Impossible to feed almost 6 month old

[Anonymous]

Baby has always been mostly bottle fed, with a little breast feeding for dessert. The past week or so it’s been nearly impossible to feed him. He flails, wiggles, cries, or just throws his head back and stares at things. We’ve tried feeding him everywhere in the house, in a pitch black room, and on the floor. He will occasionally sit calmly and take a bottle so it doesn’t seem to be taste. Most times it seems like he takes a few swallows and gets distracted. He’s doing about an ounce every hour or so, and then not getting enough during the day to sleep at night.

Any suggestions? Or at least reassurances that this is just a phase?

[Anonymous]

Presuming you’ve ruled out him being sick or teething, it possibly could be silent reflux (sometimes symptoms don’t show right away). Have you changed the nipple flow? He may be getting frustrated with a small nipple opening and may be happier if you increase the size on his bottles so he can get more food more quickly.

[Anonymous]

Haha it's just the age. I wouldn't consider something medical right away. My DS is 7 months old and does the same thing. He's also my 4th and we've gone through this with all the others.

I will say that you should be thankful he's bottle fed - this one is the only one I have bottle fed but my others were breast fed and they did the same thing. Just with a nipple in the mouth. So imagine nursing and having a baby turn its head sharply towards every sound they hear while not releasing the nipple. Fun times.....hang in there, he'll focus and finish the bottle when he's very hungry there's just too much going on in the world around him now. Don't stress - you're doing great! You offer the food and he'll decide when he's ready to concentrate. You got this.

[Anonymous]

At that age, I did all nursing right when waking up or falling asleep, only in a dark room. Any other time it was impossible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At that age, I did all nursing right when waking up or falling asleep, only in a dark room. Any other time it was impossible.

I’m OP and that’s what I’m trying. I gave up after 45 minutes and pumped.

I hadn’t considered teething but I’m wondering if that’s it. I’m going to try upping the nipple flow and see if that at least helps reduce the amount of time spend sucking and in pain. But also good to know it’s just the age!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At that age, I did all nursing right when waking up or falling asleep, only in a dark room. Any other time it was impossible.

+1

If you think it might be teething, offer a ring or cold washcloth. If he chomps like crazy it’s probably that. Also my daughter prefers bottles when teething because we give her those cold and no one gets startled if she bites down on that nipple...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At that age, I did all nursing right when waking up or falling asleep, only in a dark room. Any other time it was impossible.

I’m OP and that’s what I’m trying. I gave up after 45 minutes and pumped.

I hadn’t considered teething but I’m wondering if that’s it. I’m going to try upping the nipple flow and see if that at least helps reduce the amount of time spend sucking and in pain. But also good to know it’s just the age!

Totally check the nipple level. DD was SO ticked off when she couldn’t eat fast enough around 6 months. She had to work too hard to get it and was hangry and frustrated (me too bc I didn’t realize what the problem was at first). Changing up the size made the difference and she was back to her happy self.