Baby won't take milk

[1stbaby5]

Hi, my 12 week old has started refusing his milk. he's been bottle fed since birth & was a good feeder. he now will take a couple of oz then refuse anymore. i had big problems with weight loss & feeding at birth so am scared he will start loosing again. I have started him on a little bit of baby rice 4 breakfast cos this is his worst feed (he totally refused his bottle this am) he seems 2 take this well. Does any1 have any advice on this?? My HV keeps telling me sleep deprivation is a form of torture! & thats why i'm worrying about it! I'm not slepp deprived, he sleeps through! i'm worried cos he's my little boy & i don't want him 2 get poorly! HELP!!

Hi there, how often do you offer the bottle? starting baby rice at 12 weeks isn't advised, the guidelines from the government say to only start from 17 weeks and only under medical advice. lots of people on here can tell you the medical reasons not to start yet.
could he be teething (early I know but it does happen!)?

We had this with DS but he is 5 months so a bit nearer to weaning "age" than your LO. We did the baby rice thing and didn't look back tbh. We found mixing it with formula was the only way to get it into him.

Personally, I wouldn't be offering baby rice to a baby any younger than that and I panicked when I had given it to DS. All I would have done is to perservere with the milk as and when. I know it's not helpful though, sorry

i think you should take him to your gp, he could get dehydrated if not drinking enough. hope he is ok xxxx

He takes his bottle every 4 hours, he won't take it if i offer it any earlier. I've seen my GP & he wasn't bothered so i guess i shouldn't. I have wondered about teething cos he's really dribbly & looks a bit flushed at times. I've been cup feeding him a bit & he seems 2 take it quite well. thanks 4 the advice.xx

DD did this alot between 3 and 5 months - we just stuck with it - apparently is as they become more aware of things around them thye are easily bored/distracted - we ended up feeding her walking around or in front of the TV - but after a few weeks of stressing about it, I saw she was stilling putting on weight (even thought had slowed down a bit), I just tried not to worry about it and as soon as I relaxed about it a bit she started to feed better! I would avoid the baby rice to be honest a friend of mine gave baby rice at this age(due to drop in feeding) and her little one started getting blood in his poo etc which hospital said was due to his stomach beign too imature to digest the baby rice! - obviously just their opinion but I wouldn't risk it! If he is hungry he will eat (or would be waking in the night!)

One tip I was given is to try a dream feed - took about a week but picking her up when she was asleep and putting the bottle in her mouth meant I was getting at least 6 or 7 oz in her, which made me feel better about it!

I do dream feed him. i rely on that 1 2 get something in him!!! if it wasn't 4 the dream feed he would only have had 9 1/2oz 2day!! i feel lots better just knowing i'm not the only 1 & its not that there's something wrong, its obviously just a stage they go through!!

Quick update, he's feeding again!! i changed his milk 2 aptamil easy digest. I don't know if its that or just coincidence but he's guzzling now like a little trouper!!! he even cries 4 his bottles which he hasn't done 4 3 weeks. I love that cry!!!!! thanks 4 the advice! oh, & no baby rice!!!

glad your baby is ok, it's so worrying when things like that happen! xx