Big problem with bottle

[aleasmom]

Not sure where to post this as it involves reflux, and props.  My 5.5 month old has a bottle problem. She hates it. She has reflux and it took us a long time to get it under control so I think she has had a bad association with it on and off for a long time. We have ups and downs in how much she eats but she is gaining nicely. I dont mind doing a night feed when I know she hasnt had enough in the day. She has always been fussy with the bottle. First I would have to jiggle her, switch paci for bottle, needs to be isolated when feeding, no talking allowed...or she'll stop eating and not take the bottle again. AT ALL. even if she's only had an ounce or two.
So I realized that her best feed is the dream feed, when she's practically sleeping. Swaddled.

Now, she will take the bottle once with no props and have up to two ounces. Then i have to wait, maybe a half hour. I learned after many crying fits when i tried to give her back to the bottle to just wait for her to fuss a little and then give the bottle back. But now she will fuss and i will give the bottle and she flat out refuses it. Over and over. Finally I will swaddle her becasue by now, as its almost time for a nap again, and she takes the bottle and drains it. So I know she's hungry, but refuses it over and over? Plus, no one can feed her but me. She just wont eat. Everyone says when she's hungry, she'll eat, but she doesnt. If the "mood" isnt right (swaddle, and calm). If she's upset and swaddled, she'll refuse and scream, then one minute later, she's calm, I give her the bottle again and she has 4 ounces. what do I do to phase out this swaddle issue. She's almost six months old and i dont think i should be swaddling anymore. I feel like she'll go on a hunger strike. I;m really looking forward to the sippy cup.

[em_here]

Hi there, we have soooo been there, with a reflux lo. She had a bottle phobia from 3 months up till around 11 months, so have no advice, as nothing we did worked, but lots of hugs from me.

We did find she prefered a cup for a little while. You can try this as well even now.  Also when the time comes for solid, you could give things such as yoghurt to help.. Also if she is still fussing when feeding are you sure she is correctly medicated ie: enough meds for her weight, you could check with the doc, but as I said, dd had the max meds and still hated the bottle.  Ihad to take a step back, look at her weight gain and general help, as unfortunately there was nothing I could do about it. We also gve calcium and vit drops, could you get these from your doc?



hope this helps a little, I have been there and I know how frustrating this must be.

[grahamsmama]

I agree, consider whether her reflux is well controlled.  If it is, I think I would just keep swaddling her to feed.  She will eventually wean off, but right now it's only going to make her bottle aversion worse to try to force her to eat unswaddled, IMO.  She needs to make new, happy eating associations.  So, just do whatever works. 

[aleasmom]

Thanks for the input. She's on the max medicine dosage. And this has improved because she used to scream through feeds, now she just is tightlipped and kind of complains like "ma, i said i DONT want it!!!" It doesnt seem like she's in pain now like she used to be. I guess i will just keep swaddling and not care about the eyes from others. As long as she eats, right?

The other problem is that i feel like i cant go anywhere becasue she wont eat for others. DH can get her to eat a little so i do have a break there. But we have a wedding to go to and grandma is going to watch her. Ifeel like she is going to be miserable, starving and my mother is going to be miserable too!!!  Ive showed her the swaddle technique and she's good but i just hope it works when its not me feeding her.

[grahamsmama]

Absolutely, other people don't have to get the baby fed, so they don't get to criticize how you do it!
Meghan is the same way about eating for others.  I don't know what to tell you about that.  I think they just eventually outgrow that.   Just have your mother do the best she can and give her lots of love while feeding her and hopefully she'll take enough to get by until you get back.

[em_here]

Good luck!  I agree with Lynn, to continue swaddling sounds good, and be loving whilst feeding ie plenty of eye contact and stroking should start to give her good feed associations, sounds like you are doing a great job!

I am also the only one who could give abbi a bottle, it was hard, but when my mum looked after her for the day, she was surprised that despite a shaky start, abbi did take in enough, she didnt starve herself. Hope you have a lovely time at the wedding 

[aleasmom]

Thank you so much for the support. I am going to keep swaddling to feed. Finally she's starting to eat well, with very little protest, not as much crying and I want to change it?!? I'm going to keep doing it until it stops working. I'm trying not to get hung up on getting into bad habits. The LO needs to eat!!!

[grahamsmama]

I think you're right.  Do it until it doesn't work.  It may be a bad habit, but it's one of those that you'll eventually be rid of.