Why is my baby refusing the bottle? This is a troubling question many mothers ask themselves. It is likely that in such a situation there are some problems. How to deal with this situation a young mother needs to know in detail, since poor-quality components of the product, taste, diseases of children – these are all common phenomena, which should be solved immediately.
Table of contents:
- Peculiarities of the baby-feeding procedure
- Causes of the problem
- Diseases that contribute to food refusal
- Problems in weak premature babies
- What to do in such situations
- Frequency of feedings
- The duration of the feeding period
- The use of a sling
- Mommy rest
- Night feedings
- Refuse to be wrapped up
- When it is worth going to the doctor
Peculiarities of the baby-feeding procedure
The procedure of nursing the baby always involves a number of nuances. All of these points should be paid special attention to, because every breastfeeding woman may encounter them:
- On mixed feeding, it is required to select the right foods for the baby (the body must accept and digest the food).
- At a young age, complementary foods and complementary feeding are introduced gradually, and necessarily alternate with breastfeeding.
- Before introducing new products into the baby’s diet, the mother is advised to consult her doctor.
- Blends are selected based on the health of the child, as well as his nutritional needs.
- Adult food has more calories, which makes children satiated more quickly.
- You should not constantly experiment with the foods provided, since the young body does not adapt quickly to different tastes.
During the transition to a different diet (giving up breastfeeding), babies begin to teething, and in addition, indigestion and other causes that contribute to the rejection of food can appear. Only a specialist can tell you the exact cause after you have had a proper examination.
Young mothers are not advised to look for a way out on their own, as this can only make the situation worse, and subsequently affect the health of the baby.
Causes of the problem
If the infant does not eat milk formula well, then there is a manifestation of a certain deficiency. Let’s consider the main reasons why the baby may not eat well:
- There are congenital features in the baby’s body that interfere with the absorption of adult food;
- The baby’s bite does not allow the baby to take food through a pacifier, or this element is uncomfortable and needs to be changed;
- There are respiratory problems or poor appetite (adult food is more caloric);
- The formula contains unnatural or low-quality ingredients, which causes the body to reject the food;
- The baby has meteosensitivity, due to which there is a weak appetite;
- The baby is very curious, which does not allow him to consume and assimilate food well;
- There is pain in the tummy due to illness or indigestion during the transition from breast milk to formula;
- There are other body diseases that cause the child not to eat healthy foods;
- Your baby’s teeth are teething, which can be painful and cause you to stop eating.
It is not uncommon for premature infants to refuse formula or other adult foods because they are developmentally delayed due to their early birth.
If the baby does not eat well, this situation should alert the mother and provoke the identification of the true cause of the refusal to feed formula (this often requires consultation with a specialist).
Congenital peculiarities
The growing baby’s body requires proper attention when feeding, as there are often congenital peculiarities that do not easily accept food other than breast milk. Patience will have to be exercised to deal with these situations, as the transition to formula is stretched out.
A doctor should also be consulted beforehand to make sure there are no congenital diseases.
If the baby is completely healthy, it signals the need for longer complementary feeding. Also to the congenital characteristics of the child’s organism are hereditary factors, which are transmitted from the father or mother at the genetic level and appear from a young age.If there are differences in the organism and development of the baby, a specialist will help the mother to choose the best option for a complete transition to formula, and advise which products to feed.
Uncomfortable pacifier
If your baby often refuses a bottle of formula, the reason may lie in the presence of an uncomfortable nipple.
The following problems are evident here:
- The baby has a malocclusion;
- The hole in the nipple is too large;
- After breastfeeding, the baby cannot wean off the breast;
- The nipple is made of a material that is uncomfortable for the baby;
- The pacifier is too hard for the baby’s bite.
The solution to this problem requires a change in the feeding device. It is advisable to initially buy several different nipples to determine which one is better received when feeding. As a rule, babies refuse to feed in these situations if feeding has already taken place and the baby is not very hungry.
