I have a 9 month old (corrected age) 11 months birth age PRS baby and I found feeding a struggle to say the least. My son Flint was naso gastric feed from birth and never given the chance to be hungry and know what that felt like. I tried everything I could get my hands on and would retry them all again in a few months time as Flint changed so did his feeding abilities. We are now eating solids with no drama at all and I found that a good highchair helped as did a lot of patiences.I think I started solids to early but felt that Flint needed this for the exercise of the jaw.Flint still hasnt taken to the bottle very well but we are currently in the middle of trying to get Flint to recognize thirst and to drink therefore we have decreased his intake naso gastrically with the hope that he learns to intake orally better.We are fortunate with Flint that he has taken to solids well and its a wonderful feeling to see your son able to say NO THANKS IM FULL rather than force feeding with the naso gastric tube.
Hiya, Glad you found us. Hopefully more members will log on soon. Yes. It is a great feeling when the tube finally comes out. Balin's came out a week before his first birthday and to see him eating cake without choking on his tube was incredable!! There is definately a fine balance between giving them time to recognise hunger/thirst and getting in the required calories. We just bit the bullet in the end and Balin never turned back!! Keep experimenting, it's the best way!!
How is Flint going now that you have decreased the amount given through the tube? IS he taking to the bottle more? When does your surgeon think he will be ready for palate repair? Hopefully that will rectify all those feeding problems! Sounds like you have done a great job trying all sorts of different things!With my daughter Olivia, also 9 months, I have found the nuby bottle great as she just has to close her gums(and 4 teeth) around the top and water comes out- not much sucking invloved.I also found she can get a lot more out it it is something other than water eg diluted juice, even banana smoothy!!!!
Hi Laurel Sorry for the late reply your situation is probably way different now as ours is!! We wont have the cleft repair until Flint is 18 mths corrected so that takes us to Jan 2010. But Flint now drinks great from a cup we manage to get anywhere between 250 on a bad day up to 500 on a good day We too tried the smoothies and they worked really well Especially the mango one!! I think it is the thickness that he liked. I now dont even give him a bottle he just drinks from a cup. Im sure Olivia is now also onto a cup. We are offically discharged from NGT feeding. We now await our first sleep study as his snoring is loud and Im wondering if there is any obstruction and the cleft repair.
