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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

3 month old refusing bottle, please help

17 replies

woose · 09/01/2007 14:53

I am worried because my 3 month old has been refusing to feed. He is just pushing the bottle away with his hand and pushing it out of his mouth and screaming. He was fine up until last week. I thought the teats on the bottles were too small for him so I changed them, but that has made no difference. He has only had about 8 floz in nearly 24 hours because of this. I can't see anything else that ould be wrong with him. Does anyone have any advice? This is the first time I have sent a message so not sure if this is right topic category.

OP posts:

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sunnysideup · 09/01/2007 15:19

It could be that he is going down with a bug or something? Or he could be teething? I know some babies get very fussy when they are teething.....

How does he seem otherwise? Sleeping normally? Grumpy?

btw, if this is your first message on MN I ought to say welcome to MN!

sure someone else will be along soon with other thoughts, the baby stage is a while ago for me now and it's amazing how you forget!

woose · 09/01/2007 15:32

Thanks for replying. He seems fine still smiley and alert. The health visitors don't seem to think there is anything wrong but I am not sure. He had a lot of trouble with breast feeding and he couldn't latch on at all. I wondered whether he just found feeding difficult in general, or maybe he doesn't like the milk. He is sleeping okay, just waking once in the night. I looked in his mouth and could not see any sign of teething but I don't really know what I am looking for

OP posts:

sunnysideup · 09/01/2007 15:46

with teething, you can get general grumpiness for a while before you can see anything, though with my ds it was pretty obvious what was happening, as he started to chew manically on anything. It's best to feel rather than look, feel the gums and when a tooth comes through you will feel a tiny sharp bit on the gum...

Sorry not to be more help...but if he seems content in himself and is taking in and keeping down some fluids, he is not going to have a real problem so try not to worry!

woose · 09/01/2007 15:56

Thanks
I thought 3 months was a little bit early to be looking for teeth!

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sunnysideup · 09/01/2007 16:10

It is early! My ds was five / six months I think....but it's not unheard of, so worth thinking about.

Just occurred to me, that if this goes on it might be worth giving your ds some calpol half an hour or an hour before a feed? Just in case he is feeling under par or has a pain somewhere...he may feed better if he has whatever pain it is dealt with? Just a thought, I know some people aren't comfortable giving calpol without really obvious illness/temp. I would though!

woose · 09/01/2007 17:28

I was just at the doctor so I talked to her about it. She gave ds a good check and said all seemed fine, although perhaps a little gastro problem. She said to try changing the formula to one without iron in it because iron can cause upset stomachs. Ithink I will look into that.

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Elasticwoman · 09/01/2007 20:26

This is not the easiest solution to your problem but it might be possible to re-lactate, and give your own milk again, if it's not too long since you stopped breastfeeding, and if you want to try.

I say this because once, when I was a pump agent, a mother came to me and said she had put her baby on formula and it didn't suit so she was going to get her own milk going again. She brought the pump back the following week and said the baby was back on exclusive breastfeeding! I was amazed at the time. If latching on is still a problem you can always give the milk in a bottle.

This is just a suggestion and a bit of a long shot; it's just that I would never have thought it possible if I hadn't met that mother.

Ameda Egnell: 01823 336362

woose · 10/01/2007 17:56

Hello
Thanks for the reply
Unfortunately I gave up breast feeding at 3 weeks, and he is now 3 months. My milk dried up because of the latching problem and the stress of it. He lost a lot of weight whilst breast feeding and now he is losing weight again. I did have an idea last night that it could be reflux. I was reading the baby whisperer and the way reflux is described in there is the same experience as I have. When I put him down he cries out and he is sick quite a lot and he just seems in a lot of pain in general when he feeds and I think this is making him scared of feeding. Quite amazing about the lady who went back to breast feeding again though.

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justJAM · 10/01/2007 18:09

Hi Woose - had exactly the same with my DD (now 4 months) she was a colicky baby at times and to change her formula to cow and gate comfort (was on aptamil) the problem was instantly solved - no more screaming fits when I tried to feed her...not sure if this is any help but maybe worth a thought (HV told me it couldn't possibly be the formula but have had no problems since)

Elasticwoman · 10/01/2007 18:56

Justjam - I wonder why the hv thought it couldn't possibly be the formula? How could she be so sure? Lots of mothers try different formulas till they find the right one. They also try different bottles/teats.
My neighbour's baby would only take NUK.

justJAM · 10/01/2007 21:07

EW - I know what you mean - as a first time mum I am rapidly learning to trust my instincts more than any HV!!

woose · 11/01/2007 21:27

Hi again
Do you know what I think I may have solved the problem. My mum was saying to me that DS would always take the bottle with her (this annoyed DH of course). Then when I was round at my mums today and i was feeding DS she said 'aren't you going to warm it up first?' I started giving it to him cold a few weeks ago because to be honest he was drinking it and it was quicker and easier at night, as I was waking up to feed him 3 times every night. I warmed up the milk and he drunk it straight away. He had had 25 floz already and he has one feed to go. I think I will carry on warming it and see what happens.

As for the HV. As far as I can tell (I am a new first time mum), the HVs sem to suggest changing formulas, especially hungry baby formula as an answer for many of problems.

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GILLIAN74 · 12/01/2007 23:30

My dd is 16 months old but i still remember like it was yesterday the crying and struggle to feed her.

Tried BF (no milk) changed to formula feed, then at 6 wks changed to lactose free formula milk on advice from hv. Returned to to see gp and hv not much help until after weaning noticed she had rash on face the gp i saw at the time made appt to see dietitian. At 12 mths saw dietitian who recommended a milk free diet. My dd changed overnight she is now so happy and content it amazing to watch her so happy having spent the best part of a year crying.

I saw a gp when dd was 6 wks was told crying was maybe just her personality I did not believe this but felt by saying anything different would make it seem i was over-reacting somewhat which in turn brought out frustation in myself as dd's mum. I only came to MN a few months ago looking for advice, which i got from other MNs, so this is a first, posting my own experience for you to read.

I hope things settle for you soon.

Kaleem · 05/05/2022 04:59

We have a baby after 6 years as we have 2 boys before.he is 3 months old and he dripping milk out a lot not latch on nipple.we wait ages sitting make him sleep to feed him even day and night as we have no one here to help we exhausted day and night.we been hospital Gp MV all in vain.
he take one ounce and not taking at all in full day he might take 5 ounce and so discomfort all the time make our other boys ignored we don’t know what we do

Kaleem · 05/05/2022 05:04

We worried he gona lose wait doc and MV not help us for satisfaction way.we try medicated milk.we try reflux milk but the main cause he not gripping the bottle nipple at all or if we luck he hold it he dripping all out or take might be ounce please help us and we are both in parent in proper misery and can’t bear it more now 5 o clock morning and I not sleep the full night and parent we both getting weaker and frustrated

PritiPatelsMaker · 05/05/2022 07:58

If you've got worries it's probably best to start your own thread @Kaleem or ring one of the BFing Helplines.

The OP's baby will be 15 now

Kaleem · 05/05/2022 09:00

As I mentioned before we book with midwife doctor and breast feeding helpline but the 8!to 10 weeks wait they just say sorry can’t do nothing take to OPt but they said baby gain wait they not much corner send home!now we of us own waiting all the letter send through the post for the appointment I don’t know how long

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