Thickening Milk....??

[WelshOneEmma]

Ok, so slightly odd one!

Millie is a gulper when it comes to her milk and because of this we had her on the slow flow teats for ages. She's now getting stressed with the size 1 teats (newborn) but with the size 2's (from 3 months) as its a faster flow and the way she gulps she seems to be choking a lot, so will drink, smack the bottle away but then wants it back straight away.

we were given some thickener for her by the Dr for her reflux so have this, but have read you can also use baby rice.

Should I just use the thickener? or baby rice? or not at all?

 

[Casey3]

Adding baby rice to a bottle is a choking hazard. We don't bottle feed so hopefully someone can comment on the gulping

 

[manchester1]

it normally takes a day or two for them to get used to the new teat. from 1-2 and 2-3 she spluttered quite a lot, just takes time for them to get used to the new speed and amount!

 

[caggimedicine]

I had this with George. I bought the stage 2 teats that didn't have the vents in them (anti-colic ones) - that seemed to really make a difference and slow him down because the vaccuum slowed the flow and forced him to take breaks to allow the air back into the bottle. Even now he prefers them to the ones with vents.

 

[flamingpanda]

Is the thickener carobel? If so use that, it's good stuff. In the end we weaned Hadley early because her reflux was terrible and the only thing that worked was thickened feeds. So the doctor said the only real fix would be to start giving her food and to go ahead if we were happy. It worked like a charm and her reflux has entirely disappeared. Until then we used Cow & Gate Anti-Reflux which was the most effective treatment we had.

You can thicken with baby rice. It's advised that's it's a choking hazard. However in desperation I'll admit we did try it. So long as the rice is fully mixed it is fine, I just didn't like doing that when we could buy a feed already thickened. It didn't make sense.

The only think I would say is the thickened feeds gave Hadley AWFUL constipation. Which in the end is why we moved forward with the weaning. It doesn't happen to all babies though so give it a go. You can also try SMA staydown which is another thickened feed. It's thickened in a different way though. I also hear some doctors will give that one out on prescription although ours refused.

 

[WelshOneEmma]

She's been on the size 2 teats for about a week now, same problem. Also have the anti-colic ones and yet its still happening.

We have given her baby rice one, but fed it to her. She ate it but could take it or leave it after the second try, so I figured she's not totally ready for weaning yet.

The thickener we've been given is Hormel thick & easy. Her reflux isn't a major problem, the odd bit of heartburn and a bit sicky after most feeds.

 

[kitty_el]

We are currently using aptamil anti reflux and it has worked really well for Scarlett. I am just concerned as we are going to Greece to stay with my parents for 6 weeks, and I'm worried if we run out of the anti reflux as its not available over there. I think I'm going to ask the doctor about taking carobel with us

xx

 

[WelshOneEmma]

We are currently using aptamil anti reflux and it has worked really well for Scarlett. I am just concerned as we are going to Greece to stay with my parents for 6 weeks, and I'm worried if we run out of the anti reflux as its not available over there. I think I'm going to ask the doctor about taking carobel with us

xx

See her reflux isn't bad enough to warrant anti-colic formula, she's just on normal. we mentioned some things when talking to a paediatrician and HV and they said to mention it to the GP, which we did and he prescribed infant gaviscon and the thickener but we haven't needed to use them yet.

my main problem is the guzzling, then choking and knocking the bottle out of her mouth (and chewing on the teat) but is still hungry

 

[kanga]

We got carobel from our doctor. Avoid baby rice as its a choking hazard and will provide lots of empty calories.