Tell me about your fussy bottle feeder

[notetaker]

My kid can’t be the only one?!

DS is 23 weeks and feeding him has been a PITA from day one. We’ve done the CMPA pathway (turns out he doesn’t have it), had a late tongue tie diagnosis and release at 11 weeks, been hospitalised after he refused to feed at 13 weeks, and now on Gaviscon for reflux that I’m not convinced he has.

After a couple of weeks of feeding like an angel, he’s agitated and fidgety at meal times, smacking his chest and the bottle with his fists and writhing about. If we’re lucky, he’ll drink a 5oz bottle, but he usually kicks off before he gets that far. I really don’t think there’s anything wrong with him - the rest of the time, he smiles and giggles and is an absolute sweetheart.

So please, come at me with your fussy eaters - I need the hand hold!

My DD was like this and we also ended up in hospital for refusal to feed. Got told it was "just bad colic" facepalm. It's a lot better but not perfect now...and I have no idea what changed.

@Fedfedfedup Ugh, I feel like there’s so little support for bottle feeding! (Although I had crap breastfeeding support too but that’s a different story). I think it’s just what he’s like, but it’s really frustrating! Glad things are better for you now, hopefully it’s just a phase 🤞

If you have rulled out medical causes have you considered a feeding aversion? How does he feed overnight or when sleepy? If he’s feeding well then that’s a good indication that it’s a behavioural issue and not physical. My 6 month old daughter was a terrible feeder from day one, it got to the stage that I was anxious every time I had to make a bottle and every feeding session would end in tears (for both of us!) her weight was slowly dropping and I could barely sleep at night for worry. At 4 months I done Rowena Bennett’s feeding aversion course and within a week things were so much better, now at 6 months she feed beautifully and I can even feed her in public, something I never thought possible! I would really recommend having a look at her book.

www.amazon.co.uk/Your-Babys-Bottle-feeding-Aversion-Solutions/dp/1976164419/ref=nodl_?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

@MotherOfDragon20 Oh it’s definitely behavioural! He feeds great overnight and when sleepy so our tactic at the moment is to try and feed him the second he wakes up, but out and about it’s really difficult. Thanks for the recommendation - I’m on it now!

So sorry to hear that you’ve had so much stress with your little one, I know how it feels to end up in tears at bottle time. Glad things are looking up for you though!

Tell me about it ! I even changed a milk thinking maybe she doesn’t like the formula. My daughter would constantly Moana when feeding and make noises like someone is forcing her. She drinks 2 ounce and she’s done ! She’s 4 months old and should be drinking more. Feeding her gives me so much anxiety. :( she drinks fine when she’s asleep so I don’t think it’s reflux.