Poor breathing, poor appetite
If a newborn does not eat well, the mother should pay attention to his breathing. This may be the main reason for not eating. Respiratory problems usually signal the presence of a congenital disease or infection. Most often, if two of these symptoms are present, they are necessarily complemented by other signs. The baby may have a fever, increased urge to pee, rejection of food. If this symptom is detected, the woman needs to see a doctor immediately, because treatment may be required for the baby.
Poor-quality food
When breastfeeding, mothers need to regularly monitor the quality of the food provided to their babies. If your baby abruptly stops eating formula, it could be an indication of the following:
- The product has gone bad because the expiration date has expired;
- The composition of the mixture includes products that are poorly absorbed;
- There are artificial rather than natural ingredients;
- The baby food has gone bad due to improper storage;
- The composition of the components of the formula has changed.
All of these points can be traced if you pay attention to the date of manufacture, as well as the ingredients in the mixture. If the formula is prepared by yourself, you should also pay attention to the quality and freshness of the products used. The baby’s body does not immediately absorb new flavors, which is why children often refuse food in the initial stages of introducing other products.
Meteosensitivity
The baby does not eat well – this may indicate a change in the weather, since not all young bodies are strong and resistant to changes in atmospheric pressure. This point is usually inherited. If there are ancestors in the family who feel the change in weather conditions, then there is a chance to pass this feature to the child.
When this problem is identified, the mother needs to observe the child’s appetite on different days when the weather changes. If the changes affect the child’s appetite, you can blame the changes in pressure or temperature. If it does not depend on the weather, you need to look for another problem and consult a specialist.
Curiosity
Increased child interest can also be a reason for refusal of food. If a baby does not eat periodically, but his playfulness and cheerful mood are evident, curiosity may be a consequence of the refusal of food. There are no other symptoms in this case, and at the moment when the child is hungry, he will ask for it, eat and not be capricious.
Tummy ache
If the baby does not want to eat and is constantly capricious, there is a possibility that he has abdominal pain.
The reasons for the painful sensations are as follows:
- Indigestion (frequent feeding often leads to indigestion, from which painful sensations arise);
- Overfeeding (children need a certain amount of calories, their overabundance can manifest itself with abdominal pain);
- The presence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (children’s body is vulnerable, so that any ailment manifests itself quickly);
- Frequent stools or vomiting (these natural manifestations can also cause pain in the tummy).
In pain, the baby will behave capriciously, and a decreased appetite and frequent lack of moods will also be manifested. In addition, abdominal pain is often the cause of fever.
The manifestation of such symptoms is a reason to immediately contact a specialist for examination and consultation, after which it will be necessary to balance the child’s diet.
Diseases that contribute to food refusal
A number of illnesses can cause a baby to refuse to eat. Let’s look at the main problems that can cause eating disorders:
- Infectious, cold and viral diseases;
- Disorders in the digestive system;
- Pathologies of the child’s internal organs;
- Changes in the circulatory system;
- Severe bite and jaw defects.
Each individual disorder is characterized by the presence of a number of symptoms, including refusal to eat. Mothers should consult a specialist immediately and have their baby examined.
Teething
Another reason for not eating is the appearance of baby teeth. As you know, during this period, the baby has to experience serious pain. This natural process is accompanied by infrequent food intake. In order that the baby does not lose weight and gets the necessary number of calories, you need to feed him more often.
Also at this time, you should periodically visit the doctor to rule out the occurrence of other diseases. In addition, a specialist will monitor the correct growth of teeth and the development of the bite in the baby.
Other causes
There are also other problems if the baby does not eat well. Lack of mood or temporary malaise. These moments lead to a temporary cessation of feeding. Under these circumstances, only temporary refusals are identified, which are not characterized by periodicity and regularity, because of which the mother should not raise the alarm and immediately seek advice from a specialist. Here, too, there are no additional symptoms. However, when there is a characteristic periodicity in the presence of poor appetite, it is recommended to show the baby to the doctor for an unscheduled check-up.
