Baby refusing both breast and bottle!

[Kate]

Graham,

You mentioned that you are using the avent teats with one hole, these are designed for newborn use and the avent website reccomends a medium flow teat with 3 holes for a 3 month old. I know that my 6 week old cannot get enough milk through the newborn teat and wriggles around in frustration as he is not satisfied.

I have attached a link to the website.

http://www.aventbaby.com/uk/products/catalogue/bottle_feeding/silicone_teats.html

 

[Graham]

Actually, I made a mistake, it is the 2-hole Avent teats we have been using, not the 1-hole. Anyway, yesterday I picked up some of the Avent 3-hole teats which are recommended for 3 month+ old babies and tried them on Jeffrey last night. He still only drank 2.5 ounces, but he drank it much quicker, in 3 minutes as compared to the 10 minutes on average that it had been taking him with the 2-hole teats.

Anyway, we took Jeffrey to the Doctor this morning and he said that Jeffrey's ears and throat are fine, but that Jeffrey's nose was very blocked and this was causing Jeffrey to have a lot of wind which affected his appetite. We hadn't realised at all that Jeffrey's nose was blocked as his breathing sounds completely normal. Anyway, we got some nose drops as well as some other medecine to try to increase Jeffrey's appetite, so hopefully he'll start eating more soon.

Thanks again everybody for all your comments.

Graham

 

[traceykwong]

Graham

I am wondering if your baby could be teething or have an inflammed throat and hence the refusal for food and bottle.

If it's any consolation, my daughter didn't like food at that age either. Like you, we were worried but despite Claudia not taking solids, she thrived well on milk and was a healthy happy child.

Sometimes it could be psychological or your child might simply not be ready. My daughter is now 21 mths old and she only started to eat after she turned one. The amount was pathetic to begin with but over time, we managed more food in. She is also slowly learning how to appreciate different types of food.

I suppose you could see a paed to find out if your baby has a swallowing problem.

Hope all goes well.

 

[Graham]

traceykwong,

We had Jeffrey checked by our pead and his throat is fine. He's not teething yet also. Actually, my mother also wondered if perhaps he is teething early, but he's not.

The nose drops, medicine and vitamins our pead proscribed to unblock his nose and increase his appetite seem to be working so far (touch wood, cross fingers etc.) and he has been drinking more during the last 2 days, although the medicine seems to be making him very drowsy, as he's sleeping more than normal.

Graham

 

[nikimom]

Hi Graham,
I really really feel for you. I gave my daughter expressed milk in Avent bottles and she has been fed very well, drinking a lot at 2.5 months (36oz a day). But then she started to fuss at both my breast and bottle, will never drink more than 2 or 3 oz unless she's half asleep. I also tried using no. 2 teats which has 3 holes..but failed.
The problem is we went to see the doctor, he said she is happy and energetic, has even wet and solid nappies, and even said she could go without milk for a week for her weight ...he said her nose is very blocked and that she could be drinking a lot of air at the same time. So we gave her wind drops, heavy dose, and nasal drops and clear her nose every day at bath.

She seemed to be fine for the first two weeks, but then the problem has come back again. Its really killing me, she's now 4 months, and I'm so worried that she's not getting enuf (despite all the wet and solid nappies, happy smiles). I know she does not have ear, nose, throat infection and is not teething (which a lot of ppl suggested).

Just wanna know if your boy is more fussy if you carry him like cradle hold? Does he settle when you carry him up right? COs its the case for my daughter, she's just too gassy. If its the case for your boy, I just wanna warn you...burp him as often as possible, make sure he burped before you let him sleep. After these two months, I believe its the wind that she drinks caused the problem.

Still, wanna know if anyone can give me any advice, should I change bottle or teats?

Thanks