Baby Bottle Feeding Problems

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We have just gone through the same as you all on here. our lil girl is 13 weeks now and at 11 weeks started to get really fussy when feeding. This was the start of things, as not much feed in day ment waking more in the night for feeds!! We changed teats,milk ect but nothing changed. HV said she mite by teething but i just didnt get that feeling. So after reading for answers i decided to STOP worring and stressing out (as this was showing to my baby) and LISTEN to her! I changed every thing back to how it was. Instead of watching the time for feeds, i waited for her to show me when. I started lying her on the sofa instead of holding her to feed, still keep eye contact but she seems calm and was not trying to fight me. i made sure that she got her full on naps as a tired baby will also fuss at the bottle. I really feel now looking at it this is all about a GROWTH SPURT, I know they say a baby will eat more during this time but who to say that they wont go the other way!! Just like us some people eat more when feeling low and some people will go off their food. It would be really interesting to hear from the people that posted on here earlier last year to see what the out come and their feelings on it all now is .

added by Tracey198 [Wed 10th Feb 2010 @ 05:03:10]

I have a similar problem with my 11 week old daughter. She was having 5/6oz every 4 hours and now we are struggling to get 3/4ozs in her. She takes the bottle well to start with but after 5 mins or so she will scream everytime you lie her back to be fed. Even after winding her and giving her a break so might eventually put it back in her mouth but will only chew the teat. We've gone to a faster flow teat which hasn't made any difference. Been to the doctors and they were no help so at my wits end now - anyone have any advice?

added by niamh27 [Mon 18th Jan 2010 @ 14:41:24]

some babies might not like the feel of the bottle teat if it has already had a try of breast .. its said that the breast or the nipple is more that enough of milk for the baby therefore it may not take a bottle .. also its best to use bottle as the male or parnter or a different part of the family can also get a chance to get involved in getting used to the babies ways of drinking.
	added by ericoco [Mon 11th Jan 2010 @ 15:20:07]

my grandson now 13 weeks old started to refuse his bottle or just take small amounts two weeks ago. he was very windy (trumping all the time) and very restless, he was on cow and gate (normal formular) but they have changed him to cow and gate COMFORT. this is for colic/constipation but bassically it has LESS LACTOSE in it. we were thinking he may be lactose intollerant.he has been on this milk for two days now. he is taking more in volumn, pooing more often( before it was only once a day if that). you need to use a teat with a larger hole as the milk is slighty thicker. hopefully things are improving but will let you know :-) i didnt realise this problem was so common. all of the other milks do a COMFORT formular too.

added by janeap [Mon 14th Dec 2009 @ 09:35:45]

my baby girl is 3 months old and often cries witout any apparent reason. she is on bottle feed. i would like to know the detailed proposition as to how to handle the baby including her dietry routine and amount of intake. thanks
	added by chuni [Thu 19th Nov 2009 @ 09:13:17]

We've just been through something very similar. First-time parents with a 10 week old girl. She was bottle feeding very nicely up until a week or two ago, increasing her volumes gradually. Then she started to drop the amount she would take. We were worried she wasn't getting enough and so persevered with each feed - too much - and she ended up screaming. She just didn't want it. Same thing as described in the posts below - she pushed the teat out with her tongue, wriggled, turned head, screamed. We've just found out that our baby has oral thrush. This appears as a white layer in the mouth. It looks just like milky-mouth, but it doesn't rinse off. Our baby still had 'milky mouth' by the time her next feed came around. Oral thrush irritates the baby's mouth and makes her feel rubbish - hence the drop in feed size which eventually lead to real difficulty feeding as the thrush got worse. Our GP prescribed Nystatin and she's much better after just 24 hours. One other thing that might have been a factor in our case is she's also picked up a cold. This has only just turned into snotty mucous in the last couple of days, before that there wasn't much evidence of a cold really. Apparently an incoming cold can also cause a drop in appetite for a while. Hope our experience helps someone else out there.

added by EviesDaddy [Mon 12th Oct 2009 @ 10:05:27]

