9 Mth Lil Guy Will Not Take Formula

Updated on November 11, 2007
F.V. asks from Lancaster, PA
11 answers

Hiya Moms,
My 9 mth lil guy stopped taking his bottle. Had his wellness check up yesterday and the Ped said to go ahead and try whole milk. Well, I tried that, mixing it 1/2 formula 1/2 milk, all milk, all formula, sippy, another kind of sippy, a bottle..... he just does not want it. He loves his cereal and gets that 2x a day which the Ped said is great for iron (and I use the formula only to mix it for the other nutrients). So, anoyne else encounter this issue? He is a great eater, loves everything we give him but we even cut that back to supplement his bottle again and he just refuses it. Any advice? He takes his sippy because he drinks his juice (which is very limited) with no issue. With formula he will drink 2-4 oz in the morning when he wakes up, refuses it all day long and his final bottle at bedtime, we are lucky if he drinks 2-4oz. We do give him other dairy (as suggested by our Ped) so he gets calcium but he will not take his formula/milk.
Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Well, lots of great advice from all of you awesome Mom's out there! I need to make my daily trip to Giant (they all know me by name...that's pretty bad...lol) so I will try soy vanilla. We tried whole milk and my oh my are his diapers a real bad mess! He was diagnosed as slightly lactose intolerant when he was 6 weeks old so I personally do not think the whole milk is good right now. I am trying nestle good start 2- for 9-24 mo olds, we only got the small container. I will try vanilla soy today (it is very yummy for us too!) and let ya all know how it went!
Thanks again! :)~

More Answers

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S.W.

answers from Harrisburg on

I'm not a dr and you may want to check the nutrition first, but try the soy milk that has the vanilla in it.... he may like that better...

1 mom found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Houston on

my daughter did the same exact thing at 9months. she refused to drink formula anymore, so i tried milk and she refused that too. now she is 19mo and she hates milk, i tried everything to get her to drink it and she wants no parts of it. she does like chocolate soy milk though. so i always give her oatmeal or cream of wheat and mix it with milk not water, and also make sure to get give her yogurt that way she gets the vitamins she needs that way. and try to give him soy milk he might like that. She is as healthy as can be, has never been sick yet, and is just a joy. i guess some kids just dont want to have anything to do with formula or milk.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.D.

answers from Philadelphia on

your problem is probably better than mine... my 16 month old wants milk all day long, and eats food like a bird. At least you have the option of yogurt, cheese and either things to supplement the diet, you know?!!! i don't know how I'm going to get her off the bottle either... and she's my easy child! haha!

just wanted to add... I don't know if I'd want to get in this habit, but I've heard some people add chocolate or ovaltine to their kid's milk, to get them to drink some more. that might help! good luck!!!!!!!!

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M.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

hi, if i were you then i would stop everything, except food. And start giving him the gerber juice or even water. that way he'll stay hidrated. If that is what he wants give it to him. Just as long as you give him vitiamns everyday he should be fine. that way he is getting enough nutriants and wont have a problem lacking vitiamns.
Your lucky there because it's always the other way around where you can';t get them off the bottle!!!!
Another thing I would try is just give him the bottle before nap and bed time.

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P.H.

answers from Williamsport on

Christina, Hi, I read you post and wanted to try to help you. I have had 5 children and if I listened 100% to my baby's doctors, my kids probalby wouldnt' be as healthy as they are now. I have a couple of suggestions. Maybe try to add Chocolate syrup or strawberry to it. Just enough to flavor it. It won't hurt him. My friend gives it to her son that is only like 9 months now and that is the only way she can get him to drink it. Good luck, hope something works

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R.I.

answers from Philadelphia on

i wouldn't worry about it too much if he's eating other foods to give him his nutrients. it sounds like he eats well.

take it as a blessing that you won't have any problems weaning him off the bottle!!!!

i know the docs all say to give formula till they are one but think about it, do babies in other parts of the world get formula? they turn out fine.

and really it's only a couple months early. i wouldn't worry just try to give him balanced meals so he gets all his food groups.

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L.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

I think my 7 month old will be going down this same path, he loves his food as well. I know the ped told me that the majority of his nutrients should come from his formula so he should be getting around 24 ounces a day somehow! He also put him on a multi-vitamin with fluoride (since we have well water) so I'm hoping the extra vitamins there help make up for his lack of formula. He also told me that as long as they are gaining weight consistently and sleeping well that there is nothing to worry about.

Perhaps the ped. could give you son vitamins as well. Couldn't hurt to call your peds office and ask for some suggestions. The nurses line is pretty helpful at our office.

Thanks!

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J.Y.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Continue to offer whole milk in a cup, but otherwise don't stress over it. They can smell fear
: )
My little guy prefers vanilla soy milk over milk- also an excellent source of calcium with lots of other healthy bonuses.

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R.D.

answers from Philadelphia on

Honestly? This isn't all that unusual of a problem for formula-fed babies! The problem is the taste of the formula. Formula doesn't taste all that good, and it's the SAME taste all the time. Add food to the mix, and now all of a sudden your baby is all excited about food and doesn't want that tasteless formula! Give infant vitamins to make sure your baby isn't lacking in nutrition (poly-vi-sol is the most popular), and go ahead and flavor that bland stuff! I loved another post's idea of putting a little chocolate or strawberry flavored syrup in it. Go for it! Look for low-sugar flavoring additives so your child doesn't get those dreaded sugar highs. ;-) Good luck!

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M.D.

answers from Scranton on

Once they get fussy with formula, your next step I would advise is soy-based formula. It's gentler on the stomach before you use the whole milk. Most peds. docs recommend you wait until the baby is exactly one year old before they start pushing the whole milk.
I am a mother of 4. (9, 6, and a set of twins).

B.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

IF your doctor told you to go ahead with whole milk then just offer him milk in a cup. Keep offering it he will start to drink it sooner or latter. You might be confusing him with so many different tastes and forms. Pick one and stick to it. Don't mix formula with the milk. In fact, if the doctor told you it's okay you should just use up what formula you have and quit buying it. Formula and milk have two very differnt tastes and they really don't taste good together. I went through this with my girls. He can get great calcium from yogurt...I gave mine one container of thick and creamy style yoplait every day for breakfast they loved it. Hang in there!! Good luck

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