Baby on Hunger Strike!

[Anonymous]

The 5-month-old baby I nanny for has gone on a hunger strike. Just a little information--he went on a business trip with MB, and spent the days with grandparents. Grandparents couldn't get him to take the bottle, so they just waited for MB to return home to nurse.

He was exclusively BF before I started with my NF(up until 3.5 months) and took the bottle without much fuss. As of yesterday(since he wasn't given the bottle at all last week), he absolutely refuses to drink from the bottle.

I've tried just about everything, but it's making for a very unsatisfied baby(and an exhausted nanny who also has a 2.5 year old underfoot).

MB works from home, so she can/does come down to BF him if there is a problem, but this isn't something we want him to get into a habit of.

Any advice is welcomed!

[Anonymous]

Have you tried different milk temperatures? What about different nipple sizes?
Does MB have a nursing pillow? It might help the baby if he was being held as if he was nursing.

[Anonymous]

Maybe he is teething.

[Anonymous]

I've dealt with this before and honestly, the baby will quickly realize that the only way it's going to eat is if it takes the bottle. He got used to having no bottles for a week so is on a bottle strike. I've dealt with this and there was one day where the 2 month old I was watching was either refusing the bottle or only taking an ounce or two. By the end of the day, she was taking the full bottle. MB worked from home too but didn't come out to BF because we needed her to be used to the bottle.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the replies so far. Unfortunately, I've already tried different temperatures, the nursing pillow, and the different nipple sizes. He just screams as soon as I get the bottle in his mouth. Even when he is calmed down, he just ends up playing with the nipple and gagging on the milk. :/ I even turned on the fan(for distraction), tried walking him around, ssshing(in a soothing way).

I'll ask that MB not feed him when she comes down for lunch(which I believe she wasn't going to do anyway) and hopefully we'll have some success by the end of the day. He usually eats about 4-5oz every 2-2.5hrs, so I know he's hungry!!

[Anonymous]

I've dealt with this many times. The only thing to do is let me strike. He/she will realize that the only way to eat is via bottle. He/she will realize and get back on that. Stay in there OP. It can be tough but they will eat if they are hungry enough ( what pediatrician told MB's).

[Anonymous]

OP here.

He didn't eat anything from me yesterday and we have yet to try the bottle today(he's usually full when I get here at 730). Hopefully, he'll give in today!

[Anonymous]

How did it go? Any luck?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Not much. :/ He took a 4oz around noon for me yesterday, that was all. He hasn't eaten for me yet today, either. He's currently napping, but I'm honestly put of ideas!