My 8 mo old son is getting over a double ear infection and a bad cold. He was on Omnicef (which is a very strong antibiotic) for 2 days last week, which made him worse. He was very very whiney, clingy and just unhappy! So, we switched his meds on THursday to another (Augmentin). Of course, being sick, he wasn't eating a ton. Normally, he has about 4-5 6 oz bottles in a day, in addition to other baby food. Well, on Weds (while he was still on the Omnicef), he only took a total of 10oz of formula all day. We switched his meds on Thurs, and since then--he is totally refusing his bottle. I mean all out, screaming fit when we try to put a bottle in his mouth---arches his back in my arms, screams, big crocodile tears. We have even tried to put formula in a sippy cup (which he is pretty unfamiliar with at this point), and again--totally refuses. He also won't take juice, water or pedialyte from his bottle. It's like the mere sight of his bottle makes him scream. But--he has been eating his oatmeal/fruit/veggies just fine. And we have been making his oatmeal with formula instead of water. And he takes his paci with no issues either--so I don't think the sucking is hurting his ears. I was also concerned with dehydration, but my doc said as long as he has 3-4 wet diapers a day, we're fine....which he is having.
Any motherly "tricks" or advice you can give us?? My husband and I just want him to be able to get the nutrition he needs!!
I am also going to call our ped tomorrow morning, but thought in the meantime if anyone had any advice--bring it on!! :)
Thanks!
Try a differant bottle type. My little guy has been sick for a few weeks and got to where he wouldn't take his bottle. I switched to the platex type with the liners and he is now taking it fine.
You can't drink it for him. Keep offering it and if he don't take it then keep doing what you're doing. You could also try things in a solid to liquid form...jello looks like a solid and feels like a solid, but it will disolve into a liquid in his stomach...popsicles and ice-cream are good examples too. You can even give him pedialite popsicles. He will eventually drink again so keep offering the bottle...and by the way...have you tried giving him a cup yet? My oldest 3 kids suddenly decided one day that they didn't like bottles anymore and when I would give them a bottle they would throw it in the trash, but if I offered a cup or straw they would take it...some babies toss the bottle sooner than others.
I went through the same thing with my daughter (she is now 26), she refused the bottle after several ear infections and tubes in her ears. She never took it again...I think she thought that the bottle caused her ear pain. (That is what the Dr. thought too.) Just keep introducing the sippy cup. If you have the spill-proof type, remove the plug in the lid so he can drink it without having to suck as hard. It will make a mess but at least he is learning to drink with a cup and he is getting fluids.
Good Luck, Deb
Have you been putting his medicine in his bottle? If so, he probably thinks that it's going to be in there, and doesn't want to drink it. When my kids were really young like that, I gave medicine to them right out of the medicine dropper. Once they got a little older, I'd hide it in their juice, and got away with it. The only time I even did that though, was if they started throwing a fit about taking medicine and the whole process was getting a little messy.
Does he have thrush?
My son did exactly that, while on antibotics from a surgery, and it took me days to catch it. He had a ton of white patches on his mouth and they were painful....
Good luck.
I have a 10 mth old son that is prone to ear infections. Although he still does take the bottle I have a feeling while your lil boy was still taking the bottle it was prolly causing him horrible pain. I would try to just go ahead and try getting him to drink from the sippy. Also if your worried about him not drinking enough try it from a regular cup. Yeah it'll be messy and time consuming but that's how I got both my kids to drink when they refused the sippy and bottle. He might also have a stomach ache from the meds. Antibiotics will do that.... The laying down might also be hurting his ears too. Try giving him the bottle and letting him play with it. It'll make a mess but he might figure out on his own that it's not going to hurt him. Well I hope some of this might help.
J.
from amother with experience with chronic ear infections in a baby augmentin didnt work for my son, he had ear infections and on antibotics very often when he was a baby. when sucking on a bottle, with an ear infection it hurts them sothey wont suck well, my only suggestion is a regular cup, or sppon his milk to him in his cereal feding time will take more time, but you know he is getting milk. my ohter suggestion is that if he is getting ear infections often and antibiotics dont seem to help, go to a specialist, or ask pediatrician about tubes,my son suffered for 3 years before i put tubes in his ears, and wish i would ve dont it sooner...his ears were so bad, i had to get the surgery 3 times, and due to allthe ear infections (and a broken eardrum) (didnt happen because of infections though) he has hearing loss in one ear...dont wait, it is well worth it to get it done early wish i wouldve
L.
Like the others keep trying with the bottle or sippy cup. However here's another suggestion, that i'm surprised none of the older mothers gave. Try putting a mix of warm water, a drop of peppermint abstract, and a pinch of sugar in the bottle. If he has an upset tummy the peppermint will help him. I use this trick with my 6 week old daughter when nothing else works for gas. I also used it on my 14 year old son. It was also used for both myself and my sister, and all 3 of my nieces. If the mix won't work in the bottle, try it in a sippy. He may see the flavored water as a treat and be more willing to drink. Hope that helps.
This may be a little late, but I haven't heard any mention of Tylenol/Motrin. My daughter had ear infections so bad with high fever, constant crying, and didn't want to take the bottle either. They have to suck harder to get the formula out than what they usually do with a pacifier, and this hurts their ears more. We were told to every 4 hours rotate motrin and tylenol, and this made our daughter more comfortable and she would take her bottle then. You, of course may want to ask your pediatrician first, but I am sure your son is old enough for the Motrin. My daughter wasn't quite 6 months when we were told to do this.
I agree with the last comment. Give sippy cups with out the suck piece in the lid. Just keep giving him the other foods. Mixing the formula with the oatmeal is a great one. Maybe give that to him three times a day along with the fruits and veggies. With him being 8 months it might be good to get him to use a sippy because after 12 months he has to take one anyways without a bottle. Look at it as an chance to get him on the sippy and not the bottle. Then you can give him formula threw the sippy and the transition later will be much easier. With him eating foods especially oatmeal with the formula he will be fine... just like the doc said three wet diapers no need to worry. All little ones go through these challeges for us :) Hang in there.
