weird eating

[Brandonsmom]

Hey everyone! I don't know if this is a teething question or bottle question. My 5 month old LO will take about half his bottle then he gets really fussy with it, bats it, or chews on it. He's been on solids for a month now and doing very well with them and we are on a 4 hour EASY. Does it sound like he just prefers spoon feeding over a bottle feeding or could it be teething. I've tried everything I know to get him to finish or even come close to finishing his bottle but nothing is working. He normally takes around 7 oz., 8 if he's real hungry. With a solid feeding he'll take about 6 oz. But no matter what now, he'll only take about 3/4 oz. and then he's done. This has been going on for a week now. He also doesn't act like he's hungry before 4 hours either. Keeping on the schedule isn't a problem. Any ideas?

[Spectra]

Wow sounds like what happened to my almost 5 month old a few weeks ago.  She use to take 6-7oz then she started taking 3oz and when she didn't want anymore she would bite down hard on the nipple.  Finally I bought some orajel, put it on her lower gums 15min prior to feeding.  That feed, after 2 weeks of 3oz feeds, she finally took a full 7oz!  Mind you she stopped first at 3oz, but I waited 5min, then tried again and she downed it.  Unlike before where even if I waited 15min she would refuse to try again.  I used the orajel for about 4 days, then I think the teething symptoms stopped and she is now back to 7oz feeds without orajel.  I hear the teething symptoms can come and go months before a tooth shall arrive.  She didn't exhibit any other symptoms.  I would really try the orajel though.

[Brandonsmom]

Hey, thanks alot, that's very interesting! I never thought of trying the orajel before the feeding. Did your LO do ok with solid feedings during teething?

[Spectra]

Well for fun I tried spoon feeding her formula lol, and she loved it that way, just for some reason didn't like the bottle, that's what made me really think it was some teething symptoms.  She's over it now, lasted about 2 weeks, no teeth, but I hear the symptoms can come and go like that.

[Brandonsmom]

Well, I did the orajel thing and it kinda worked, kinda didn't work!  He was more interested in holding the tube of orajel so I was able to give him all his bottle. He got so distracted by this "toy" in his hands that he ate 6 oz. Now in place of the orajel tube I gave him his rattle. It seems to work most of the time.  Thanks for your help spectra!

[Spectra]

haha, that's too funny, I guess it did work in a different way.