NOT Into Formula... Dont Know What to Do...

Updated on November 29, 2009
H.L. asks from Los Angeles, CA
16 answers

Hello All..
Well, my little one is throwing me another curve ball... She's a little over 8 months, was weaned slowly from 6 months, taken one feeding away at a time, by 7 months, she was done... Personal choice, she was really not into the boob at all, didnt care if she had it, crazy outbursts sometimes while on the boob... So obviously feeding has always been difficult... at 6 months, we introduced solids.. LOVED IT!!! not the canned stuff eather, REAL FOOD!!!! Bananas, Bread, baked apples/pears, yougurt (recently), i make vegetable soup with chicken and blend it.. LOVES IT!!!! however, with formula, its an issue.. .she'll take a few oz's., and she's done... i know she needs 20-24 oz a day, so she gets 4 bottles... 7:30 am, 11 30 am, 3:30, and 7:30... at 9 she gets cereal (with 2 oz), at 1 pm gets yogurt or fruit with some cheerios, and at 5:30, 6 gets dinner, which is my homemade blended "soup"... seems balanced, but the 6 oz bottles are a pain... she'll take 4, 5, and she's done... i tried giving her more feedings a day, but she wont take it... i tried eliminating her "solid" intake, it just made her crabby, not hungry... what do i do? does she not like THIS formula (infamil) or just not into the bottle??? Any suggestions are welcome... Thanks in advance...

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M.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Have you tried a sippy cup? And again, she is getting a good portion of the formula, and eating a very healthy diet which is the most important. You are setting the foundation to her lifelong eating habits. She may not be a lover of formula....

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B.L.

answers from Seattle on

One thing to think about, babys can't have dairey till one year. You might want to get a little thing of some other formula and try that. Give her doctor a call and see what they sugest if she soesn't want formula.

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S.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Babies who refuse formula and cannot yet get all of their calories from solids may benefit from going back to breast milk (given via bottle or cup). I have known several moms who are able to relactate after they run into this problem. Is there a Lactation Consultant in your area?

2 moms found this helpful
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H.M.

answers from Visalia on

One reason why breastfed babies tend to not have weight problems later in life is because their metabolism had a chance to regulate itself. With the boob, you can't really count how many ounces she was drinking. With the bottle, many parents find themselves saying, "C'mon, finish it, just a little bit more." When in reality the baby knows best.
Like someone else said, as long as she's not losing weight, she should be just fine.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Hartford on

As long as she is not losing weight, could it be that your little girl is full? Sometimes the guidelines that they request us to follow (ie: 20-24oz) aren't always appropriate for all babies. If she is drinking most of the formula and getting food on the side, her nutritional intake should be adequate. My fella tends to consume less than what the "guidelines" suggest - and he is healthy, happy and strong.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

There is not a formula I would use. Breast milk mixed with the food would be ok but breast feeding is best for the mouth and tongue development. Never use a sippy cup nor is the bottle good and can produce mouth breathers and tongue thrust problems that no braces can help only a oral facial myologist which is what I do. To prevent future teeth and muscle problems, airway and soft palate dropping and hard palate narrowing, stick with the food you are using and/or breast which is the best for good development.

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R.J.

answers from San Diego on

Formula provides nutrition for babies who are unable to nurse, and are as yet incapable of digesting solid food well.

It's a *little* early, but common sense seems to say, why not toss the formula and keep with the solids? Sounds like she's been loving solids for two months now, and doing well with them.

Of course, being a baby she still needs a super high fat diet (for neural development), and way more nutrients/minerals found in our typical food... but you can do that yourself by using whole milk + lots of other high fat & high protein / nutrient dense foods. Just remember LOTS of fats, animal and vegetable (think milk/cheese and avocado/olive oil), in addition to standard foods.