Mummymil this is identical in every way to how my baby is acting. He has always been quite a greedy baby and eats his hands of before a feed he is so eager but at week 10 things are unbearable. the behaviour is exactly the same. Also C+G feed after 2 weeks of breast feeding ( failed ) and mixed feeding on bottle / expressed milk. At 10 weeks old he now cries about 5 seconds after giving him the bottle, as I bring him forward to wind him and then again as I bring him back onto my arm and then its goes round again. Like you at wits end and end up crying my eyes out esp during nbight feeds with the frustration of it it all feeling so helpless. Other times feeds and burps well but goes commatose during the feed and cant wake him even if there was an earthquake. Tried Infacol at around 4 weeks but everytime took 1 ounce and went into the commatose state to gave up everytime through fear of starvation! Been on TommeeTippee Slow Flow 1 teats since birth. Reflux also and possetting since 2 weeks. I have just read this thread back to the beginings and it seems there are so many of us all in the same boat. I felt so alone until now...

added by mrswood1 [Sat 19th Sep 2009 @ 17:24:37]

We've been having an awful time with or now 10 week old and his feeding. I breast fed til 4 weeks and expressed a bit too but it wasn't for us, we then put him on cow&gate stage 1 which was great for about a week but he developed what I thought was colic and would scream everytime we fed him, it would take over an hour to get 4 oz into him!! Our doc advised we put him on sma lactose free milk which made no difference at all so we switched him to aptimil and the doctor prescribed gaviscon thinking the pain may have been reflux. This again was great for a week or 2 but the past 4 or 5 days on and off he has started really fussing, he'll take 2 oz and then wind then he just cries and wriggles for the rest of the feed, he pushes the teat put with his tongue, has started trying to knock the bottle away with his hands and shakes his head. I am at my wits end!!! I've even started trying him on a bit of baby rice as I'm worried he's not getting enough food! Has anyone else experienced this? I'm hoping he grows out of it soon.

added by Mummymil [Mon 7th Sep 2009 @ 11:31:32]

I have been breast feeding my son for 11 weeks and when my son started getting colic i gave him some drops in expressed milk from a bottle as i struggled to express enough milk for every feed my husband would give him some drops in a formual feed at night to give me a break, He always took these feeds with no problem, when his colic strated getting better we just carried on giving him one bottle in the night, and once during the day when we were out, He has now started teething and will not take a bottle at all he will just chew it and cry. His grandparents are really looking forward to having him a couple of afternoons a week when he is 3 months and i was looking forward to a bit of me time but now i'm not sure what to do, please help

added by LisaD28 [Mon 7th Sep 2009 @ 11:30:15]

Dear autumnrain. Mabye its the flow of the nipple that is causing your twins to cry, Try using a slow flow. I had to use the drop ins with the silicone nipple. Sometimes its the type of bottle so try some different ones. is your baby;s on solids. try giving some baby apple sauce or pears to soften the poop. i never heard of colic causing contipation. also try getting them active like jumping in the jolly jumper. or jumparoo. someties the formula contains high iron, try a lower iron formula. baby may be having difficulty passing the formula. try these things and tell me if they work. I'll try and do some research and ask my friends. but be patient.

added by Mommymeghan [Thu 6th Aug 2009 @ 09:39:31]

I have set of twins on the 13th they will be 4 months old...We are having issues she is constipated,they put her on (Kristalose) now its more diarrhea...but when she is trying to have bowel movements she gasps for air.. All the doctors around here are so easy to blame everything on colic...I dont think colic causes constipation and causes a baby to gasp for air ..she is a bottle fed baby and always took good to the bottle and now she really doesnt eat much and when i try to feed her she gulps and its loud ..then she starts crying like it hurts..I dont know what it could be cause we cant get any answers from any doc. Its always colic..Please Someone help if you are going thru the same thing ,Thanks

added by autumnrainz [Tue 4th Aug 2009 @ 12:57:47]

