feeding, burp him, lay him on his back and bring his knees to his chest, and mesage his tummy in clockwise circles. All these techniques can help remove gas. Once he seems comfortable again try feeding more. If he doesn't want it he doesn't want it.

The truth is most bottled fed babies over eat. Parents tend to look more at the ounces rather than baby's body language. Mothers of breastfed babies can only go by baby's body language. Trust that you son knows when he has had enough and expect his eating habits will change over time.

In response to why is he eating less. Perhaps he recently went through a growth spurt where he was eating more. If he growth is currently a little slower he won't need to eat as much. I wouldn't worry as long as he isn't loosing weight. I think babies this age should be drinking at least 20 oz of formula in 24 hours. If he is drinking much less than this contact the doctor.

My son had the same sort of problems. He had acid reflux since birth, but it took them forever to figure out thats what it was. Maybe he needs a different medicine. I would definitely have him checked out again. My son was a whole new kid once he had the right type and amounts of medications.

My dd is 6mos. and 15lbs. she eat anywhere from as little as 1oz to as much as 6oz. but more towards 2-3oz. at a time. She was colicky for awhile and would scream alot so we switched her to Enfamil Nutramigen and she's the happiest baby around now. This formula is great for colic, reflux, milk allergy you name it.

My 9 week old takes 3.5 - 4 oz every 2-4 hours.

Not really sure what could be going on with your little guy, but I don't think his decreasing the amount he's eating is normal. You didn't mention this, but I'm assuming he's having regular BM's and constipation is NOT an issue??? Does he burp well for you? I know our daughter will sometimes act like your son does (gaggy, arching, etc) when she needs to burp (or poop). Has there been a formula change?

I guess if it continues, I'd talk with your pediatrician. Good luck and let us all know what happens.

Babies always tend to eat more when they are in a growth spurt, and back off, when they are staying put for a bit. I think alot of doctors just automatically offer reflux meds, rather than really talking to moms about what is happening. I agree with others, where it sonds more like gas. My out of state sister-in-law was a bit too soft in burping her son, so she wasn't getting full burps from him. When visiting I didn't want to tell her she was burping him wrong, so I showed her how to take his legs & do bicycling motions with him to work the gas out(make sure you're pressing the knee up to the belly, to help squeeze it out). My brother-in-law called me a couple days after leaving thanking me for showing them how to get a "happy baby" back. No more refulx meds needed.

Hello C. m

I have a 12 week old boy who is also all most 16 pounds right now. I have no problems with him eating now but it took us forever with him at first we had problems with him eating or spitting up every thing after he ate. maybe the formula is bothering him and he is cramping as he stiffens up. We just tryed all kinds of things until we found what works.

Good Luck!
Becky

I would think at this age your baby really needs nutrition, so you can't give up. But I think the best advise would be to see your pediatrician about what is best. Sometimes it can be lactose intolerance, or some digestive issue; although it maybe didn't show up right away, there could be something "off". You're doing the right thing to care & try to find out. Just, consult expert advice - an M. D.
Thanks for letting us weigh in, and best to you! M

I have a child in my daycare who is just the same. He is the same age and weight. I find that he only acts like this if I try to feed him before he is really hungry. I would extend the time between feedings to see if he wants to eat more at one time.

My son was Breastfed but around 3 months was when he changed his eating habits, he used to nurse for a long time but around 12 weeks he started nursing only 3-5 mins a side, i dont know about all the formula difficulty or allergies but all babies change habits from time to time you just have to grow with them!

I am so sorry that you guys are going through this! It sounds a LOT like what I went through with my oldest son, who is now 6. I ended up getting help from my chiropractor, who helped me figure out that my little guy was not tolerating some of the foods that I was eating (I was nursing him). I know that chiropractic helps many fussy babies, as I now work at that clinic. There are many things that chiropractic can help with, such as ear infections and digestive issues. I know that my doc gives free consultations and examinations to kids, so let me know if you want the information. We have a clinic in St. Louis Park and Shorewood. Honestly, once we got this stuff figured out with my son, it was like having a whole new baby! Good luck!
J.

My little guy started to fuss and not eat as much when he had ear infection. He had a cold that lead to double ear infection. If nothing else works I would take him to the doctor to get him checked out.

Have you ever tried chiropractic? Reflux problems can be a result from the birth process, I have had my children adjusted by a chiropractor since they were born. I have also worked for a chiropractor and there are amazing things that can be done for children. The most important thing to remember is that not all chiropractors are good with children. You have to be willing to ask ?'s and ask them even if they have child patients (maybe ask if you can watch a child being adjusted). They are not going to hurt your child, they are very gentle with kids, they will more than anything make your child feel better! Also talk to the chiropractor about what is going on with your child. I go to my chiropractor for everything, and if they are good they will want you too. It is worth a try, my children have never had an ear infection, and that is because they go regularly to their chiropractor.

My 3 month old use to fuss when eating too. We tried reflux meds but they didn't help much. Finally I turned to a natural product called Colic Ease. I was a little skeptical, but it calmed him down immediately. It contains dill weed extract, clove, cinnamon, cardamon, etc all of which calm digestion and stimulate appetite. You can find it at the Fresh and Natural Foods chain in the TC or order online. It cost about $17, but is worth it. BTW it tastes like a pickle and my son loved taking it.

2 things could be happening:
#1, he really needs to go longer between feedings, like 4 hours at this age is normal when on formula. The tummy doesn't digest formula as fast as breastmilk.

#2 if after 4 hours he is still only wanting a couple of ozs. he may have a milk protien sensitivity or allergy, switching to soy will help that, FYI: it takes about 10-15 days for the GI tract to calm down from the milk. You should notice a difference in about 3 days but to know for sure 2 wks is a good mark.

My 5 yr. old did this exact thing as an infant. Once I started making her go 4 hrs between feeding I was able to see what was actually going on, she ended up having a milk allergy & I was feeding her to soon b/c she was fussy and acting hungry when she was really reacting to tummy pains from the milk-based formula.

Good luck.

Just wondering if you have called your doctor about this. My grandson had pylorostenosis at the age of three weeks and needed surgery to solve his eating problem!

To me it sounds like he is gassy or that he is having a period where he is growing slower, and so eats less (my son had these plateaus a few times in his first year). I am certain that he will not starve himself, so as long as you keep offering him the bottle/nurse I'm sure that he'll get what he needs! I hope you two work it out :)