I've heard of "bottle wars" before and now I have my own at home. Our 4 month old son had been taking his formula just fine until about a week ago. He hates it! We give him Enfamil. He will suck all of his fingers like crazy and cry of hunger but will not take the bottle. He will take a little bit sometimes if he is sleeping. Because I wasn't nursing him exclusively I now don't have sufficient to satisfy him.. I feel so bad. I don't blame him.. I haven't tried the formula but by the smell, it can't taste good. Any ideas? Are there tasty formulas out there? Any friendlier bottles? He is a big boy (over 16 lbs) and I can just tell he gets very hungry, I have to figure this out asap. Thanks!
Goodstart worked a little better for my fussy infant. Bottom line, most formulas don't taste that great.
I would try a variety of things...if you want to continue breastfeeding, you can increase your supply by pumping and nursing more often. Eating Oatmeal can help up your supply also and so can an herb called Fenugreek. I have never taken fenugreek but know lots of women who swear by it. If you don't want to continue nursing, you could definitely try changing his bottles and/or formula. I uses the Avent bottles and had good luck with them. I wouldn't change bottle and formula at the same time though!
Good luck!
A.
Hi. Could she have a cold? My 4 month old like her bottle but refuses when her nose is stuffed---it isn't so stuffed she can't breathe, but stuffed enough so a long strand of white comes out when I use the suction thing after a shot of baby Simply Saline. Then once she's calmed down, I reoffer, and she takes it. Sometimes she has a big burp and refuses till thats out of the way. Also, I just switched to a medium flow nipple, which took some getting used to on her part. My girl is the same age and weight as your baby. I guess Im saying, maybe its not the formula itself...
If you want to continue nursing you can increase your milk supply by his nursing (your body will produce what he needs it just may take a few days to adjust). You can even pump in between feedings to help up your supply although if he won't take it from a cup or bottle you really don't want to waste breastmilk - although you could use it in cereal feedings which I'm guessing he is starting about now. Call your nursing consultant from your delivery or someone from LaLeche or your pediatrician or OB/Gyn for ideas on increasing your milk supply.
HE'S TEETHING! My son completely rejected the bottle, but would gobble cereal like it was the last meal on earth, for about a month before sprouting his first tooth... and the day before it came through was a nightmare! I could hardly get any formula in him. Until I gave him Tylenol, and then he did fine. He wasn't totally pain free, but it made a BIG difference. You might want to try some teething remedies right before the bottle to see if that's what it is. I bet it is.
Hi Ava (love the name, that's my 10-month old daughters name. Poor little guy. I agree with Andrea, the Born Free bottles are fantastic! It could be that whatever bottle you have him on is hurting his inner ear. Born Free bottles are made to cut down on that and they are made from the "good plastic". Good luck!
I am in no position to give advice, but here's what I can offer - the choice f bottle made a big difference for my 1 month old. I started b-feeding but have switched to formula. I am really a fan of the Born Free bottles - I have found that although it seemed he didn't like formula, he just didn't like the bottles. Born Free is well made and their nipples are very much like the breast. A little pricey - about $10/bottle, but well worth it. Gas is also significantly reduced!!!!!
Kim
ps...I am using Enfamil Lipil with Iron - but the Costco version and he's fine with it.
Ava Maria,
How awful, for both of you!
I suggest Born Free wide-neck bottles with Level 2 nipples.
Also, Nestle Good Start formula is pretty close in taste and smell to breast milk. If you're up for the switch, maybe your little one will go for it!
Good luck--
A.
