We upgraded Darius’ feeding bottle teat to the ‘variable flow teat’ since last Friday, which has a cross in the center and markings of one drop-three drop. Depending on what we need, we just turn the bottle to the right level. So, we started the first level drop with him.

Previously, we were using the medium flow teat for 3-6months and he kept pushing the teat out of his mouth or refusing to suck properly after a while.

Finally, we thought that it might again be the ‘slow flow’ problem which surfaced when he was 3 months old and we changed to the current BFree plus bottle & teats ( see ‘Feeding Issues‘). That is, he finds it too tiring to drink after 5 minutes  since he only gets small amount with each mouthful.

With the new teat, he didn’t know how to suck from it at first and drank too fast resulting in the milk overflowing down his chin and him gulping. We had to slow his drinking by pulling it out and letting him drink several times during the feed. I almost wanted to change back to the old ones but hubby said to perservere and let him get used to it.

So perservered we did. Now with the fast flow, he took only 5-10 minutes to finish his feed! We were amazed at first because we have been struggling for sometime with this issue. It was even worse when we go out as he would be too distracted. That’s why we started the rice cereal (see ‘First Rice Cereal‘).

Now he does not have time to feel bored because he can drink more easily and when his attention span of 10 minutes is up, the drink finishes. Happy for him and happy for me because I was really going into despair soon, so tired of battling with him during every feed.

For cereals, I’m starting to feed him 2 tablespoons a day with 90ml of milk. One tbsp during 1.30pm feed and another tbsp during the 7.30pm feed. I’m feeding him in the pink rocker at the moment as he still can’t eat properly when placed into the walker. Once he finish the cereals, the remaining milk is given to him to drink.

So far, he’s eating pretty well, but there are still times (like today…grr)he does his ‘emo close mouth expression’ and doesn’t want to eat properly. That’s why I need to let him practise eating more from the spoon to prepare him when he starts his semi-solid purees.

Lately, he’s always giving this response when he’s seated, to try to arch out of his confines, example, stroller, rocker or sofa. He also does this when he feels bored or when he feels challenged to do something and he doesn’t know how to. He averts our gaze, plays with his fingers and keep pushing his body as if in silent protest which makes me frustrated. Hopefully, he’ll snap out of this soon.

"I don't know why you keep wanting me to smile, I just want to sulk"

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