Figured it out!

We finally figured it out why Cameron was not drinking his milk. He doesn't like this formula. We have been giving him Nestle NAN HA since he started formula at 5 months. It was recommended by my pediatrician and he took it well. So naively, I figured that he will take it ALL the time. But this little fella has developed taste buds, so he decided NOT to like it. So all 3 days of his milk strike, he was drinking just enough to take the hunger edge off, and nothing more.

Yesterday, after a dismal amount of milk he drank in the morning, I started to panic. I also weighed him and he put on a little weight. Not much. When he woke up from his afternoon nap, he was very upset. Crying with tears. I wondered if it was pain (from teething?), if he was feeling unwell (maybe a cold coming?) or if it was hunger. I decided to try hunger. I made him a bottle of milk, but with Similac 2 this time. He drank it with gusto. Took 4oz at once. He burped and rested a bit and finished the remainder 2 oz within 30 min. I was soooooo happy and relieved! At last, he is drinking!

At bedtime, I made him 7oz of milk. He took 4oz before bath and rest of the 3oz after bath. No problems. At the 11pm feed, he took 4oz. Finished it all.

So now we face the problem of getting Similac here in Mongolia. Its not available. Friso is available, so we will try that. If he likes it, then we have no problems. Fingers crossed. If he only likes Similac, than we have a HUGE problem as we only have 2 cans.

We also brought over about 15 cans of Nan HA2 to Mongolia. Now we have to think about how to get rid of them.

Lester suggested mixing some Nan HA into his formula, just to see if he will take it. If he does, then we can finish off the 15 cans slowly. This morning, I made him a bottle with two-thirds Similac and one-third Nan HA. He took it, but not with much enthusiasm as with Similac only. I could be imagining it. I will try again at the 11am feed.

Milk Drinking Strike - Day 3

Day 1 (Sunday 27 Sep)
Drank only 540ml in total. Gave him 1tbs of cereal, he took it reluctantly.

Day 2 (Monday 28 Sep)
Drank only 550ml in total. Tried giving him 1 tbs of cereal & pears, but he rejected.

Day 3 (TODAY)
So far, he drank even less than last 2 days. 2 feeds - 270ml. No solids given. Decided to stop the solids for 1 week. I would concentrate on getting milk into him instead.

I am really worried. I wrote an email to my pediatrician in Singapore and she mentioned to try giving him regular formula (instead of HA), chill his regular milk (tried and no improvement), check his mouth of ulcers or thrush (nothing!).

I am desperately looking for teething gel here in Mongolia, but so far, nothing found.

Tried to make appointment with pediatrician at International SOS, but she is not going in til Thursday afternoon.

Weighed him today. He weighs only 8kg (compared to 7.27kg on 12 August). So he has only put on 730g in 48 days! That's really bad.

What to do? What to do?

Frustrating Sunday!

The day started with Cameron NOT drinking his milk. Instead of his usual 7oz, he takes only 3 oz. I was concerned. I proceeded with his usual bath and sleep routine and he slept for 1 hour. After he woke up, he drank another 2 oz of milk.

At 11am feed, he wouldn't take much. I let him eat 1tbs of rice cereal mixed with milk and he took it reluctantly. Right up to his afternoon nap at 12noon he took 5oz of milk. After a 2 hour nap, he drank another 2 oz of milk.

At the 3pm feed, he refused his milk. We tried for 2 hours and all he took was 40ml.

During bedtime, he took only 3oz of milk. Refused anything else. At the 11pm feed, he took only 40ml.

I keep wondering why? Is it the formula? We had to change from Nestle Nan HA1 to HA2. I read the ingredients and HA 2 does not have lactose and corn syrup, so it might be less sweet. But we offered Nan Probiotics to him at the bedtime feed and 11pm feed, he still did not take much. I doubt that is the problem.

Is it because of teething? But I can't feel anything from his gums. He has redden cheeks, he keeps biting everything in sight, he keeps drooling. All signs of teething. But no teeth.

All in all, he took only 540ml of milk, compared to his usual 800ml.

This morning, he woke up at 6.40am crying. I assumed he was hungry, at last! But no, he did not guzzle the milk. I made him a bottle of half HA2 and half Probiotics formula. Took lots of persuading to make him drink, but at least he finished his 7oz of milk before his morning nap. Lets see how this day will go...

When should I start panicking?

Lazy Saturday

We did nothing much. I am reluctant to leave the house for lunch, as I do not want to disrupt Cameron's lunchtime nap. Fingers crossed, this whole week he has slept for at least 1hr45min to 2hrs during lunchtime. I want to keep it this way.

We introduced apples to Cameron today, after a full week of eating rice cereal. He hates it. Really really hates it. Before I know it, this little fella just pursed his lips tight and refused to let the spoon in! I mixed it with milk and rice cereal a while later, but he still refused it.



After this disaster meal, he refused his milk. Not only for this feed, but for the next feed too! Instead of his full 6 or 7oz, he takes only 4oz.

I have to say, besides looks, Cameron resembles NOTHING like Cayden.

Cayden had his haircut today. Ironically, he had his haircut the day AFTER the school took official pictures for yearbook. Oh well...





Lastly, a cute pic of Cameron all bundled up before taking his walk.

Starting solids

Cameron started solids the day he turned 6 months. Rice cereal mixed with milk. 1/2 tbs. Verdict? This little fella does not like food very much. Not like Cayden. With Cayden, I couldn't give it to him fast enough, but with Cameron, I can give him tiny spoonful, go take a walk, go to toilet and he will still be swallowing that mouthful.

Watch this video:



I thought he needs more time to get used to it, but it has been a week now, he is still the same. I have increased the amount though...

Tomorrow we start with apples. Lets see how that goes.

Sleep training update

Ok, Cameron is sleeping "more or less" ok now. He goes to sleep on his own, with no fuss or little fuss. He takes a 35-45min nap in the morning, 1hr45min nap in the afternoon and 30-45min nap in the late afternoon. Bedtime is still around 6.30pm - 6.45pm. We still wake him up for a late feed at 11.15pm, but these few days, he has only taken 2-3oz so I am thinking of dropping this feed. But we need to increase his food / milk intake during the day so that he will be full enough to last him through the night. I am sure he is waking up early due to hunger.

Yesterday was a bad day for feeding. He took only 4oz of milk during bedtime (his usual is 7oz). No matter what I do, he refused to drink. So I let him be. 30min later, I was hoping to make him drink when he is sleepy, but failed! He still did not want. He slept til 11.15pm when we woke him up for late night feed. He took only 3oz (his usual is 5oz). Then surprise, surprise! He woke up at 4.30am! Cried and refused to sleep for more than 10min! I am sure it was hunger, but I refused to succumb to the vicious cyle of nightfeeding, so I gave him water. He took about 2oz and went back to sleep til 7am.

I thought he will wolf down his morning milk, but NO... he took only 6oz out of his usual 7oz (after much, much coaxing). I really don't know what to do. I know babies won't starve themselves, but still... I don't want it to affect his night sleeping.

He is really stubborn! If he doesn't want the milk, he will either slap the bottle away, or if I succeed in pushing in the teat into his mouth, he will let the milk dribble out. Very annoying.

I guess I will have to ride out this one...

First snowfall of the year

19 Sept 2009





It got heavier the next day...