My son doesn't eat! Help!

[Rfilippone]

Hi- My son is 6 months old and he has a cleft of the soft palate. it was detected late and by the time that I found a cleft team, he was nursing and would only nurse! I have tried every bottle known to man and he only eats 2 ounces (he ate 3 once and we jumped for joy) There is no pattern to his eating- even if I try to hold him off he will still only eat 2 ounces. I was hoping to have him weaned at 6 months but here we are! I dont' know what to do! I started solids and he is doing okay- he only eats about half the jar- he is really tiny -only about 14 and a half pounds. Is it normal for him to eat like this- is this to be expected? Is there anything that I can do? I would really appreciate any advice! Thanks- Robin

[HollyBee]

I can somewhat relate to you at this point. My son Graeme will be 5 months on the 1st of April, he hasn't gained anything really since beginning of February.... I tried not to freak! He grew length a bit and that's about it, he too has the soft cleft palate, we use Playtex Nurser bottles with Naturalatch silicone stage 2 nipples and the drop-ins so we can help him eat, he eats 4 oz per bottle and usally 7-8 bottles a day so around 32 oz. Graeme has had miserable eczema too and he was sick with an infection (had to have antibiotics and then had diarrea!) because of his skin so he's been fighting that. We went for the 4 month needles (immunizations) today and he has gained now 6oz since last wednesday (yippee!) I saw a pediatrician last wednesday and Graeme weighed 13 lbs and was 25 1/2 inches long at 19 weeks or 4 1/2 months, Today he weighed 13lbs 6 oz, BUT per the pediatrician I had to put him on the lovely NUTRAMIGEN formula to make sure it wasn't his other formula that was causing his skin conditions. So I guess this formula must be doing something as he's gaining, not sure about the skin part, we've got some topical stuff that has finally helped!!! We'll see when 2 weeks of it passes because that's how long she told me to put him on it for then I can try soy. I've tried giving him rice cereal and he'll take it but they tell me that at his age to give formula and not the solids. I' think he's just going to be lean.

Anyway, I know what you mean about wanting them to eat more, Graeme will not go past that 4 oz and that was a challenge! He was 3.5 forever!!! As long as he's eating something what can you do!? Good Luck, I feel for you!

[heather]

My son Eyson was born with unilateral cleft lip and bilateral cleft palate. He didn't eat very much at all, either. He is still pretty small right now at 5 months, weighing 12 lbs. Since you said you have tried every bottle known to man this may be a dumb suggestion. I use the pigeon nipple with my little guy and he does fantastically. You may have already tried these. There is a valve in the nipple that keeps the nipple full and the underside of the nipple is soft so that milk will be pushed out of the nipple with just the flick of the baby's tongue. If you haven't tried it it's worth a shot. You can visit childmed.com and look at them. I think you can order them from there as well. Another good thing about them is you don't have to buy the entire bottle. The nipples fit just about all bottles. Even the Parent's Choice from WalMart. I hope I was some help.
Heather

[Rfilippone]

thanks for the replies I have tried the pigeon nipples and he really ate no more than he does with the Dr. Brown wide neck stage 2 bottles- he is six months old and he only weighs 14 lbs 10 oz. I am trying not to worry because he is gaining- its just modest gaining and I am worried that he is not getting enough nutrients- I am trying to wean him from the breast but its hard when he is only taking 2 and a half ounces from a bottle! Thanks again!

[Heide]

Hi Robin, our little girl was born with bclp. She is 15 months and has had both the lip and palate repair. She has never been a big eater and is quite small, just under 16 lbs. We met with both a feeding specialist and a nutritionist, all seems well with her eating methods it is just the volume. Anyway, the nutritionist suggested a nutritional supplement called Duocal, it is a powdered supplement that can be added to both liquids and baby foods to up the caloric intake. It may be something you can ask your pediatrician about. Heide