Help! My bottle fed baby has suddenly decided he doesn’t want to eat!

Barbs24 · 2025-09-05T09:42:56+00:00

Hi there! I need some help! My 3 month old baby has been formula fed since a week and a half old, my mature milk never came in. Over the last month his intake per feeding has decreased. He has now dropped two percentiles on his growth chart. He is now turning his head away bottles and pushing the bottle out his mouth when feeding with his tongue. What am I doing wrong?! I just want him to eat especially since he’s under weight:(

Winkyskull · 05/09/2025 10:47

Sorry I don’t have helpful advice but have you been to the GP and health visitor? Can you try different bottles? Different brand of milk in case it tastes any different? Heating it up?

Marmaladelover · 05/09/2025 10:48

I discovered my son liked cold milk only . I made them up and then stuck them in the fridge. Or maybe a cup?

Bitzee · 05/09/2025 10:49

Have you tried going up a teat size? This was always the sign with mine.

Original poster

Barbs24 · 05/09/2025 10:49

Winkyskull · 05/09/2025 10:47

Sorry I don’t have helpful advice but have you been to the GP and health visitor? Can you try different bottles? Different brand of milk in case it tastes any different? Heating it up?

been the gp and contacted health visitors multiple times. They are just giving me extra weigh ins. Tried different bottles and different milk and heating it up as well. Just wondered if anyone else has been through this.

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dairydebris · 05/09/2025 10:50

How long has this been going on?

All of mine lost interest in feeding about this time. They were waking up to the world around them and distracted.

They also all went on nursing strikes for a few days when they seemed to be existing on air. Just phases tho.

Also massively decreased appetite just before getting ill.

Dropping a few percentile ( while still having overall pattern of weight gain, even if decelerating ) isnt a cause for concern. Weight loss is though.

Original poster

Barbs24 · 05/09/2025 10:51

Bitzee · 05/09/2025 10:49

Have you tried going up a teat size? This was always the sign with mine.

Tried everything! Gone up and it spilt everywhere and went back down and done everything!

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Whataretalkingabout · 05/09/2025 10:52

Oh dear, this is concerning. You need to take your baby in to see the gp as soon as possible. A 3 month old baby not feeding and losing weight is definitely not normal. Is he getting any water or other liquids? Be careful he doesn't get dehydrated.

The doctor will help you find a solution. You are a good mother for being concerned.

dairydebris · 05/09/2025 10:56

Whataretalkingabout · 05/09/2025 10:52

Oh dear, this is concerning. You need to take your baby in to see the gp as soon as possible. A 3 month old baby not feeding and losing weight is definitely not normal. Is he getting any water or other liquids? Be careful he doesn't get dehydrated.

The doctor will help you find a solution. You are a good mother for being concerned.

The baby is dropping centiles on growth chart, not weight.

Original poster

Barbs24 · 05/09/2025 10:58

I will try this! Thank you

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Original poster

Barbs24 · 05/09/2025 10:59

Yes sorry I worded it wrong. He is gaining weight just very very slowly and dropped on his growth chart. He is chewing on his hands constantly and I know he’s hungry he just wont take a bottle anymore!

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Katiesaidthat · 05/09/2025 11:00

Mine was drinking her bottle fine and then when she got to 5 months she would be really hungry and lunge at the bottle and immediately stop. Nothing I did was working.I took her to the gp several times and they didn´t do much, they take the "my kid isnt eating" as a bit of a joke, new mum hysteria. Well, I insisted and took her to the pediatric a&e and she had the most awful ear infection, white cells sky high, that´s why she was rejecting the bottle, sucking hurt like hell. She was hospitalised for 5 days with intravenous antibiotics and for 4 years was on low weight watch, as she was on the 3 centile.
My 50 cents, watch out for ear infections. And insist, not eating, not gaining weight and even losing it has to be looked at. Insist, insist, and insist.

Original poster

Barbs24 · 05/09/2025 11:01

Whataretalkingabout · 05/09/2025 10:52

Oh dear, this is concerning. You need to take your baby in to see the gp as soon as possible. A 3 month old baby not feeding and losing weight is definitely not normal. Is he getting any water or other liquids? Be careful he doesn't get dehydrated.

The doctor will help you find a solution. You are a good mother for being concerned.

Gp wasn’t very helpful! Went to see them yesterday. He is a happy and content baby smiling and being interactive. Just don’t know what to do. Feel less confident now that I did in the first week!

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Bitzee · 05/09/2025 11:10

Has the GP checked tonsils and ears? I would also say tongue tie but sometimes they’re not great on that so a private opinion might be best.