Hi there, I am a mum to 5 children ranging from 12 years to almost 6 months.
Mommymeghan and carolinemarbles, Please try not to fret too much (Believe me I know it's hard, my 2 year old still won't eat and was born 5 weeks early and lost 2 1/2 lb in 8 days when we had him from refusing to feed).
Assuming your babies have no undrlying medical conditions, were not premie babies and are not currently ill or teething and are gaining some weight ... everything should be ok.
If they sleep at night for more than 5 hours... they are getting enough through the day to sustain them. PLease try the following:
1.Don't feed your baby until they are very hungry. DONT leave them for more than 6 hours however.
2.try offering completely cooled milk or even cold(if you are thawing frozen breast milk (my youngest will only drink milk if it is cold on the inside of my wrist!)
3.Try offering from a beaker instead of bottle (not when she is over hungry)
4. Add all milk to your puree's or baby rice if all else fails but try and remember:
NO child will starve themselves. PLease hang in there!
Oh and you could also try putting the bottle teat over your nipple while giving a breast feed and getting them used to the bottle this way (again... i tried this and it worked with our 4 yr old daughter.)

added by mummyto3boys2girls [Wed 8th Jul 2009 @ 09:14:22]

Hi. I have a 6 month old daughter and she has always been a nightmare to feed. At first she was a sleepy feeder, then possible reflux, then full of wind and now she just doesn't seem that bothered about milk and will only have it when she is so exhausted (she won't nap) she wants something to comfort her to sleep. We're now trying to wean but of course all the advice assumes you have a baby who consistently takes full feeds, not one who pleases herself as to how much or how often. I spend my entire day dealing with bottles/milk and now purees. I don't think anyone can appreciate how hard it is to have a poor feeder until they've had to do it themselves.

added by carolinemarbles [Fri 26th Jun 2009 @ 09:00:53]

I can't believe there are so many other parents with the same problem but no solution. Our beautiful baby girl of 3 months was drinking bottle fine until about 2months and then starting fussing, wriggling, shaking her head and crying when it is time to feed. It is so exhausting. I look at other mothers and how easy there feeding is, Have tried different bottles and teats but she will only sort of take the ones she is used too. Does anyone know why this is happening?

added by katiesmom [Thu 14th May 2009 @ 09:41:46]

We also have same problem with my daughter!....13 weeks old now and was feeding really well until about 2 weeks ago when she has started shaking head and crying etc as many of you have described!......I have been reading through this and it seems most people are going through the same thing yet no one has posted a possible soloution or cause??........can someone please help as HV unhelpful!!!....Thank you

added by Samstar [Mon 11th May 2009 @ 11:38:27]

Hi everyone. I am looking for the same solution as Zoryan, can anyone please advise what to do when the baby fusses over the bottle. BL (deseperatley looking for a solution)
	added by bl [Fri 8th May 2009 @ 09:53:18]

Hi everyone. Zoryan did you get any advice on the fussing over the bottles? It sounds so similar to my 10 week old baby, who Im certain is teething. The last week or so she has been screaming and wriggling, arching her back while Im trying to feed her, but shes hungry. Tried mam bottles and different teats but its not helping. She was drinking 6/7oz each feed, 4 times a day, then sleeping from 8pm til 8am but now I struggle to get 3/4oz into her. I have noticed a few parents have the same problem at around the same age, does anyone have any advice????? Thanks

added by lolmac [Mon 20th Apr 2009 @ 09:30:57]

Hi everyone, my 5 month old daughter has been having the occasional formula bottle since she was 3 weeks old and never had a problem, but for the last month she goes from loving the bottle to hateing the bottle back to loving it and so on, she is mainly breastfed but i have to wean her onto the bottle full time due to work and study, i am also going away with my hubby for 5 nights in 4 weeks time. Does anyone have any helpfull advice for me?

added by jess6009 [Tue 14th Apr 2009 @ 12:45:00]

Hi, did anyone get any help with this? My baby is now 9 weeks old. She was 6 weeks old when she completely gave up on breastfeeding and had been absolutely fine with bottles until 3 days ago when she started opening her mouth, screaming, struggling, pushing away from me and the bottle, etc. The health visitor suggested moving onto medium flow teats which seemed like a sensible solution but it hasn't helped at all. It now takes an hour and a half of 5mls at a time then winding to get anything in her. But she is desperately hungry and wants the bottle as soon as she has pushed it out of her mouth. Any help?

