Changing teat size, problems, avent?

[stephanyox]

Hi all,
My LO is nearly 6 weeks old, and is using avent bottles, and aptamil 1 milk. When he was around 2/3 weeks old he kept fussing and falling asleep at the bottle, so we were advised to move up to no.2 teats, we did, and he got on really well, until a few days ago. I was noticing about a week into him having no2 teats that he would doze off, but as HV said that was fine, and he may just be tired, we just assumed all was fine. But it got the point when we were giving him 5oz milk, and he was only having 2oz here, 3oz there, so was very unpredictable! and we were wasting so much milk! also he was being very fussy, showing he was hungry, but pushing the bottle out with his tongue, the teat would collapse about 3 times a feed and he sounded like he was sucking too hard. He was a big boy born (8lb 15oz) and at nearly 6 weeks hes 12lb 2oz! So i just thought maybe he needed the next size teat as hes going to be consuming more because he isn't the average weight! So went out last night and bought some size 3 avent teats. We tried him with it last night, and he seemed okay, having 3oz in about 10minutes, and falling asleep at the bottle (I just assumed he was very tired having to wait all that time for a bottle!) but when i tried him on the no 3 teat on his 3am feed, he would accept the bottle, drink for a bit, but milk would come out the corners of his mouth, and a lot of it, whilst he was drinking, then he would sound like hes chocking and push the bottle out. I tried again at his 6am feed, with a no3 teat, and he drunk 3oz, in the space of about 20minutes, with short breaks for him to catch his breath and pushing the bottle out. I dont know whether this is maybe too fast a flow but what can i do when the no2's are not letting enough milk out and the no3's are letting too much? Arghhh! Do you think maybe it'll just take him a while to get used to it? Really considering moving back to no2 teats, because he just seems so unhappy! shall i change back, or persevere with no3's? Also doctors told me LO may have reflux, would this effect it at all?

Thanks in advance!

 

[equikm]

When you set up your bottles have you got the tops on too tight? My lo did something similar last week and also dropped the volume slightly. She's ten weeks and at 8 weeks took 5-6 oz but last week dropped to 4oz feeds. However this week back to 5-6oz. I got her weighed and she put on 1lb1oz in two weeks so all fine. I tried going up to size three teats but she just spilled everywhere. But I read somewhere if air can't get out of bottles more pressure so teat will collapse. So just before I give it I unscrew teat and do up again just enough to tighten but not as far as it goes if that makes sense? But t could be she had a wee growth spurt and just needs less this week. Stick with your 3 or 4 hourly feeds and don't offer sooner - babies will not starve themselves. I understand why you are worried as I was the same but as long as plenty wet and dirty nappies and gaining weight I'm sure she will be fine

Ps if she does have reflux this may be putting her off (sorry just forgot you wrote that) as smaller volumes are easier I've heard for reflux babies. Think of heartburn after a big meal compared to a small snack. Hope you get something sorted

 

[stephanyox]

When you set up your bottles have you got the tops on too tight? My lo did something similar last week and also dropped the volume slightly. She's ten weeks and at 8 weeks took 5-6 oz but last week dropped to 4oz feeds. However this week back to 5-6oz. I got her weighed and she put on 1lb1oz in two weeks so all fine. I tried going up to size three teats but she just spilled everywhere. But I read somewhere if air can't get out of bottles more pressure so teat will collapse. So just before I give it I unscrew teat and do up again just enough to tighten but not as far as it goes if that makes sense? But t could be she had a wee growth spurt and just needs less this week. Stick with your 3 or 4 hourly feeds and don't offer sooner - babies will not starve themselves. I understand why you are worried as I was the same but as long as plenty wet and dirty nappies and gaining weight I'm sure she will be fine

Ps if she does have reflux this may be putting her off (sorry just forgot you wrote that) as smaller volumes are easier I've heard for reflux babies. Think of heartburn after a big meal compared to a small snack. Hope you get something sorted

Thanks! Tried to loosen the teats and seemed to have done the job!