"How your baby's growing: This month she may be eating less and socializing more"
Well that explains it then. Why Elana would rather do anything then eat after she has the first 50mls of her 200ml bottle - lately we've been taking it 10-20mls at a time and it's been a struggle - it's not uncommon anymore for me to pour up to 80ml's down the sink - I've even tried reheating half way through (which is a pretty big no no some say) just because I think she doesnt like it cool - but she generally takes another 30 or so more mls and then spits it out. I'm at my wits end when it comes to feed time.
We went to the doctor on Saturday for her 4month immunisation/checkup - she's doubled her birthweight of 3600g (7pound15ounces) she's now 7800g (about 17pounds). We asked Mary (her dr) about starting her on solids because a) she just doesn't seem interested in her bottle and 2) she's reaching for what we're eating - anytime she sees someone eating she'll reach out and make the same facial movements as eating. Oh and c) she's starting to wake up earlier then usual - okay mothers out there don't hate me because i'm complaining - see ever since she was born Elana has slept the whole night through - they had to wake me at 3am when I was in hospital to feed her because she hadn't eaten since 7pm. For the first 2 months we woke her around 11pm to giver her a bottle so she'd sleep until 6am - but we found we didnt need too - firstly she just wouldnt wake up to eat and secondly she'd just sleep till 6am anyway it was like she just knew that at 7pm you go to sleep and wake up at 6am.
but the last couple of weeks shes been waking up around 2 and not going back to sleep for awhile - she doesn't cry she just lies in her crib and babbles.
I'm not complaining about that - I just read somewhere that when children go off their bottles, get interested in adult food and start waking up in the night that they might be ready for solids.
So I asked Mary but she said that because of Elana's weight she wasn't being malnourished - she's thriving on the formula and because both Nick and I had Asthma as children and because Nick's allergic to shellfish, we'd be better off holding off on starting her on solids until she's older then six months.
So I'm stuck wrestling with feed time with the baby who'd rather look out the window, make faces, smile, talk, kick anything then sit quietly and eat like she used to. I'm finding myself jealous of my best friend who has a son six weeks younger then Elana and who eats like a horse - 600ml's in under 2hours - which is absurd right? But at least she doesn't have problems with him feeding yet.
I'm at my wits end - I've tried turning off all electrical items and moving to a dark quiet place with no distractions - but even that doesnt work.
should I just keep plodding through with the minimum feeds and hope she'll take more?
Advice?