3 month old would rather cry than eat...

[calizacar]

My DS just turned 3 months and all of a sudden his eating habits have changed dramatically. At least to me. Up until now he's still eaten about every 2 hours but for no longer than about 10 mins at a time. For the past week after watching him chew on his hand I go to put him on and he fights me. Or if he's been crying and it's been a couple of hours I try and still, fighting me.
I thought I was reading the signs but feel like everything has all of a sudden changed again and I just need some support that I'm doing things right. He's still gaining weight and growing like a weed so I know that he's getting the nutrition he needs but everything to do with him and eating at the moment are so inconsistent. Plus, he's started teething and sometimes his teeth hurt so bad he'd rather chew on my finger than eat. If I put a paci in his mouth for a minute I can then get him to latch on after that. Is that normal? Also, he's started pooping less often. He used to be a pooping machine but for the past 3 days there have only been 3 small ones.
I'm just so confused. Should I be worried or does this sound like a normal change in an infant?

Thanks!

Oh, and I guess I should point out that yesterday when he did eat he ate for about 30-40 mins each stretch which is not like him but I guess he's making up for lost time.....

[LadyCatherine185]

could he be sick or have an ear infection? sounds like a baby in pain.

[aramat]

Originally Posted by LadyCatherine185

could he be sick or have an ear infection? sounds like a baby in pain.

I agree -- from the post title alone I thought "pain", maybe reflux?? Could be associating eating with pain?

[Peace+Hope]

aw, poor guy!

is he drooling a lot? i've read that teething can cause a poor appetite in some babies, and i wondered if that's because some drool so much they may be filling up their tummies?

when my LO started teething, i experienced the same confusion over losing his habitual (til then) hunger cues. when he's in teething pain and not hungry, he gets MAD if i try to feed him. then i help him chew on a toy or my finger or a piece of ice wrapped in cloth. if he starts sucking on said object, then i try to feed him again.

i'm waiting for a low-grade fever/achiness/inconsolable crying before i consider acetaminophen. so far helping him chew on stuff and the occasional homeopathic teething gel is working.

[Asiago]

Have you tried motion? When my son was that age I often had to stand and gently dance about to calm him down enough to get him interested in latching on. Then continue to move, sway and very gently dance around while he nursed.

It wasn't long after that I read in Dr. Sear's baby book 'nursing while in motion' helps some babies 'organize' their sucking muscles. What ever it was, it worked.

Also have you tried nursing him upright? Sometimes that helps instead of being cradled on his side.

It does sound like pain of some sort whether teething, gas, reflux, etc. or maybe he is just upset and frustrated. It is so difficult to tell sometimes.

Also having him in a sling or baby carrier on your body perhaps will help. If you leave your breast exposed it may not take much work to get him latched on, he will smell and feel it, which often makes them interested in nursing.

Good luck, my thoughts are with you. Hang in there.

[GuavaGirl]

The paci thing is normal for my baby. It calms him down I think, and then I just switch it out for a breast.

Babies eating and sleeping habits change as they're going through different phases. So, just because he used to eat every two hours doesn't mean that's what he needs now, ya know.

My guess is that he's tired and not hungry when you're trying to feed him....and just might need to be swaddled and rocked to sleep. The hands in the mouth might just be because of teething.

[calizacar]

Thanks Gals,

So far today I've tried to just follow him and he's eaten a few times now, there's just no pattern so I don't know when to expect his next feeding time. Whenever he's fought me I've backed off and waited awhile. He's been on about 30 mins at the moment and arched his back as if he were going to fight it but then immediately opened his mouth and went to town. Maybe it could also be the way I put him to my breast? And his poop has changed. It used to be pretty runny but is now pretty thick, almost like meconium thick. Still the bright orange BF color though. And he's pooped twice today so he must be getting enough to eat.

Hmmmmmm