added by karengoodlad [Thu 9th Apr 2009 @ 09:26:02]

My little boy is 13 weeks old and about a week ago started fussing when I fed him his bottle, I thought it might be that he needed new teats so switched to the medium flow ones, but he's still cries and turns his head away from the bottle and doesn't seem to want it at all even though he seems hungry, I'm not sure whether or not he's teething but he is dribbling a lot and wants to chew my hands and his own fingers a lot so not sure whether ir's just that his gums hurt and that's why he doesn't want his bottle. Does anyone else have this problem???

added by zoryan [Tue 10th Mar 2009 @ 08:49:32]

hi my 6 wk old little boy will sometimes have his bottle ok but a majority of the time he just spits the milk out, its as though he doesnt suck and swallow the milk but keeps it in his mouth then spits it out. the health visitor told me to try variable flow teats but this made things 10 times worse so i have gone back to the slow flow teats. its very frustrating as u dont no how much of the milk he is drinking and he then wants more an hour later which again is hard going. i dont no what to do to help him can any one suggest anything????

added by loopylys26 [Mon 2nd Mar 2009 @ 09:25:53]

Never joined one of these discussions but feeling a bit low and wondering if you can help! Have lovely 12 week old babe who was bottle fed from day one (cant breast feed for various reasons to expressed for 6 weeks until I swapped to bottle feeding). She was fine on bottle from day one (Avent) - but then developed Colic so I swapped to Dr Browns which helped a little I guess. She has always been a bit more whingy than my other two - but recently she has started throwing up the majortiy of her feeds and is now refusing the bottle. Its very distressing as I can only get around a couple of ounces in her at any one go - and that is always with some distress from both her and me. She was taking around 5 ounces every three hours 4 weeks ago so I really dont understand why.....Doc said it might be reflux so I have had her on gaviscon infant for last 10 days but she is kicking up more of a fuss than ever (though being sick slightly less) so as of tonight I have changed formula (sma to aptimel) changed bottle (Dr Brownd to Tommy Tippee) and left out gaviscon! I am at my wits end as she is loosing weight and she is only small babe anyway.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ADVICE? And please dont tell me to stop swapping things around as I am desperate and just trying to find something that works!

added by Phoebe74 [Mon 2nd Feb 2009 @ 10:44:54]

Hi guys!
I pleaded a few weeks ago for advice on how i can get my baby to take the bottle. My husband and I spent 8 agonising days to get our 4 months old to take a bottle and we lost. it was also a very distressing time for the LO. Then I had an argument with my hubby and stormed off for some fresh air. On the way, decided to buy all sorts of bottle i could find. We had already spent a little fortune of Timmee Toppees, Advent, Breasflows... etc. After a few days of baby not having any bottle, i decided to try again and gave him one of the new bottles i had bought. HE TOOK IT STRAIGHT AWAY!! I could not believe my eyes!! its been over a week now and the LO only has formula (Aptamil) in his bottle. I only breast feed at night What a relief for my hubby and I!! The bottle in question is called MAM Bottle.It is sold in large Boots store or Mothercare. i realised that baby was not taking the other bottles cause their teats were no spill teats. so baby had to suck really hard to get some milk. he hated it. The MAM bottle teats are free flow. so when it is turned upside down, the milk flows freely. Baby does not have to suck hard and he has a constant flow of milk. he takes his bottle without any fuss. And he used to vomit when i was giving him Cow & Gate or SMA formula. but he tolerates Aptamil very well and also likes the taste because Aptamil tastes more like breast milk. it also has more breast milk properties than the other formula milks. I give him one serving of baby rice at lunch and dinner topped up with about 120 mls of formula milk and he is so much more settled at night. If Your LO is constipated try giving him about 50mls of luke warm boiled water evryday (Doctor's advice). It works! Well, parents who are still pulling their hair, I hope that my experience will help you too. Good Luck..

