Babies: 0 - 3 Months

Help: Baby screaming when feeding

My DS is five months old.  In the last few weeks he has started screaming when I give him his bottle.  Not every feeding, but usually 2 of the 5.  I am basically fighting with him to get him to eat. He gets all excited when he sees the bottle and pulls it to his mouth but then after a few sips, starts screaming.  I have tried different temperatures, nursing instead of a bottle, singing, walking... nothing seems to help.

I thought it was just a phase he is going through but it does not seem to be getting any better.  He also is not eating solids yet per the doctor's orders.  And he is taking about 5-6 ounces a feeding - less during the 2-3 feedings where he is screaming.

Anyone experience anything similar or have any insight?!
 

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Re: Help: Baby screaming when feeding

  • Recently similar thing happened to us. Tried popping pacifier into DD's mouth, she took it immediately, eyes rolled, and she went to sleep. This has happened a couple of times, usually once per day (at night). She seems more tired than usual--maybe it's a growth spurt. We let her go to sleep and then she'd wake up in a few hours and finish the bottle. GL!
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  • My DS does that sometimes.  I think it's teething related.  You might try some Tylenol when he has one of his screaming fits, wait 30 minutes, then try again.  If he's back to normal, I'd say it's probably teething pain that's causing the pulling and arching.  Are you also feeding him sitting at least at a 45 degree angle?  The milk could be causing some reflux pain. 
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  • Rubygirl -  I have tried just about every position but for the most part, I usually feed him in nearly a sitting up position because I did read about reflux and thought maybe it would help.

     
     

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  • ds does this while nursing and it is usually because he is over tired and is ready for bed or a nap or just needed a little snack.
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  • Backbaygrrl - I was thinking it could be because he is getting sleepy during those times.  It is weird because I will stick a pacifier in his mouth and he stops crying - but does not fall asleep.

     

    I actually started feeding him first then giving him his bath so he was not too tired by the time I went to feed him.  But no real help there either. 

     

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  • Talk to your pedi... it could be the formula, an allergy or reflux.  Oh, or thrush.  My pedi said thrush can cause feeding problems.  When DD does that I sing to her (sounds like you already did that) or worse case scenario I feed her in front of the t.v. and she is distracted enough to feed without screaming.  I only use the television as a last resort because it's so bad for them, but I figure feeding is more important than potential ADD!  (DD has severe reflux, so she screams while feeding quite a bit.)   Good luck.  I know how frustrating and sad this can be.
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