Need suggestions for a sleepy eater

Hi ladies,

I need help with my DD. She almost always falls asleep while drinking her bottle, and always drinks way less than 3.5oz. I'm at my witz end here. I don't know how to get her to drink more and to stay awake. DS is drinking over 4oz and always finishes even while sleeping.

I have them on a 3 hour schedule during the day and 4 hours at night.

I guess our main concern is that she is not gaining as well as he is. I feel like she should be eating more at this stage.

Please help???

 

Have you tried a faster flow nipple? Maybe she's working too hard and tiring herself out while drinking. I know my DD moved up nipple sizes a lot faster than my DS.

 

I nurse, but when they would fall asleep nursing, I would play with their toes, rub their palms, or tickle their necks to get them to stay awake. And when I really needed them awake I broke out the cool wash cloth to wipe their head with.

 

Ditto on the washcloth. We also stripped them down to diapers for meals which helped keep them awake and cut down on the laundry. Frequent burping also worked for us. We moved them around, jostled them, talked to them incessantly--it's tough for a while.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I think she would have trouble with a faster nipple, as she would gulp and choke. I may try it though. I do like the cold wash cloth idea. She used to hate having her diaper changed so we'd put her on the change table and mess with her diaper. That doesn't work anymore.

When I first switched to the Dr. Brown's bottles she did well and finished almost every bottle, but now she has slowed down.

Can anyone give me an idea of what she should be drinking? She now weighs 9 pound and they get 7 bottles in a 24 hour period. When I said she drinks less than 3 oz, I mean sometimes she drinks only 60 mls. I make a 3.5oz bottle for her at every feed. If we try to force her she gags and then spits up most of what she took in. I don't see our Pedi for another month so I can't ask him.

TIA

 

I think she'll take what she needs. I ditto opening clothes to help wake her up. I hope it gets easier soon :hug99: .

 

QUOTE(San12 @ Aug 21 2008, 03:53 PM) [snapback]940797[/snapback]
I don't see our Pedi for another month so I can't ask him.


That doesnt mean you cant call him! That is what he is there for and that is what you pay him to do. I would call and talk to one of the nurses and explain the situation and they should be able to tell you if she is drinking enough of if they want to monitor her weight.

And ditto to stripping them down!

 

I know its hard not to worry, but maybe 2 oz is all she needs. Does she take more in the evening? My DD is 8 lbs and will only take 2 oz during the day and 3 at night.
If you are really concerned get a weight check, instead of waiting a whole month.