Baby clamps mouth shut

[minibmw2010]

DS (7 months) has a chest infection so there's been a fair amount of Calpol, Ibuprofen and Antibiotics going in by spoon or syringe over the last few days. Unsurprisingly he's not a fan when he sees me coming with these things so we are at the stage now where I have to prise his mouth open with my finger to get it in.

New problem is he now seems to equate anything going into his mouth as bad like bottles or a spoon. I've held off spoon feeding the last couple of days (shame as weaning was going really well) as he's been so poorly and just tried to get milk into him.

Will he get over this and happily take spoons/milk again soon?

Sorry to hear that your DS has been unwell. He should get over it with a bit of gentle encouragement.

In the meantime it might help to give him medicines with a medicine syringe, your pharmacy should be able to give you one. That way the medicine isn't going in on a spoon and should help to break the association.

He probably doesn't feel much like eating if he has a chest infection but you could try him with some finger food while you eat, like bananas, strawberries, blueberries or there are some good suggestions here.

Don't stress too much though if he's not eating, its more important that he gets his milk. If he won't take the usual teats have you tried a juice spout with the bottle or a cup with a straw?

When he's well try again with finger foods.

Please don't force your finger into his mouth . If he still needs medicine could you ask for suppositories?

Yes ds refused medicine around this age and we were told by gp (once he was well helpfully) we should have just asked for suppositories.

Suppositories are a really good idea actually, can remember using them on DD when she was about the same age.