Re: I HAVE 3 QUESTIONS......

September 16, 2005

Carol,

If he has slowed down on his feedings not by choice but another

issue, he might be waking up hungry, but you will have to try and

figure out what is causing the slow down. Maybe teeth? This is prime

teething age, yuck! Dominick slowed way down for a few weeks when he

got his upper and lower front teeth.

Could it be a sensory issue? Has he always been a tough one to feed?

Has he always pushed at the bottle to make it go away?

Could it be a muscle issue? Does he or did he lose formula out the

sides of his mouth when he eats? Does he often fall asleep during

feedings?

Trying to think through everything possible to help, so these are the

questions that I'm thinking.

CAROLG

> HI CAROL G.....THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO! AS FAR AS FEEDING.....FOR

THE

> LONGEST TIME ....HE IS GETTING 5 BOTTLES A DAY......ABOUT 5-8 OZ A

> TIME....SO HE WAS AROUND 30+ OZ..THIS LAST WEEK...IT HAS BEEN

STRANGE.,...HE

> IS TAKING UNDER 30 OZ A DAY.....SOME FEEDINGS ONLY 3 1/2 OR 4

OZS....AND

> KIND OF FIGHTING WITH HIM TO EAT.....HE MOVES A LOT NOW....GRABS

THE BOTTLE

> OR YOUR HAND AND PUSHES.....ITS A BATTLE.,.....HE IS CHUNKY! SO I

GUESS HE

> CANT BE STARVING! SO NOT SURE??? IF THE LACK OF NAPS IS CAUSE OF

FEEDINGS??

> CAROL A

> Re: I HAVE 3 QUESTIONS......

>

> > Carol,

> > OK, I'll do my best here.

> > Question #1: A forward tongue thrust is a normal reflex in an

infant

> > that prevents them from choking when anything solid is placed in

> > thier mouths, but this begins to dissappear around 4 months, so

they

> > cand begin solids. However recent studies have proven that most

> > babies are not losing this reflex until later and that is why they

> > are now recomending that solids be started later at 6 months. Now

> > your son is five months and may have an exxagerated tongue thrust

so

> > it will be important to watch, as this can lead to serious dental

> > problems and a mishaped mouth along with feeding difficulties.

Not to

> > scare you, but just so you know it is important to watch. Now

Dylan

> > may be just a bit slower than some to progress out of his reflex

> > stage and may need a little help. You will want to start a

program of

> > oral stimulation to help him strengthen the muscles. Her are some

> > examples and ways to get started:

> >

> > A NUK oral massager for the gums (found in most pharmacies) We use

> > this across his gum, tongue and around the sides of his mouth.

> >

> > A small finger brush (a little thing that fits over the finger

and is

> > used to brush baby's gums.), use this the same way as the gum

> > massager.

> >

> > A regular toothbrush which we use the normal way plus brushing

across

> > his tongue and the sides of his mouth.

> >

> > One other thing our ST suggested was rubbing his face, around his

> > mouth, with cloths of different textures of fabrics (like satin,

> > velvet, etc.).

> >

> > Get this toy, it is shaped like a Star and vibrates when they bite

> > it, it is made by First Years.

> >

> > Place a lolipop on his lips and let him taste it, then move it

from

> > side to side to make him move his tongue.

> >

> > Question #2: That is up to you entirely, and no need to feel

guilty

> > either way. Many moms, including myself, get very lax about the

repo.

> > when the band is on it's way.

> >

> > Question #3: This type of daytime pattern sounds like he needs his

> > feeding schedule and amount adjusted. At this age he may need more

> > food to keep him happy and taking longer naps. The more he wakes

up,

> > the more tired he becomes and then doesn't want to eat enough and

> > then because he hasn't eaten enough he wakes up cause he's

hungry, a

> > viscous cycle. Try increasing his intake per feeding, make sure he

> > stays awake long enough to eat the proper amount. This is a

turning

> > point age and it is hard for some little ones to adjust.At 5

months

> > he should be taking around 32 ounces of formula per day or about

5 to

> > 8 feedings of breastmilk. That's a general guide, some are lower,

> > some are higher.

> >

> > Hope this helps.

> > CAROLG

> >

> > --- In Plagiocephaly , " carol " <luvabruno@c...>

wrote:

> >> HI.....FIRST QUESTION......HAS ANYONE ELSE BEEN TOLD THAT THEIR

> > BABY HAS A " FORWARD TONGUE THRUST? " .......THE EI THERAPIST SAID

THAT

> > MY SON DYLAN MAY HAVE SOME WEAKNESS WITH HIS TONGUE AND

CHEEKS....AND

> > THE CRANIOSACRAL PT SAID TODAY THAT HE MAY HAVE THE FORWARD TONGUE

> > THRUST.....( IT IS WHEN HIS LIPS ARE TOGETHER AND A TINY BIT OF

HIS

> > TONGUE STICKS OUT....DOESNT KEEP THE TONGUE BACK FAR

ENOUGH).....THIS

> > IS ALL I HAD TO HEAR! SHE SAID SHE HAS SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE

WITH

> > BABIES WITH PLAGIO....AND MOST GET BETTER..... I THOUGHT WHEN HE

WAS

> > REALLY YOUNG..IT WAS CUTE THAT HE WOULD SLEEP AND HIS TONGUE WOULD

> > STICK OUT A TINY BIT!......NEXT QUESTION....SINCE MY SON WILL BE

> > GETTING THE DOC BAND...SHOULD I FEEL GUILTY THAT I AM NOT PUSHING

> > REPO WITH HIM ANYMORE?? HE WAS SO HARD TO DO THAT WITH...... NOW I

> > LET HIM GET AWAY WITH NAPS ON HIS BACK...SINCE I KNOW HIS HEAD

WILL

> > GET BETTER WITH THE DOC BAND......AND THIRDLY.......DOES ANYONE

HAVE

> > ANY IDEAS FOR ME?? MY SON SLEEPS THROUGH THE NIGHT ( SO MANY

PEOPLE

> > SAID I SHOULDNT COMPLAIN).....BUT HE DOES NOT SLEEP WELL DURING

THE

> > DAY.....HE SEEMS TO NEED TO GO DOWN EVERY 2 HRS FOR A NAP AND ONLY

> > SLEEPS ABOUT 35-45 MINS EACH TIME....WAKES UP CRYING.......THEN HE

> > DOES YAWN....AND THIS GOES ON ALL DAY....I HAVE STOPPED T.V...HE

> > LOVES IT ALREADY AT 5 MOS OLD.....( THERAPIST TOLD ME NOT TO HAVE

HIM

> > WATCH TV).....SORRY TO BE SO LONG!! I REALLY DONT HAVE ANYONE TO

> > ASK! THANKS IN ADVANCE......CAROL ( MOM TO DYLAN 5 MOS OLD,

> > PLAGIO/BRACHIO)

> >

> > For more plagio info

September 16, 2005