9 MONTH OLD IS NOT EATING AND DRINKING ENOUGHT

Our 9 month old son is not eating and drinking as much as he use to a little over a month ago.  At the beginning of March, he had a bad cold with congestion and fever.  Naturally, his appetite was not the same.  He was extremely fussy when he was fed solids and would not drink as much milk during those feedings as well.  After his cold, he suffered from another infection that caused a fever and a rash.  He is feeling better now and his rash has cleared up. He continues to be fussy and difficult during feedings.  Here's what a normal day entails:

1. 8:30-9:00 AM Breakfast of fruit or cereal.  He eats 2 to 3 ounces total.  After the first ounce he starts becoming fussy, refusing to eat more.

2. Breastfeeding occurs sometime between breakfast and lunch.

3. 12:30-1:00 PM Homemade soups for lunch which can consist of chicken, carrots, green beans, potatoes or lentils, oatmeal or quinoa.  After 5 spoonfuls he becomes fussy and it is very difficult to feed him.

4. 3:00-3:30 PM A container of yogurt or a jar of gerber fruit level 2.  He east just half and then does not want anymore.

5. Breastfeeding occurs sometime between snack and dinner.  He takes about 3 ounces.

6. 6:00-6:30 Homemade soup, same as lunch.  

7. 9:00 Bottle feeding.  Most of the time it is a combination of breast milk and formula (similac advanced).  He use to drink 6 ounces, one month ago.  Now he's just drinking 3 1/2 to 4 ounces.  During the night he wakes up 2 to 3 times for breastfeeding.

My supply of breast milk is not what it use to be.  It is about 3 ounces per breast.  

Today during his lunch and dinner, we have tried just letting him feed himself with the small pieces of food we cut up and give to him.  He's eating about 3 green beans, 3 carrots and about half a string of cheese.  But we don't know exactly how much he should be eating. What else can we do to encourage him to eat better?

[Renee Radenberg]

His weight is just above the 75th percentile and his hieght is between the 10-25th percentile for his age. He has a good weight. If you are not producting as much breast milk as you stated, suggest pumping and adding formula to the bottle so it gives him additional to drink so maybe he will sleep more during the night. During the day, suggest giving him a sippy cup (pumped breast milk & formula) right after the food (not between meals) so he has a longer time between meals for his stomach to empty. Hopefully he will eat more. That is great you are giving him finger foods. The breast milk/formula combo will give him what he needs if he does not eat that much food at meals.