Have you tried a dose of nurofen (they can have from 3 months and it’s often more effective than paracetamol) to see if that helps in case he’s in pain somewhere?

How much did he weigh at birth and how tall are you and DH? Some babies will be big at birth but genetically aren’t destined to be tall so ‘catch down’ by dropping percentiles until they find their curve. My nephew was one of these- over 10lbs at birth but my SIL is barely 5ft so he was never going to stay on the 99th percentile.

Original poster

Barbs24 · 05/09/2025 11:10

Katiesaidthat · 05/09/2025 11:00

Mine was drinking her bottle fine and then when she got to 5 months she would be really hungry and lunge at the bottle and immediately stop. Nothing I did was working.I took her to the gp several times and they didn´t do much, they take the "my kid isnt eating" as a bit of a joke, new mum hysteria. Well, I insisted and took her to the pediatric a&e and she had the most awful ear infection, white cells sky high, that´s why she was rejecting the bottle, sucking hurt like hell. She was hospitalised for 5 days with intravenous antibiotics and for 4 years was on low weight watch, as she was on the 3 centile.
My 50 cents, watch out for ear infections. And insist, not eating, not gaining weight and even losing it has to be looked at. Insist, insist, and insist.

I’m glad you finally got to the end of what was going on! I feel like I’m just not being listened to at all! My little one is on the 7th percentile where he was on the 30th! Just don’t know what to do anymore.

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Balloonhearts · 05/09/2025 11:13

Perhaps he's getting colic or silent reflux. Have you tried feeding him upright? My cousin would only take his bottle sitting bolt upright with his head tilted back. Supported obviously.

Original poster

Barbs24 · 05/09/2025 11:16

Balloonhearts · 05/09/2025 11:13

Perhaps he's getting colic or silent reflux. Have you tried feeding him upright? My cousin would only take his bottle sitting bolt upright with his head tilted back. Supported obviously.

I have tried sitting him upright but haven’t been consistent with trying. Going to give this more of a go. Thank you!

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WallTree · 05/09/2025 11:17

This happened with our son at around 3 months, and it was tongue tie. We had it snipped (private midwife came out to our house within a few days), and it was resolved. I hope this helps.

Original poster

Barbs24 · 05/09/2025 11:18

WallTree · 05/09/2025 11:17

This happened with our son at around 3 months, and it was tongue tie. We had it snipped (private midwife came out to our house within a few days), and it was resolved. I hope this helps.

Nothing came up about a tongue tie at his 8 week full physical check, should I try get him seen again in case it could be this?

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CabbageWater · 05/09/2025 11:21

Could he have tongue or lip tie(s)? Or maybe this condition where their food pipe gets smaller (esophageal stricture I think it's called)? Loss in percentile and appetite is really serious for babies that young. I can't believed you've been dismissed in thai way! Go to paediatric a&e!

EatMoreChocolate44 · 05/09/2025 11:23

My daughter took her milk brilliantly up until 6 weeks and then started to take less but she had silent reflux and I think that's when it kicked in. She was upset after her milk though and was in pain after feeding for months (lots of crying) until about 5 months when she went on omprezole and then took her milk with no issues. She would drink a couple of ounces then come off crying. She only took her milk well during the night when she was sleepy and relaxed. If your LO isn't in pain then it's maybe not reflux but something to consider.

CabbageWater · 05/09/2025 11:23

Barbs24 · 05/09/2025 11:10

I’m glad you finally got to the end of what was going on! I feel like I’m just not being listened to at all! My little one is on the 7th percentile where he was on the 30th! Just don’t know what to do anymore.

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This is really concerning! I'd go to a&e given GP and HV have turned you down and not listened (shocking! I'd report them after what the peds at a&e have said).

WallTree · 05/09/2025 15:53

Barbs24 · 05/09/2025 11:18

Nothing came up about a tongue tie at his 8 week full physical check, should I try get him seen again in case it could be this?

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They never checked mine for tongue tie as he was not breastfeeding - not sure if it's the same for you.

Chillyourbeansweeman · 05/09/2025 17:51

Things that need checked,
ears
throat
mouth for thrush
reflux, which can also cause a sore throat.
failing that I would push for a blood test.

Dairymilkisminging · 05/09/2025 18:10

Have a read on feeding aversion. I'm currently going though it with my dd 4 months. Started when she had her jabs. No advice because like you we've tried everything health visitor coming Monday

Whataretalkingabout · 16/09/2025 12:57

How is your sweet baby doing, @Barbs24 ?