added by Jem1j8d [Tue 27th Jan 2009 @ 08:56:38]

hi guys, i just thought i would say that i don't think it's a major problem if they are taking less than they used to, as long as they aren't losing weight and are still generally healthy. It may have been that they were going through a growth spurt and no longer need as much, or it may be that babies who are being spoon fed no longer need as much milk as they did before, all these things can add to babies needing less, and the person with the 7 month old, your baby will be getting nutrients from the spoon feeds as well as the milk. If anyone is really worried about their babies, i would suggest chatting to your health visitors or a health professional ;)

added by jetthejinx [Tue 20th Jan 2009 @ 09:31:34]

Hi my baby is 12 weeks old. He is on SMA Gold formula milk. He used to drink 6 bottles of 4 oz of milk a day but now he has 5 oz but has cut down to only 3 or 4 bottles a day. He has his last feed at 2am and then he won't have another until 12pm or 1pm. Is that normal? What do i do?
	added by Henariaz [Mon 19th Jan 2009 @ 09:51:55]

D4N1- I'm having the same issue with my 3 1/2 month old. She will eat around 2 1/2 ounces when she used to eat around 4 ounces. She started that right after we got back from vacation. Have you found anything out? I'm stressed out and worried about her. Does anyone have any ideas?
	added by jscourtney [Thu 15th Jan 2009 @ 17:33:45]

I also have a 4 month old son who has previously been very good with his bottles. All of a sudden he shakes his head and pushes his bottle away, this only happens between 9>30am and 6pm. His night time feeds are great. He really fuses with his day time bottles and im lucky to get him to take half a bottle before a screaming match happens. Please help, I dont understand why this is happening? D4N1
	added by d4n1 [Wed 7th Jan 2009 @ 08:51:12]

I would like to hear the suggestions that some of you are getting cause my 4 month old baby is always rejetting the bottle all of the sudden. She used to take and drank her bottles very good but now she sakes her head, moves it away with her hands and fuses. Why would she do that all of the sudden? Please give me some suggestions. jdja mom
	added by Newmom25 [Mon 5th Jan 2009 @ 09:20:10]

my baby is four months plus but still refuses the bottle when he is fed with milk, but he love to take water from it and i wonder why? Am concerned because i feel he is not as big as he should be you know weighing 8.4 kg and all. Do you think he could still get used to it in the end?
	added by hassy [Wed 26th Nov 2008 @ 09:11:42]

My little boy is 7 months old and is going off his formula milk, he only seems to drink about 12 oz a day split into 3 bottles. He doesn't seem interested at all, is this ok as im worried hes not getting enough iron and vitamins?
	added by bingowings [Tue 18th Nov 2008 @ 08:39:08]

my daughter is 2 mths old. i started mixed feeding her a couple of weeks back. all was well but of late she fusses during breast feeding-first few minutes are fine but after about 10 mins of feeding she starts fussing,shaking her head and is visibly agitated-can any one help?
	added by sudarshana [Thu 13th Nov 2008 @ 09:32:38]

I followed the Gina regime (but not strictly) pretty much from day 1 - was breast feeding and giving always 1 bottle a day at late evening feed, plus on occasion other days. all went well until 10-12 weeks when we started having intermitten "bottle protests" where she would be hungry but scream and cry - we perserved and eventually she got better and now takes breast & bottle with no stress. SO dont give up they can take both they just need to learn they have to take both! she is now 6months and sleeping 7-7 so we cant complain.

added by JulesHawk [Mon 10th Nov 2008 @ 09:48:45]

My 3 month old has started doing exactlly the same - shaking his head and refusing to eat. he now knows his hands can join in the battle too! Any suggestions?
	added by PWhitelaw [Mon 20th Oct 2008 @ 10:53:01]

