9-Month Old Refusing to Drink Formula

Each child is different so I don't know if this will work for you but I started giving my 9 mo old daughter Good Start formula mixed with vanilla almond milk. It is lactose free so as long as he does not have an almond allergy the ped should be fine with it. Formula mixed with water creates a consistency that is no where near as rich and sweet as BM. The vanilla flavored almond milk is sweet and makes the consistency richer when mixed with the formula. Good luck

I think the taste buds develop at nine months. Both of our kids threw their bottles across the room at nine months and refused any formula from that point on, whether it was in a bottle, a sippy cup or regular cup. They each had different pediatricians at the time this happened and both said as long as they were getting nutrition from the baby foods, they would be ok (and they were). I would definitely check with your own pediatrician, though, to find out the best strategy for your child.

If he is having enough wet diapers and nurses fine when you are home, those two bottles should be fine when you aren't there. I know many babies that wait alllllll day long and refuse all bottles, and do just fine till mom comes. If he is hungry enough, he will eat.

Have you tried pumping first thing in the morning, every morning? You are most full then. I pump 2 ounces from the side I feed on and empty the other side each morning. This helps me supplement my pumping during the day if it is an off day.

One idea is to mix formula into his foods (cereals, purees, etc).

Bur ultimately, if he's nursing several times a day, he's probably getting what he needs. Hopefully your pediatrician will say something similar so you wont need to worry.

Have you ever tasted formula compared to Bmilk? I don't blame any kid for not wanting that nasty stuff... Even though my son didn't care whether it was Bmilk or formula, most kids do care and I completely understand.

I agree with the ladies that said he should be fine with what he's getting without formula.

sounds like he is allergic to formula. try changing him to soy. my oldest did that and he was allergic to normal formula but could drink soy. the regular I guess hurt his stomach too bad.

My son did the same at about 8 months and the pediatrician suggest that we give him yogurt and Homogonized milk and as long as your child is eating well and getting good nutriants (as stated by other moms) your child will be fine. Check with your pediatrician for thier suggestion.

I think your biggest problem may be that your baby is eating quite a bit. If you are pumping, nursing, and supplementing then he still should only be getting like 30-32 ounces. He's eating 3 meals, too, though. I would try to feed him his cereal or whatever in the morning and follow that with about 6 oz. He may need another snack-like bottle in mid-morning, but it should only be 6-8 oz. At lunchtime he's need a veggie or entree and fruit followed with about 6 oz. A mid afternoon bottle of about 8 oz should tie him over til dinner of entree, veggie, and fruit and a 6-8 oz bottle. If you nurse him in morning and night then he may be developing a late stage nipple confusion or desire to get what he wants--which is you and your milk. He can probably tell the difference between the comfort of your nursing and milk and the formula he's given from the bottle when you're not there. Mixing the breastmilk and formula equally, if possible, is my last suggestion. If it's the taste he prefers, then mixing them will help alleviate some of his aversion. Hope this helps. Nursing this long is awesome,and it's great that you are doing so much to get your little one healthy. I have 5 that I nursed and it's not always a picnic. You're a great mom!

If you just let him do without then eventually he'll get hungry enough that he will take a formula bottle, but that's only if you can handle the furber method. My 2nd child wouldn't take a sippy cup for a while & only wanted her bottle, i just quit giving her the bottle. It took a while but she finally started using the sippy cup. Same goes from breast to bottle.

do you have a medela pump? Have you thought about renting one from the hospital. From my understanding they can make a big difference on how much milk you get out