Can Formula Be Made to Taste Better?

I used to nurse PRIOR to offering food at this age. Six months is still quite young. I only just started the babies on cereal mixed with breastmilk at this age. I believe most of the nutrition still needs to come from breastmilk and/or formula. I agree with being careful with water: Formula or breastmilk is not mostly water, as the first poster noted. It may contain water, but there are important nutrients and careful ratios of fats, carbs and proteins.

Ask the doc if he can have water too just to make sure he is hydrated. As long as he is eating and getting his nutrition from food and not losing weight, then she shouldn't be too concerned. maybe the doc can even prescribe a vitamin for him just to make sure he is getting all the nutrients. Honestly its normal for him to start to enjoy the food and by a year of age he should be getting all his nutrients from food not milk.

As a last result maybe try adding a tsp of imitation vanilla to the bottle (NOT Pure vanilla extract, it has alcohol in it) to give it a sweet taste or a tbsp of light Karo syrup (this will also help him poop, so beware). Honestly, I think these flavoring measures are not needed but that probably won't do any harm either. If he is adamant about not liking the formula, make sure he is getting a wide variety of nutrients, introduce avacado for fiber, small pastina noodles mashed with bananas, applesauce, yogurt for calcium, etc.....and the water for hydration. (formula is mostly water anyway)

I agree about not giving water to a baby this age. He needs the nutrients in formula.

The seriousness of this depends on how little formula the baby is drinking.

I would not flavor the formula, especially with something sweet. Anyone who does that is not only risking their kids' dental health, but setting themselves up with a kid who only drinks sweet beverages.

Offer formula first, then solids. I would go back to the doctor with my concerns and if he/she doesn't take it seriously, I would switch doctors, if this is a serious concern for the mom.

I have to disagree with a previous poster, babies should never be given water. The water has no calories or nutrients and will replace something of value to him, whether formula or food. Infants have a low threshold for water intoxication and their electrolytes can become very imbalanced from only a little bit of water. Foods have adequate water in them to keep him hydrated.

I would recommend to your friend to feed less solids in any case. Babies should get the majority of their nutrition from formula or breastmilk at his age and really should only just be starting solids. Eating foods at this stage of development is more for learning texture and eating behaviors than nutrition. If he is a big boy he got that way from breastmilk or formula, not from solid foods. He will probably loose weight if too much formula is replaced with food.

On to your real question, I am guessing it is just a phase so I wouldn't worry too much about it. Babies/young kids typically eat when they are hungry, until they are full, and that's it. They will neither starve themselves nor overeat without good reasons. I would say give it at least 3-4 weeks before I was really concerned. Good luck!