Refusing bottle - messing around on bottle

[Happythoughts123]

My LO (little one) is 3 months old. I’ve always suspected she has silent reflux but as she was putting on weight doctors wouldn’t do anything. She has always been a bit difficult with feeding (various issues like choking, gagging, spit up etc). She is formula fed and on kendamil at the moment.

The last week though things have gotten a lot worse. Every bottle she will take one or two ounces ok and then it becomes a complete fight. She writhes around, waves arms, pumps legs, moves her head from side to side so the teat is constantly coming in and out of her mouth, she often cries and refuses to finish bottle, arches her bank goes stiff and makes loads of noise. It is so distressing every feed. She has even started doing this in her sleep feeds too.

Has anyone ever experienced this and what was the cause?

I am thinking silent reflux has got worse or perhaps a cmpa. She is also incredibly gassy and has recently started crying increasing Amounts.

We are seeing a paediatrician next week about a heart murmur so going to bring this up too.

I could be way out, but have you tried changing the bottle teet to a faster one?

Im wondering whether she's getting frustrated because the milk isn't coming out fast enough?

My LO has CMPA and I knew within a few weeks, because I was covered in sick all the time!

Thanks for your reply. She’s has been in size 0 teats up until last week (Gp recommenced due to reflux and choking). We moved her up to size 1 last week which she copes with well. We have trialled her on size 2 but the milk went everywhere! X

Which bottles are you using? Have you tried a different brand?

My son was exactly like this at a similar age. I mentioned it to the health visitor as every single bottle day and night were hell. He would spit it out then kick off until I put it in. Move his head side to side. Spit milk out etc. She said around 3 months babies realise they are a single unit and no longer part of you and start to become more alert to their surroundings. She told me to limited distractions such as turn off telly etc and make it really boring for baby. It did work and it passed pretty quickly. X

Dd is 10m now but she was HORRIFIC to feed, i actually rang the drs crying for antidepressants because i dreaded feeding her every 3 hours.

Every. Single. Bottle was an exhausting fight. Shed scream and just outright refuse it. Would take hours to get a small amount into her. She was better on comfort milk than stage 1. Drs tried to give me reflux medication for her, she couldnt have gaviscon due to bowl surgery and the constipation from it was too much of a risk, and the medication they had prescribed was recalled, so i couldn't get it. I was told to just ride it out.

I weaned early but slowly starting at 16 weeks and it made a difference. She still prefers food to milk now. Shes hit or miss if shell drink it now, literally depends what mood shes in and i still end up splitting the bottles over the space of an hour or two, or just giving up and accepting shes done but ive learnt to pick my battles now shes older. Shes a good weight, developing well and growing quickly.

It does pass, its horrible in the middle of it and i got so low. I completely understand how youre feeling. Try a couple of different bottles or could ask gp for gaviscon maybe?

This is what I would try:

• change the bottle brand
• feed small amount then burp her before carrying on
• don’t lie her too flat
• colief drops

@Lockdownseperation hi we were using mam anti colic but have just switched to dr browns to see if they help. Fingers crossed.

@Couldntthinkofausername24 thank you for your comment. I’m pleased it was over quickly for you. That’s a good point aBout distractions. She seems to eat best swaddled with white noise on, although they can still be hit and miss, and I can’t swaddle her 7 time’s a day. Perhaps I’ll get in touch with my hv I hsvrkt spoken to her in a while x

We use doctor Brown bottles also. It's so frustrating so hope it passes for you soon. X

@Gin4thewin aw I’m so sorry to hear you had such a tough time. Feeding is such an emotional thing. We have tried gaviscon but made her constipated.

Interesting that weaning helped. Was she more focused and less fighting with food?

Also glad to hear your LO is developing well. I do worry that my daughter isn’t getting enough food and forming negative associations.

Your comment has given me hope thank you x