8 month old not opening his mouth for bottle or food

[dreamerkr]

Hey guys, I started weaning my 8 month old DS at just before 6 months and it’s been going great. He likes most foods and he’s a good eater. He’s mixed fed since birth but since the last few days, he won’t open his mouth at all for a bottle. Also, he’s not opening his mouth for many foods too. Can this be because he’s teething? It seems like 2 more of his teeth will come out soon. It’s quite stressful even though he’s breastfeeding, he’s not taking a bottle at all. I tried giving him watermelon and mango today (two of his favourite foods) and he just won’t open his mouth. Help?

Bump

Is he eating/drinking anything? Sounds like it could be teeth related but my DD would always have a bottle even if she refused food. Is he well in himself? X

Pressed send too quickly! Just asking that as I know sometimes if DD has a cold/virus she's a nightmare to get anything down her xx

Or ear infection.
Ask your health visitor

Possible ear infection. It’s often very painful to physically open your mouth with an ear infection and swallowing can be really uncomfortable.
Try calpol.
Ear infection usually causes red cheek and little one is often grumpy crying without reason. It’s not always down to infection but just inflammation of eustacian tube that leads to middle ear not equalising in pressure. But it is often confused with teething.
Excessive dribbling is common because it hurts to swallow.
If you can get a GP to have a look it’s worth a try. But good luck with that one.
If it’s teethtry brushing the gum with soft brush and toothpaste. Again pain is usually due to food being left around the newly erupted tooth and that causes mild infection and discomfort, anti biotic are a waste of time. Cleaning the food and bacteria from the tooth will make it feel much better.

Thank you so much guys! I didn’t think about ear infection, had no idea! He does seem well in himself, his hands are constantly in his mouth so I’m thinking it’s teething pain. He does eat (he had some toast for lunch earlier and a fruit yoghurt) but some of the stuff he usually loves, he’s not eating today or yesterday. Also, hes not taking a bottle at all but he’s breastfeeding as usual. I’m a bit worried that he might not be getting enough milk because usually I would give him 2 bottles or so a day, sometimes 3? He does have wet nappies though and dirty ones too so I don’t know. He seems well, not sick, but he has been a bit moody too.

It'll be some sort of pain. Bless them, it must suck being a baby. Maybe a teething gel to start and keep an ear infection in mind.

Try a little dose of calpol about 20 mins before food if your certain he's in pain, and only if you know theres pain (not saying medicate for the sake of it). It might help take the edge off. When my dc was going through teething he was the same way, did the calpol (was recommended by gp) and we also gave smoothies made up of formula/pumped breast milk, banana and Peanut butter in a sippy cup. Not too thick. And stir in breastmilk/formula after you've mixed it to thin. (again only use Peanut butter if no known allergies and you've done the Peanut butter test) we also did frozen watermelon so he could chew at it to cool his gums, frozen yogurt or put it into the freezer for 10 mins, steaned carrot sticks - cold, and casseroles as long as he's still producing wet and dirty nappies you're fine. He will eat when he's hungry enough.