Early teether-week 2 of bottle refusal

[Inapickle123]

Hoping someone can help.

DS is almost 16 weeks and starting drooling incessantly about 3 weeks ago. We thought it was just one of those things and teething never entered my mind as he is still so little

However, last week he started biting his fingers, grizzling during the day, screaming at night, red cheeks..the works. Whenever I put my finger in his mouth, he would chomp down and it bloody hurt, but no teeth.

Anyway; the worst part of this has been his total refusal to eat. He's never been a great feeder, but he will scream the second he sees the bottle, scream the second you try and put it in his mouth and then be inconsolable because he's bloody starving but clearly the motion of sucking really hurts him.

I've been lucky to get 10-15oz Down him during the day and have been feeding him mostly at night, when he's super sleepy and doesn't have the fight in him anymore.

Currently using bonjela, Ashton and parsons powder, baby paracetamol (for nights only) and I have a teether which I hold for him as he can't do it himself. Tried a frozen washcloth for him to chew on but he's not a fan.

Any ideas on how to get him to take his bottle? I'm exhausted and getting so frustrated- I'm on day 8 of this and I thought things would have eased up by now and he'd be over the worst of the pain.

Have you spoken to your hv? This doesn't sound particularly normal to me I am afraid.

I know they don't recommend weaning until 6 months but have you tried baby rice or porridge to try and help him eat as he will only have to swallow or even petit filous?

Worth getting him checked to make sure he doesn't have a throat infection or other reason for bottle refusing.

Other things to try are ibuprofen(much better than calpol for teething pain. Try a doidy cup or even a tommee tippee sppy cup. Both mine were ebf bottle refusers and had cups from 12-14 weeks. Or try a high flow teat on the bottle. Or try the milk fridge cold. Or try a latex text, much softer.

Hope it gets better soon.

What's his weight like? Does he have reflux/diarrhoea/exema/constipation? Ds had similar issues, bottle refuser, only drinking when half asleep. Paed thinks its cmpi. Improved on a hydrolysed formula. Hth, tough when they scream as soon as you produce a bottle.

Also ds had red cheeks which we thought was teething...the redness went when we changed formula, so it was possibly a rash due to the intolerance

Thanks for the replies

Been to the dr twice over the last few days. There's nothing physically wrong (no ear/throat infection)

DS has really bad reflux. He's been on ranitidine for 5 weeks and it seemed to solve the issues he had with pain and vomiting. His dosage has just gone up to 1ml x 3 a day.

He's been on comfort formula for 5/6 weeks or so as he really struggled to poo and it made him so upset. He seems to have a much easier time on this formula (although his poo is like sludge)

I asked the GP about the possibility of an allergy or sensitivity towards milk (as feeding has never been good) but I was told the symptoms would be much more visible (rash/hives etc)

Resorted to giving him some mashed up banana this morning as he screamed from 6 due to hunger, but every time he was offered the bottle he went batshit crazy.

His teething doesn't even seem that bad today; he's not gnawing so hard on his hands or mine. Totally at a loss-so upset and frustrated.

Try a cup. Or if you don't have one today try using an ordinary teaspoon and spooning some in. It'll take a while but is strangely satisfying.

If he's losing weight you need to go back to your GP. Must be very hard to see him like that.

Ds never had hives or a rash (apart from the flushed cheeks). Main symptoms were bottle refusal, reflux, grumpiness, diarrhoea, crying on feeding (though I think it can cause constipation in some babies). All improved on a dairy free formula and ranitidine. It may be worth trialling something like nutramigin 1 for 2 weeks to see if things improve. If things don't, then at least you will have outruled an intolerance.

DD was very similar- couldnt tolerate the teet in her mouth.

Health Visitor advised I try Anbesol as it numbs the gums. It appeared to work.

I thought we'd reached the peak of his misery over the last weekend, but today has been even worse. I've managed to get 4 0z in him since 4am. I gave him a little baby porridge to try and get some goodness in him-feel terrible about it but I can't stand seeing him so hungry.

HV just said he'll eat when he's hungry. He's bloody starving but still won't eat. I've got ambesol but, so far, it doesn't seem to be touching his discomfort.

If he's still bad tomorrow ill go back to the GP and get the hypo-allergenic formula. I did ask for it months ago (figured anything was worth a try to solve his reflux) but they refused because, in their opinion, he wasn't exhibiting enough of the symptoms.

Here's hoping tomorrow is better

So sorry you're still struggling if the ambasol isn't working it sounds like more than teething.

Definitely go back to the gp and push for the formula. Stress to them how little he is eating.

Good luck xx

So sorry to hear that, its super stressful. Will he take cool boiled water from a bottle? It may help prevent dehydration if he's not getting enough fluids. Definitely give the hypo formula a go, IME it takes around 2-3 days to start seeing a difference.

On day 9.

Kill me.

Is he still having lots of wet and dirty nappies?

If not I think you may need to consider turning up at a&e if your gp won't help.

So sorry for you. Hang on in there.

OP I agree with other posters that this doesn't sound at all right. Most babies will suckle for comfort when teething. Certainly Calpol and Anbesol will alleviate the pain so that they can sleep / eat. I too would be going to hospital if my GP continued to fob me off.

Take him to a&e huni!!!!! Do not wait for gp

He's taken a grand total of 10oz since 4am yesterday, most of which was the bottle before bed because he's too tired to fight it

I can see two white bumps in his upper gum so I'm assuming that his teeth are descending. Don't want toI bother a&e if it's his teeth; what can they possibly do that I'm not already doing?

He's definitely lost a bit of weight and he's had two wet nappies today (4am-7pm).

Am beyond shattered. It's bloody crap as he had such bad reflux for so long, we'd only just started seeing him smile and be happy. Now we're back to sheer misery and it's so hard-not sure how much more I can take.

Would second going to a and e. That doesn't sound like enough for a baby and they can get dehydrated very quickly. Is the top of his head sunken? Eyes/mouth stil moist? My gp was not particularly helpful when I told him I thought ds had an allergy.

Speak to your HV and get him weighed tomorrow. Some gPs will be more likely to act if here is obvious evidence, such as weight loss or dropping centiles.

This is not normal. It's not just teething. I don't know what's wrong obviously but in your shoes I think I'd be asking for a paed appt within a week or I'd take myself off to a&e.

Also try putting a wet flannel in the fridge and give it to DS to chew before a feed.

From a personal perspective, is there anyone who can give you a few hours rest? You'll be a better mum for a rest, you're not abandoning him.

This will pass. Hang on.

Take him to a&e!!! Far better to be safe than sorry hun