Hi. I am a mom of a 4 month old boy. He has always been a good eater but since about three month's old, he started playing with his bottle at almost every feeding!!!! He'll eat a few ounces and then push the bottle away, or play with it in his mouth. He will sometimes ever cry if you try to give it to him again after he pushes it out. I've been spending up to an hour at each feeding to try to get him to eat but that doesn't even work. He won't even eat a full bottle after a full night's sleep! (he sleeps from 9pm to 6am, which is great) but I would think he'd be hungry after not eating for 9 hours. The only time he will eat is his last feeding before he falls asleep. He's a healthy 14 lbs. I am just concerned since all I keep reading is that he's supposed to be eating around 30+ oz per day but only eats around 20! He has been drooling a lot but I don't feel any teeth coming in yet. Has anyone had this kind of issue??? any thoughts or suggestions??
I would see about starting baby cereal with him. I would make it kind of runny so he does not choke on it. Spoon feed it to him slowly, and see how it takes to it. Maybe he will love it!
It is both common and normal for this to be happening. The teething process takes a LONG time! Both of my kids started showing signs of teething around 4 mos, but didn't get any actual teeth until about 9 mos.
Could there be a chance that he's ready for a faster nipple? I had forgotten that I was using Slow Flow nipples with my son, and he was getting very disinterested in his 4-6 oz bottles. I switched to Medium and Fast, and now he's finishing his entire 6-8 oz bottles! Couldn't hurt to try it.
Hi J., Yes, your son is most likely teething even if you don't feel a tooth. I am sure he will eat when he is hungry. Keep try ing, but I'm sure he is fine :-) Grandma Mary
I think he has started teething. Follow his lead. Let him eat when he is hungry. Do NOT force him to eat when he clearly doesn't want it. My twin boys, now 13 months old went through similar "food strikes" and no harm was done. Offer the bottle more often but trust he will eat when he needs it.
If he has wet diapers, a few a day, is alert, sleeps - then don't worry. Don't spend an hour fretting and feeding him. If he is not hungry, leave it and play with him. Babies love attention - singing songs, going outside to look at leaves and watching other children play.
Sounds like to me he's not hungry. Maybe his schedule needs to change a bit. Just because you read something does not mean that it is true for all babies. Some eat less and some eat more. As long as he is gaining weight and has plenty of wet and poopy diapers he should be fine. Don't force him to eat more than he can handle.
Try switching the nipples if that's the issue... But from my experience, I wouldn't worry too much if he's developing normally and putting on weight as he should. My daughter wouldn't drink more then 4 ounces per bottler til she was about 18 months...She is now a VERY tall and chubby 4 yo. Some people have different needs and appetites at different times. As long as the doc says he's growing well, don't sweat it. You're doing a good job
it is really scary when a chile starts to eat less, but it is all normal. 4 months is a little early, but maybe you can try the baby cereal. make it really watery and see if he will eat that. maybe this is his way of saying i want something else. good luck.