<grinning> And also don't forget the magic #2. At 2 years old a neurochemical thing happens that labels all new chemicals that haven't been ingested yet as poisonous. This counts for both belladonna & drain cleaner AS WELL AS hummus and broccoli. So avoid "toddler" food. Do exactly as you are; the same food YOU eat (and as many ethnicities as you can squeeze in), just prepared mushy.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Try asking the Pediatrician.

Also, when giving her her Formula... give it to her BEFORE solids. Not during, and not after. She will be too full then.
That is what our Pediatrician recommends, whether it be with Formula or breast.
Or yes, try a different Formula, and use a sippy cup with it perhaps as the others said. Or a different nipple...one that is faster flowing.

At least she is doing great on solids and is not finicky!
But, yes, being she is still just 8 months old, keep the foods you give her, age appropriate. www.babycenter.com has a great chart of what foods to offer at what ages. For example: no egg yolks until after 1 years old etc.

Here are some of their links:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_foods-that-can-be-unsafe-for-...
http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-by-age-guide-to-feeding-y...

All the best,
Susan

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L.M.

answers from Honolulu on

My son or daughter never had a bottle. They both went from breast to sippy and though I breast feed until 12 months, they started the sippy with solids at about 6 months. Might try it, as it can't hurt and if the little dear don't like it now they will need in the future.

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J.P.

answers from San Diego on

Hi! I can send you a dvd about something that my friend used. Let me know.

God Bless!

J.

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S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Try diluting the cereal to formula consistancy-you know that she likes it so that will tell you if it is the formula or the bottle or just doesn't like "nursing/ sucking".
OR
She may be getting enough liquids from everything she's eating. If her poop is not solid then she's probably ok.

My son started reaching for solid foods at 2mo. Each baby has it's own development schedule.

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D.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

how about putting a little chocolate ovalteen into the formula..my friend did that to get her little one to get him to take the bottle..also a faster flow nipple on the bottle.

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A.C.

answers from Las Vegas on

Hi Hellen:)
It sounds like your little one is ready to grow up a bit earlier than is expected. She is too young for cows milk, so, have you tried putting the formula into a sippy cup, or a cup with a straw? She may just not like the shape and texture of a nipple, skin or plastic. Give her a try with a cup of some kind. She may accept formula in that. If not, you may need to buy very small containers of other brands of formula to see if she will go for them. Then check with your doctor and see when she can go to milk.
Lots of luck with this.

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C.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

It could be the taste or texture of the formula. Try goat's milk, not cow's milk. Goat's milk is easily digestible. I raised all three of my kids on it as they were allergic to formula and cow's milk after I weaned them. You will need to make sure that she gets enough iron. I fed one quart per day per kid until they were five and by that time they were able to have regular cow's milk. Goat's milk now comes in powdered form that my daughter uses on her son. It is really easy to use and he loves it. She used the goat's milk in bottles as she slowly weaned him. He is now on yogurt and cheeses and goat's milk at 19 months and doing fine.

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W.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

H.,
I would check with her Doctor...It seems as though she would rather just eat what everyone else is eating. If its not hurting her and she'll drink water and other things then ask if its okay to stop the formula?? What could it hurt to ask??? Formula and breast milk are all about giving your child enough nutrition, to sustain them. Have you tried Miso soup, tofu, boiled fish, etc?? If your doctor gives you the okay, then don't fight it..it will be less hassle and less expensive. Not to mention the bottle is supposed to be gone soon, right? So one less thing to fight with her about!
W.

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M.C.

answers from San Diego on

It sounds like she is getting a pretty good diet on solid foods, but if you still feel like she needs to get more nutrients via formula, you could try using the formula to mix in with her solids. I used to make mix infant cereal with breastmilk (you could use formula) and fruit puree. Or you could just use formula instead of water to thin whatever fruits/vegs you are pureeing or smooshing up.

The sippy cup or straw cup ideas are good too. Both of my daughters had a very short bottle period and adopted straw cups pretty early on.

Lastly, if she isn't drinking formula, watch out for dehydration. She may need to start drinking some water (just be careful she doesn't fill up on it).

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