Help! What to do when baby refuses milk?

[Anonymous]

Help!

For 2 months plus, our infant (who is now 6 months) has been refusing his formula milk. He has been on formula almost since birth. Initially, we thought it was teething-related but the PED insists (much to our dismay and fear) that such is rare and that babies never refuse feedings.

Thus, we have decided to switch from Enfamil Premium Lipil to Enfamil Prosobee -- soy formula. This is because we both are not milk drinkers. I am lactose-intolerant and my husband simply prefers the taste of soy. We hope that this is the problem, and that baby will embrace soy formula.

Again, however, the PED insists that the baby is too young to "present" an intolerance or any such problem. Nevertheless, we will try soy and see.

Any advice, tips, comments? The PED has been absolutely unhelpful and we're thinking of switching PEDs.

Our main concern is, of course, his weight and his need for nutrients. Literally, we have to wrestle his arms down and force the bottle into his mouth for him to drink -- and, then, he still fights. The PED believes it's entirely behavioral, but our baby was such a good boy and has never presented problems.

[Anonymous]

I would recommend posting this on the main parenting forum as more people would see it, people always seem to have lots of thoughtful responses for similar questions.

[Anonymous]

A friend's baby stopped taking the bottle, she was diagnosed w/ an eating disorder at 6 mos. Has a feeding tube now. Get him checked out ASAP so it doesn't come to that.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like uncontrolled reflux to me. Bottle refusal is common especially in silent reflux...which is particularily painful. I can't believe your ped hasn't thought of this. I say go see a pediatric GI (I like Dr. Pluta - office in Rockville and also practices at Georgetown Hosp). Then find a new ped!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like uncontrolled reflux to me. Bottle refusal is common especially in silent reflux...which is particularily painful. I can't believe your ped hasn't thought of this. I say go see a pediatric GI (I like Dr. Pluta - office in Rockville and also practices at Georgetown Hosp). Then find a new ped!

I forgot to add....don't hold your baby's hands down and force a bottle in his mouth!!!! Your going to give him a feeding aversion which could end up with tube feeding if you aren't really careful.

Run, don't walk to a GI to get that baby's condition addressed.

[Anonymous]

Can you try feeding him from a small cup? They are surprisingly able to do this. Maybe it has to do with the nipple?

And it is NOT too early to develop an intolerance to dairy or soy. I can't believe your Pedi wouldn't know that.