My 5 month old son is not interested in his bottle during the day, he was strictly breastfed until 3 months and had no problem with the transition. (i did) He eats baby food and cereal and loves it. I have tried giving the bottle first (no luck) after he eats (not interested) even put it in the cereal and baby food (he doesn't eat anything then) He does take his bottle at night he usually only wakes up once, and around 5. after that he just wants to eat baby food. I make his babyfood at home. He is also teething (hates teething ring, doesn't take a pacifier, and screams with orajel)any help on both issues would be appreciated.
I want to start out by thanking the many women who gave me such great advice!! My son is feeling much better! He took his bottle yesterday because his mouth didn't hurt. We used the teething tablets and a teething net that i put frozen fruit in and he loved it (strawberries are a bad idea by the way) I am no longer nervous about phases he goes through, because i have so many experienced women to turn to. Thank you again!!!
Try introducing a cup. They make a sippy cup with a soft spout.
For teething pain I gave my boys Tylenol.
Also, for the youngest I found some stuff made by orajel. It comes in what looks like a q-tip applicator. You pop one end off, and the medicine goes down in to the applicator tip. I found it worked better on my youngest than the gel did.
If he will take the breast when you're together, then give him that unless you have a medical reason not to. I understand that with working that you many not be able to do it full time. Breastfeeding is not an all or nothing proposition.
For teething, I would recommend Hyland's teething tablets. Very little mess and no stink like orajel. Also, you can take a clean washcloth, knot the ends and dip the knots in either expressed breast milk or formula (if you're using that) and freeze. That way he's getting teething relief and some sort of nutrition as solids at that age are nothing but bulk and empty calories.
You can also try transitioning to a sippy cup. The soft spout Nubby cups are great as are straw cups since breastfed babies already know how to suck well.
Dr. Scholls make a product called teething tablets, they are all natural and they work for the pain and cranky ness/ O I also used to freeze a chicken bone and let my kids chew on that. They loved it
I'm not sure about the bottle since my first son took it with no problem and the baby is strictly breastfed. But the teething I may have a suggestion. The have the neat little things you can buy and put frozen fruit in them. Its like a little net that you put the fruit in and it has a handle for baby to hold on to so they chew on the fruit and get the flavor and juice from it while teething. Since he likes his baby food, he might like this since it has flavor to it, not just a plastic thing. Also, I have heard of letting them gnaw on a Mango pit, since they are huge, and it is impossible to get all the mango meat off of it, a daycare in this area uses them and frozen bananas instead of teethers since you can throw them away and not worry about spreading germs.
Has anything else changed? Like brand of formula, or were you giving him breasmilk in the bottle and now have switched to formula? Maybe you could try formula/milk in a sippy cup, he's old enough to try that. The teething may have something to do with the bottle as well. I was a sahm so I was able to breastfeed both of mine for a full year, neither one was too happy with a bottle at all! You could try teething tablets, or letting him chew on a cold wet washcloth, a fozen waffle-my daughter loved to chew the finger toothbrush-was rather uncomfortable for me though! And you can always give him 1/2 dropper (0.4) of infant Tylenol which helped mine the most.
Hi C.,
HMMM... Not sur what advice to give on the bottle but on the teething, you may try rubbing a tiny bit of vanilla around his gums. This will soothe the pain and will also taste good.
Good luck.
Well, I don't have any advice as a mother as my breastfeeding didn't work out too well and my son had been so starved and frustrated that when I gave him a bottle, he loved it! But, when I was five months old, after having been completely breastfed, my mother's doctor told her she had to stop breastfeeding for her own health. She was underweight and with me sucking her dry just couldn't get any weight back. She has always told me that I completely refused the bottle and went straight to a sippy cup. Take comfort in the fact that your baby is at least taking one at night and try the formula or breastmilk in a sippy cup and see how he does.
My nephew never really liked his bottle and my brother and sister in law just had to battle to get his formula down him, but when he got about six months old, he fell in love with his "ba". I'm far from an expert, but as long as your child is eating well and getting good nutrition, I wouldn't worry too much. Best of Luck!!
