Refusing feeds but catching up at night?!

[kerrie24]

This is for my sister,I didnt know whether it was best suited to ff or weaning section.

My niece is 5 months and 2 weeks old,and my sister started weaning her from about 4.5 months.
She started off slowly and now after 4 weeks she gives lo a half jar of fruit puree for breakfast and then another half jar for dinner.

The problem is now lo is refusing feeds except her morning bottle on waking(6am),and sometimes her night/bedtime bottle(7-8pm).
She is having 5-6oz at those times and no other food except the 2 half jars.Surely that small amount of food cant be keeping her full all day.

Then during the night she has started waking 2-3 times wanting fed and screaming at the end of her 6 oz bottle.If they give her more than 6 during the night she is sick.

Has anyone dealt with this?Should they cut food out as milk is more important but then she may still refuse milk?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Serafina83]

I think your sis might be trying to wean to early. Perhaps leave it another month and try then?

 

[kerrie24]

Thanks.I did advise her it was too early but she took advice from the older generation instead who thought 4 months was fine.I think its been too long now to tell her to stop.She says the other day she spoke to the hv at a playgroup she was at and the hv told her to give her an extra meal.I think this is bad advice as she needs the milk calories but the hv didnt seem concerned apparently.

My niece is now eating 3 times a day and having only 2 six ounce bottles.Yesterday she was here and her fontanelle had sunken so I told my sister she must try and give her drinks.I dont know what else I can do,I only see her once a week and nobody else seems concerned.

 

[aimee-lou]

My advice to your sister would be to offer keep giving her the 2 bottles she has, but put more into them. Also try a night feed/dream feed as she 'should' be hungry enough to take it.

If she's dehydrated, she's likely constipated too, so she may not feel like eating. Offering tasty drinks like really diluted fruit juice (like 0.5oz juice to 4.5oz water) would sort out both of those problems and possibly get her interested in eating/drinking again.

What is she like when eating the jars? Enthused and devours it all? Or does she eat some then mess with some of it? It does seem odd that a HV would suggest more solids over more formula. I would say too that things made with dairy/formula would be better than jars of veg - so things like cheesy sauces in things, baby rice with fruit puree, fromage frais, things like that.

 

[kerrie24]

She devours the jars quickly and cries at the end.She will drink juice but not much,like 3 oz spread over the day.The hv said to get the pouches where there are veg in mixed with fruits for the taste.She didnt seem concerned at all according to my sister,as she is drinking milk at bedtime and during the night.Thanks for your suggestions x