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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

8 month old refusing formula

12 replies

waitingforsomething · 23/03/2016 01:05

My DS has never been a big fan of milk although he loves solids and eats a lot.
Ive always had trouble getting him to drink formula since he started food - he's been on 2 bottles only since 7 months with formula sneaked into his food.
He is now refusing both of these and even any food that he can sniff formula in. He won't drink it in a sippy either - he does drink water happily from that.
Ive tried changing formula- he still hates it.
He will eat cows milk in food. What can I do? He will not drink it from anything - do I give him Cows milk so he has something? We are 4 days into him not drinking a bottle of formula at a apart from 3oz he decided to have this morning

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PerspicaciaTick · 23/03/2016 01:27

Are you offering him the formula before his food, in case he takes it because he is hungry?

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waitingforsomething · 23/03/2016 04:54

He gets offered it before breakfast and before bed now.

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magpie17 · 23/03/2016 13:13

I'm so glad you posted, although not glad you have the problem obviously. My DS is the same (also 8 months) and I haven't found anyone who has had this problem, even the HV was stumped. She told me that dropping his formula feeds to this degree was 'bad' and told me to 'get him to drink more'. Easier said than done, DS clamps his lips shut at the sight of the bottle and also won't take formula in a cup, although he drinks water like he is very thirsty.

It's a mystery. To be honest I have started giving DS a bit of cows milk in a cup, which he will drink. It's not ideal I know, but I don't really see the difference between putting it on his weetabix (which HV said was fine) and him having it out of a cup (which HV said was not fine). He also has his vitamin drops as they need them after 6 months if having less that 500ml formula.

Clearly I have no advice, but I feel your pain. It's so frustrating.

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Diddlydokey · 23/03/2016 13:15

My niece used to have mushed up banana in her formula to make a milkshake as she hated the taste. Her HV suggested it when my SIL wanted to stop BFing but he was refusing formula. It was out of some sort of cup though rather than a bottle.

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Xmasbaby11 · 23/03/2016 13:17

Does he have formula (I mean is he offered it) mid morning and mid afternoon? It's tricky if he doesn't like it - I guess all you can do is try at the times when he's desperate and least likely to refuse! I wouldn't offer it just before a meal as he'll know the food is coming so no incentive to drink it.

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Sparrowlegs248 · 24/03/2016 17:02

Not an expert in Amy way...... But they say you shouldn't replace formula/breast milk with cows milk before 12months. However, if your lo won't take formula but will take cowslips, I would have thought having cows milk is better than no milk. I think the reasoning is that they should get their nutrition from formula/bm and there isn't enough in cows milk. But then theresnothing in water, so cows milk is preferable to water?

Just my opinion, and something I had thought about as my son is ebf and won't take formula but I'm returning to work and can't express. Wondered if he would have cows milk instead.

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waitingforsomething · 27/03/2016 03:03

Hi Notta. Yes I think cows milk is going to have to be it as it's better than no milk. I feel terrible but I don't know what I can do

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Sparrowlegs248 · 27/03/2016 09:10

Have you spoken to your hv? I asked mine about ds having cows milk when I am at work and she said by then (9months) he wouldn't need it. He bf at night a LOT and she was happy with what he is eating (everything I put in front of him......lots of fruit and veg)

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Dalmatian2017 · 27/03/2016 09:17

What about mixing it with cocoa powder or hot chocolate? I would try offering at snack times too.

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northernlostsoul · 27/03/2016 17:37

Do you mean giving a 8 month old chocolate formula????

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Sparrowlegs248 · 28/03/2016 10:38

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waitingforsomething · 29/03/2016 02:07

My health visitor I phoned said to keep offering morning and evening and to just put an ounce in his food here and there. She wasn't super concerned as he is a very good water and appears to be thriving. She said a bit of cows milk is better than not drinking.
I have been very persistent in offering a 6oz bottle of formula first thing as he's not had a drink for 12 hours so I think thirst will eventually prevail! He has been having a go at this one again which is something and the rest goes in his weetabix. The evening bottle is not being drunk at all - he just screams so I have been giving him water so that he at least drinks something. We live in a hot country At the moment so I'm concerned for his fluids as much as anything.