- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Hawaii Babies
redshoegirl
member
unhappy when bottle feeding - any ideas?
redshoegirl
member
OK I've been googling like crazy but cannot figure out what's going on with Dash. For the last few days, he's suddenly started refusing to eat. Not all the time - maybe with about half his bottles? He'll drink an ounce or two, and then he'll suddenly start crying and refusing to take any more - sometimes I can coax him into continuing, other times not. (This person, this person, this person and this one all seem to be describing something similar, but there doesn't seem to be a common solution.)
He's never had a problem eating from bottles - he's been getting them since he was a week old. He's also gotten the same formula since he was born, so I really doubt it's related to that. I don't think it's reflux because he doesn't do it every time (reflux babies react at every feeding, don't they?). It's not constipation, it's not wind/gas, it's not a dirty diaper that's bothering him. We have two different types of bottles and at first I thought maybe he'd just developed a dislike for one of them because the first two times he fussed it was with only one brand, but now he's doing it with the other as well. It's like he's just mad or frustrated - not in pain or discomfort, just pissed off.
A few discussions/websites that I found suggested trying a medium flow nipple since it could be due to frustration with the slow flow, but I didn't think you were supposed to step up to the medium flow until 3 months and our boys only just turned 2 months old so I'm hesitant to change. Do you think it would hurt to try them?
He's still wetting diapers and doesn't appear to be dehydrated, but I don't own a scale so I can't see if he's stopped gaining weight (although I think it's too soon to tell), but I don't want things to get to the stage where it's actually a problem, KWIM?
ETA: Will suddenly did the exact same thing at his 10pm feeding tonight. Maybe it is the bottle nipples? 
This discussion has been closed.
Re: unhappy when bottle feeding - any ideas?
TTC/PG Blog | Mommy Blog
I am not sure but i think it's possible to have reflux and not have symptoms every time, esp if it is mild. you can talk to your pedi about it or i can ask brent. i know 40 or 60% (can't remember) of babies under 4 months have reflux
i would try the faster flow nipple though. only harm in that is they might choke a little if it's too fast but you can obviously just stop if that is the case.
Jaime & Brent
Oahu, Hawaii | Sept. 9, 2005
My Food Blog - Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats
couldn't hurt to try the new bottles. presumably he will know how to handle various flows from his breast feeding days but stop if he shows distress.
Is he arching as you bring the bottle to him, once he starts to suck, or something else? Otherwise happy until you get to the feed?
I do think babies can have reflux or other tummy issues off and on - probably just keep an eye on it.
We still use low flow and some days Jack can suck down in a 4oz bottle in less than 5 minutes and look at us like he is grumpy it isn't coming out faster and then some days he sucks then pauses and wants to eat for about 30 mins and only ends up finishing 1/2 the bottle. Jack also did the horrible freak during some feedings out about a month ago. It was a phase that ended after about 2 weeks. He was well adjusted to take bottles, didn't seem to have tummy issues, and the milk was all fresh - just like the previous feeds. But for some reason certain feeds would really stress him out and he started wailing as soon as he saw the bottle. It was really hard to feel like we were letting him eat on demand but if we didn't offer/semi-force he would not have eaten!! stressfull. Sooooo I have no answers, but feel for you!!
Generally he's happy until he's offered the bottle - then the howling starts (sometimes he drinks 1-2 ounces before screaming, sometimes not).
Ugh, I'm sorry you went through this with Jack, but I am glad that someone else has experienced it and it stopped eventually!
I've sent Ben out to pick up a couple medium flow nipples so we can give those a shot (if they choke on the flow we'll just take them out again, and we figure worst case scenario we'll probably be able to use them in a month or two anyway).