I need answers, my baby won't stop crying?

Question

My baby is 10 days away from being 4 months old. He's at a healthy weight, but I can't get him to drink from his bottle. This problem started a few weeks ago, and has gradually getting worse. At first, he would fight me a few times to drink a 4 oz(while still fussing out of hunger), but would eventually finish it. Now it's gotten so bad that we can't get him to drink even an ounce at a time, without him fighting me, pushing the bottle away, and then hungrily starting to eat again. He's burped really well, I give him gas drops, and he's gained since it started so I know he's not starving.

I took him to the pediatrician today, and she listened to his stomach and said it sounded all gurgly. She gave me a probiotic to give him, but she said that it also could be that he doesn't like the taste of formula anymore. The reason for that is I told her how when he was a newborn he was constipated, and we tried everything(water, juice, etc) to get him to go, and the only thing that worked was if we put Karo syrup in his bottle. Don't worry, I had her permission to give it to him- it was either that or he wouldn't go at all. But since then his bowel movements have gotten better and we weaned him off of it. The weird thing is- he'll sometimes take a bottle if we put Karo syrup in it. It just depends on the day.

Can someone please give me a suggestion to make him take his bottle? He's crying now out of hunger, I tried to feed him but he kept doing the same thing- taking it for a few seconds, then crying and pushing it away. Is it possible that he just doesn't like the taste anymore? Thanks for any suggestions.

Answer 1

I would try adding a tsp of baby stage one apple sauce to his bottle. Even an ounce of baby pear juice to his bottle. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

just thinking here... but may be the nipple is too slow or too fast? i know my babies didn't like the slower nipples, they would fuss and throught the bottle... it took me a while to figure this out. i thought it was the breastmilk i had pumped but it wasn't. i could be totally off here, but may be the milk is too cold, or too hot... may be you can switch to an organic formula? i wish i could help more! i feel your pain, i really do!!!

Answer 3

Did the doctor check his ears for any ear infections?

What are the chances he's teething?

Both of these would be a reason for him to refuse to eat.  It might hurt him to suck on the bottle.  Try using a cup instead and let him take sips.  

Answer 4

my son does this too.  he is teething.  ped says the sucking hurts his gums and not to worry unless there is a weight loss.  it is very frustrating but everything is a stage right now.  BTW my son is the same age as yours, not too early too get teeth.  I give him Tylenol or motrin and he seems to eat a bit better with the pain releif.  sometimes he will only take an oz or two at a time but most days by the end of the day he's taken about 30 oz.  it all works out at the end.

good luck!

Answer 5

Have you tried switching the type of formula you are using? I'm surprised your pediatrician didn't have you try a different one.  Good luck.  

Answer 6

he probably did start to hate the taste of it have you tried that stuff babies have extremely sensitive taste buds and naturally they drink sugar tainted milk(breast milk is all sugar lol) i dont think a little sugar is going to hurt him but when he does get to an age where he can eat other things i suggest you give them to him so he doesnt get hooked on the sugar milk  

Answer 7

Hes about at that age where you can start introducing cereal. Try mixing that in with his bottle. Other than that I'm not sure. I'm sorry. I wish you luck. I hope everything works out for you and your little guy.

Answer 8

Maybe he's colic. My baby has GERD. Its were they have problems burping, gas and spitting up. My doctor put her on xantex and it helps her burp, relieve gas. One day she missed a dose and was so fussy. I also give her mylicon for her tummy. It helps a lot.  

Answer 9

try every type of formula you can get your hands on. try all the different types - goats milk, sheep milk, lactose free the lot.

try every type of bottle and every type of teat.

try every temperature - some like bottles so hot you think they are going to get burned! others like it ice cold - just try it you might find a winner!

try different feeding positions - he might want to sit in a highchair and try to feed himself the bottle! or drink out of a sippy cup! even at this tender age children can like to be independent with feeding. try every suggestion under the sun. and if it doesn't work....

at 4 months, if you are worried about his nutrition and he is still refusing to drink any form of bottle, you could TRY to feed him on a spoon.

My aunt had to do this because her baby hated all bottles and all teats, so she sat him up, and spoon fed him the formula - and he LOVED it! it was messy, time consuming, and annoying, but he was drinking and that's all that mattered.

you could also start trying out a little bit of solids at 4mths. Mix it with lots of formula and spoon feed it that way. many people opt to start solids using baby cereal, but you could use anything of that consistency really. like apple sauce?