I didnt realise it would be difficult to get my son to take a bottle after 3 months of successful breast feeding, and was very frustrated when I decided to try it, he screamed, cried and gagged on all the different teats and foumulas and even expressed breast milk I tried him with. I decided to stick with Tommee Tippee bottles with Aptamil (fast flow teats). My partner tried to feed him every day at about 6.30pm for two weeks, he refused it every time but we kept trying, I had to leave the room and cried most days. When I breast feed him I use a feeding pillow, so I made sure my partner did NOT use the pillow, so my son didnt think he was getting a breast feed. After two or so weeks, my son took the bottle and drank 4oz without throwing it up. He now takes three 4oz bottles a day and I breast feed him in the morning, evening and during the night IF he wakes up. My breasts are making less milk and this had started my periods again. It has been an emotional roller coaster but we got there in the end, hope this helps anyone.x

added by prim [Mon 29th Sep 2008 @ 17:37:08]

hi
	added by icekw [Mon 22nd Sep 2008 @ 09:01:15]

My 12 week old daughter has also just started fussing and shaking her head away from the bottle during her feeds. She is hungry because in the next instant she wants it back?? HELP PLEASE!!
	added by Jules0379 [Tue 16th Sep 2008 @ 08:59:55]

My 12 week old little boy has started shaking his head while I'm trying to feed him. He only does it during the day and its really getting me frustrated. Has anyone any suggestons please.
	added by judith1302 [Wed 23rd Jul 2008 @ 09:21:36]

message to Kylie and Kaylloyd - my four and a half son is also doing the exactly same thing - shaking his head away from the bottle then crying cos he wants it back. I worked in a nursery for 6 years and never experienced this, it's so strange. i've no idea why he does it. I'm getting so frustrated. Did either of you receive any suggestions?
	added by Kymsie [Tue 20th May 2008 @ 08:41:10]

message for KALLOYD you posted a post back in 4/6/07 re your babys bottle feeding iam having major problems with my 4 month old son doing exactly the same thing just after if you found a solution atall? many thanks kylie
	added by smiles [Mon 21st Apr 2008 @ 08:38:21]

please tell me is this is okay....I have a 15 wk old baby boy who only drinks 4 and 1/2 oz each feed and thats around about evry 3hrs except during the night when he wakes evry 4 hours. Is it okay for him to only be drinking that much as I've been told he should be drinking at least 5 oz each feed evry 4-5hrs?
Also how would I then go about stretching his feeds longer therefore hopefully making him drink more?
please please help!!!

added by lola123 [Mon 14th Apr 2008 @ 08:42:43]

Hi, Wonder if anyone can help me my 10 week old baby is taking 5 oz every 4 hrs starting at 7.30 am but coming to her evening drink at 7.30pm she starts crying and will only drink about 2-3 ozs as she is so tired.As soon as I put her into her cot she falls fast asleep and then could wake up at 3 or 4 am and take only 3 oz. Could someone please advise me on what I can do to get her to drink more during the evening. She sleeps well during the day.

added by Demelza [Fri 7th Dec 2007 @ 10:47:14]

Somebody can help me??I was expecting when i was told i have breast cancer.We decided to keep the baby soo we have a chemobaby Caroline,now she is 4 months.=i had my right breast remouved and 4 chemoterapy in pregnancy=and i was induced 6 weeks earlier because i started my strongest chemo after delivery.I'm bottle feeding her and she doesn't eat weel...less than less.Before she was drinking 120ml every 4 hours and now maybe half of that,she is pushing out the nipple .i tried with other kind of nipple is not getting better.3 doctors told me she is ok but i am concerned about her...what can i do??
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!ELENA-CHEMOBABY'S MOM

added by chemobaby [Mon 26th Nov 2007 @ 08:39:12]

I have a 19 week baby girl who has just decided she doesnt want to have her bottle anymore, she was taking 80% bottle and 20% breast but now she has gone off the bottle all of a sudden (causing us lots of stress). Can anyone offer any help please.
	added by Rosie [Tue 3rd Jul 2007 @ 16:31:14]

does any one else have problems with their baby sometimes fussing at the bottle ,squirming, head shaking when drinking form the bottle and then when you take it away from them they cry and scream
	added by kaylloyd [Mon 4th Jun 2007 @ 08:34:45]

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