Crying when bottle feeding

[ZLG2012]

My DD is 15 weeks old. Several weeks ago she began crying when bottle feeding, which we initially put down to teething. Since then it has got considerably worse; as soon as I sit down to begin feeding her she begins screaming, before the bottle goes anywhere near her mouth! This then begins a cycle of calming her and triyng again until she eventually gets going with the feed (it took over an hour earlier today).

I've tried calpol, Calprofen, teething gels, teething powders, various sized teats, a feeding cup, feeding her in different positions, trying to take her by suprise so she doesn't get the chance to get worked up; nothing works!

I think teething pain might be at the root of it (and she also has a cold at the moment which doesn't help) but I also think it might have become a habit - indicated by the fact that she starts screaming before the bottle goes in her mouth. Also she's not as bad when my husband feeds her which is a bit demoralising. I'm beginning to suspect that me and her are in a bit of a stalemate where I dread feeds as I know she's going to scream and she screams out of habit rather than because she's in real discomfort (she proved to be very stubborn while still in the womb by getting herself wedged in footling breech position and refusing to be turned!).

Just wondering if anyone's experienced anything similar or has any suggestions as to how to break the cycle?

Any advice appreciated

Have you considered silent reflux, this is acid come up out of the stomach causing pain but they are not physicaly sick.
They can often develop feeding aversion as they associate food with pain. I'd take her to your gp and get her checked out.

Perhaps change the teat? My ds cried a lot and we didn't know what to.do but someone suggested he wasn't getting milk fast enough so got teat with extra hole and he was.fine.

Maybe try changing bottles as some babies hate certain types. Dd1 hated this awful Tommy tippee ones but took mam no problem. Try feeding the milk a bit warmer/ colder some milks r vile cold and babies don't take them. And failing that maybe try a new formula maybe a comfort one ( easier to digest less lactose so theoretically reduces colic). Maybe a haberman feeder bottle could help. Tracy Hogg used them alot on her program they give babies more control over the flow and don't drip into
Mouth between sucks. :)

I would consider a potential intolerance or allergy to something in the milk too. Please visit your GP, he may suggest a formula on prescription.

A friend of mine battled with her dd for many weeks (from newborn) to get her to finish a bottle; she did the same as your dd and would cry at the sight of the bottle. She eventually got referred to a consultant (or may have paid private) and the dd had an allergy to the milk. Shes now on a dairy free diet. Because her dd was putting on weight, the GP didn't want to know and dismissed them several times, saying it was reflux. She has since started a Facebook group to make people more aware of allergies and intolerances in babies.

I hope you sort it out soon and hope this isn't the case with your dd, just wanted to make you aware of it.

I would second going to GP to rule anything out first.

My DD is a right fuss-pot with feeding. She did a phase of this but maybe not quite as bad as you're describing. I think some of it was impatience/habit ('where's my bottle & why aren't I drinking yet'), 'over hungry' if you like, even though the bottle was in her face it was like she was complaining for being kept waiting. Now sometimes she isn't hungry & doesn't consistently drink anywhere near what the formula carton indicates as a guide. She will have a little bit then refuse any more & start crying if I try to press her, sigh, this is stressing me out at the moment & I need to learn to accept she knows what she's doing.

I would have guessed if it was teething pain, the calpol would have made a difference?? so maybe habit, reckon you know her best.

I'm not sure this has really helped you, you could phone the NCT feeding hotline, some of the people there can advise on bottle feeding as well as breastfeeding. I hope you get sorted as know this can be stressful when all you want to see is your baby drink & get fat & happy!

Thanks everyone, some really useful advice. It had occured to me it could be some kind of allergy or intolerance to the formula but dd doesn't have any stomach problems so I'd almost ruled it out. Will take her to the GP should she get bad again though.

Ironically she's been fine today! I did tweak the routine a bit and have been feeding her earlier than I usually would have so maybe I was leaving her to get too hungry and she was just getting a bit indignant. I also bought some different teats/bottles this morning so can try those if we do have problems again. Glad it's not just me with a fussy little feeder anyway.