5 month old formula fed baby refuses bottle

If the child just started it, maybe its the nipple. Sometimes, the hole is to small or to big, and some have different shapes. Or maybe its the formula. It could be a number of things. I would keep a feeding diary, and the childs behaviour. If it doesnt get better, than you need to see a doctor, may its a problem with swallowing, a throat or tongue problem. There are so many things it could be. Just watch, than take the child to see a doctor. The child needs to have fluids.  Hope things get better.

I do not have an answer, however we are experiencing the same type of issue with my 5-month old daughter and wondering if you have had any luck with resolving this issue.

Thanks

Cristina

You might want to take him to the dr as soon as you can.  Maybe he has strep throat or might be swallowing air.  If he refuses to eat for too long he can get dehydrated badly and that means an IV full of water and dextrose just to keep him from worse things yet.

Talk to the dr soon though.  It could be something serious.

I would take my child to the pediatrician or find a nutritionist.  I believe most health departments have a nutritionist in the office, or at least they can help you locate one.  All of my children (I have five) have went through this stage at one time or another and I know how difficult it can be.  Most of the time it's something they outgrow but I always take them to be checked just to make sure.  You never know, and when it comes to your children I believe it's better to be super safe than sorry.  I wish you the best of luck.      

Hi there, my 5 month old is doing the exact same thing, but has done on and off since birth, which has been really frustrating and stressful.  For a couple of days he will drink all bottles, and then for a week he will refuse most bottles and only take in a fraction of what he should be drinking but strangely is still content with this, apart from when I try and make him drink, then he pokes his tongue out, chews of the teat, turns his head or throws himself back and gets cranky.  He is on reflux med's but still does this.  There is no consistency with his drinking and it drives me nuts, fortunately he's a fantastic sleeper.  Any other ideas? He has put on weight steadily apart from this month where he put on none at all, and mostly has wet nappies...... help!

My son is 5 months and he'll sometimes feed and sometimes wont feed. It was so stressfull in the beginning and it really got me down, but through research and talking to health visitors and other mothers I found that your baby knows what it needs. If He'll only feed 3-4oz for a day, he'll feed more the next. Unfortunatley we have funny feeding babies. Don't worry too much. As long as they're are putting on a good amount of weight it's all good really. The only advice I have from experience is try to use solid mixes with formula instead of water, I can get 1-2oz in him that way. Doesn't sound much, but when your baby wont feed it's like a miracle! I think as long as they sleep well, put on weight and eat some small amounts of solids it will all be fine. Good luck though!

My 9 month old daughter is also doing this.  I'll be lucky if she drinks 3 ounces a day.  Have you found a solution to this problem?

My six-month-old suddenly refused the bottle a week or two ago, after happily taking it (whether breastmilk or formula) since the day of his birth. I have scoured the internet and books to figure out what is causing his bottle-strike and how to possibly amend the situation, and given my "research", i believe teething is the culprit. something about the sucking motion on the bottle hurts his gums far worse than the breast or even a sippy cup. since he needs more milk than i'm naturally able to provide, my husband and i give him formula in a multitude of creative ways: 1. mixing it in with solids 2. using a sippy cup 3. using a regular cup (LO has immense interest in our drinking habits so i try to capitalize on his curiosity) 4. using a syringe (the type packaged with baby Motrin or Colic Calm) 5. using a medicine-dispenser pacifier (it holds 1/2 an ounce at a time) i think the key is consistency. he may only take a 1/2 ounce at a time, but it WILL add up over the course of a day. best of luck to you!