Hi @Sylvia – Thanks for writing to us! Sorry to hear that it has been such a struggle to get formula or breastmilk into your little one! My first recommendation would be to speak with his doctor, so that the pediatrician can tell you just how much formula, breastmilk, and solids he should be eating for his specific weight and development. It’s great that you’re doing a dream feed! If you can get that feed to be even longer/for him to consume more at that feed, he may sleep longer too! Keep that up! Have you tried “hiding” formula or breastmilk in the solid foods? This is an easy way to get breastmilk or formula in your baby!
Regarding sleep, have you signed up for any of our free sleep guides? I’d start here:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/baby-sleep-through-night-free-ebook/
Good luck Sylvia!!

P.S. he wakes up many times at night because he’s hungry/thirsty, so his/my night sleep is terrible too. We’re stuck in this vicious cycle and I don’t know how to get out???

Thank you for sharing your experience!

Hello Vee, this is Kelly, from The Start Baby on Solids Site and Baby Sleep Site. I am also a Registered Dietitian and I assume you, you did not cause microcephaly. If you are worried about his diet and very specific nutrient needs and if those needs are being met, please see a dietitian, the reassurance alone will be worth the visit!

No, all the things your baby needed were in the breastmilk/formula. If he was still getting the right amount of this with the solids you offered (we are still feeding 3 bottles of formula with woods throughout the day) the weaning did not cause the issue. If he is off formula and drinking cows milk all he needs is a healthy balanced diet with plenty of veg for vitamins. Avoid allowing them to just eat beans on toast if you can veg veg veg, or find their favourite fruits for snacks and add fruit to cereal. I’d read ‘only vitamin D needs to be supplemented’ but this is found in oily fish and now their skin is developing protection cells after one year controlled sun creamed exposure to sunlight will help them produce vitamin D naturally.

Thank you for these great tips! I want to share my experiences with my son here. Now he is 2 years old. Until 6 months old, I gradually introduce him to solid foods together with a formula. Each time I gave him one type of solid foods – 2-3 teaspoons. These can be mashed cooked carrots or potatoes, or sweet potato, or other solid foods. This was like a food tasting for him. He learned the new tastes. Gradually I increased the amount of the solid foods. At 9 months old he was eating one full dose of solid foods instead of formula each day.

Thank you again!