It is very common for a breast fed baby to not want a bottle since the natural nippleis much more familiar to them. My children both were breast fed for 1-1.5 years, and had no solids for the first year to avoid sickness and allergies. We had no bottles in the house and they went right to a sippy cup and drank water (not milk). Once a baby is weaned they do not need any type of milk for any reason. Breast milk is the nutritional source for the human baby, just as cows milk is the nutritional source for the cows "baby." Because of cow's milk's allergic tendency, it's mucous forming nature, and acid ph, pesticides and hormones in the milk, many diseases can result from cow's milk. Calcium and proteins that cows milk provides is better off being obtained from other sources such as broccoli and almonds,or almond milk, etc.
Sincerely,
B. S. RN CCM
Try a sippy cup. They have some with really soft nipples. My breastfed baby did the same thing and she's been using a sippy cup since she was 5 months old. It might work. Good luck.
I don't see the problem. If the baby does not want a bottle, then don't give one. Why force him/her to suck on a rubber nipple, pacifier or bottle, if it is not necessary? My middle child was off of the bottle by that age for the same reason basically. He didn't want to suck on a rubber nipple after having been breast-fed for the first 3 mths of his life. I taught him how to drink from a glass, one tiny sip at a time. By the 6 month age my son was running through the house; very advanced in all of his motor skills and quite intelligent since birth! Just be sure the baby is receiving enough liquids, mainly water. Be sure there is enough nourishment going into his tiny body both by way of the foods he eats and milk he's drinking. Everything should be alright as long as the baby remains nourished and is not being given too much too soon. Take care and GOD BLESS both you and your baby!
I'm an advocate of "breast is always best" and was never a big fan of formula (man was not meant to suckle powdered cow) - had to give it to my second because of a surgery I had when she was 2mos old, lots of comps and I lost the ability to breastfeed properly. I dont know about the mechanics of formulas lately (my girls are 8 & 9, so I beend outta the loop for awhile), but I know they add a lot of extra garbage in there that kids just don't need. You could talk to a pediatric nutritionist to find out other ways to cover the vitas and minerals he's missing out on, and do away with formula all together - it would certainly save you a lot of money! If you're doing homemade baby foods then he's probly getting a lot more than what's in store bought anyway. I have a book called "The Natural Baby Food Cookbook" that covers a lot of these issues. I just promised it to someone else, but if they dont want it then you're welcome to it. If she does take it, the cover price was only $7.95. As for his screaming, I'd say double check his ears. Both mine developed an ear infection right around 2 mos and the on-call doc insisted it was colic. They usually cant handle the pressure of sucking a pacifier (or bottle) and the cold teething ring irritates it. If you pull on his ears a little and he goes thru the ceiling, that would be your culprit. Good luck with both your ventures :}
Have you tried putting things in a sippy cup? I know it sounds early but my daughter started taking sips when she was 4 months old. Also, your child will take a bottle if he is hungry enough. How many times do you feed him. At 5 months it shouldn't be enough food to make him not want anything else the whole day. I always suggest my food bible The Super baby Foof cookbook. It has really great suggestions and meal plans.
i can't help you with the bottle thing, mine never took one, though i tried. you might try hylands teething tablets, they seemed to help my babes.
When my Daughter started solids at 6 months, she no longer took any bottles, just nursed. She took to sippy cups (soft tipped) very well. Then at about a year, I transitioned her to the disposable take and toss cups (I hated cleaning the valves and such on the other sippys) I buy new ones every 2 months or so as the lids get a little loose eventually.
Hey C., I am with the lady about the teething tablets but there is something else you can try for the teething too. Something called Gripe Water. You should be able to get it at a Health Food Store or your local grocer. It does wonders too! It is safe and all natural! I would also start with the cup. My boys were both off of the bottle by 9/10 mos! My oldest started at the cup when he was 6 mos and my youngest started about 7 mos and both were off my the 10th. I just gave it to them and that is what the preferred! Give it a try!
I use Hylands teething tablets when ever my daughter is having trouble with her gums. They really help. And if that isnt enough, a bit of baby tylenol helps too. She often will not eat much or take much in her bottle when teething, but the minute the tooth pops thru, she eats everything in sight!