Problems in weak premature babies
If a baby is born prematurely, this can be seen in its development and lack of weight. It is typical for such children to refuse to eat, as well as to be capricious.
The following problems are pronounced in them:
- A tendency to constant manifestations of disease;
- Weak immune system;
- Sensitivity to changes in weather conditions;
- Periodic lack of mood and appetite;
- Frequent natural defecation;
- Lack of interest and curiosity;
- The body does not accept most mixtures.
These problems are not common in all premature babies, but they are quite common, which is why a mother should show her baby to a specialist more often when giving birth early. Premature babies lag behind their peers in development, which is why a separate diet is chosen for them, so that the body can get stronger faster.
What to do in such situations
If the baby does not eat well, or he often has no appetite, the mother needs to pay special attention to this and understand the situation.
As a rule, the following should be done in such cases:
- Regularly monitor the health of the baby;
- Feed the baby more often, using a mixture;
- Choose higher quality products;
- Choose a formula suitable for your baby’s tastes;
- Consult a health care professional regularly;
- Carry out regular check-ups with the baby;
- Carry out therapeutic measures if necessary;
- Prevent illnesses and stomach upsets.
If the mother regularly follows these recommendations, then there will be no difficulties with the baby’s nutrition, as he will grow strong and healthy, while regularly consuming the amount of food necessary for his age.
Frequency of feedings
Feeding the baby with formula is done strictly on an hourly basis, just like breastfeeding the mother. Between each meal there should be a period of 3-3.5 hours. During the day, the baby should eat 6-7 times, which contributes to normal development. If the children refused to eat, then feeding should not be postponed. Mom should also give the baby a bottle on the hour.
As a rule, the frequency of feeding your baby depends on the following factors:
- The developmental level of the baby;
- The age the baby has reached after birth;
- Weight, and whether your baby has an appetite;
- The amount of product consumed per meal;
- Recommendations of the attending physician.
With these points in mind, the diet is built and maintained after the transition from breastfeeding to bottle-fed formula.
Mothers need to adhere to the diet of feeding, as it directly affects the development and health of children.
The duration of the feeding period
Calculating the amount of formula for a single feeding of your baby is based on a number of factors. Let’s look at the main things you need to pay attention to when calculating the length of a feeding:
- The age of the baby being fed;
- The number of calories present in the formula;
- The baby’s appetite (how quickly the baby gets full);
- The time the baby was fed the formula;
- The weight of the baby being fed;
- The presence or absence of health problems;
- Recommendations of a breastfeeding specialist.
When calculating the feeding period is required to take into account all of these points, which will create an optimal diet, when the baby gets the maximum nutrients for the body.
Feeding time for a healthy baby is 10-15 minutes, if the proper amount of food ends earlier, then the feeding stops until the next meal of formula.
The use of a sling
Here we are talking about a fabric device that allows you to move the baby, while simulating breastfeeding, which is beneficial for breastfeeding babies with infant formula. From birth and the first feeding, the baby gets used to the mother’s hands and breasts. A sling creates an imitation of mother’s support and breastfeeding, which allows the baby to better perceive the food provided for feeding.
Consider the main advantages of a sling:
- The baby more quickly transitions to formula;
- The baby is more confident in perceiving new tastes;
- The mother does not need to support the baby;
- The attachment allows the mother to be less involved in feeding.
Despite the positive qualities of the device, its frequent use is not recommended, as children quickly get used to the support, and later without it, may be capricious and refuse to eat.
Mommy rest
In the periods between feedings, which are 5-7 times a day, the mother can take a break and rest. This requires laying the baby to rest, or shifting the care of the baby to another person. When breastfeeding, rest is essential for a woman, especially if breastfeeding is not completely abandoned.
A break allows you to eat on your own and to distract yourself from constant care and nursing. It is recommended that a number of tips be followed in the process:
- Mom should be distracted by other things during breaks;
- Rest is required so that milk can recover better;
- Attention must be paid to personal nutrition.
The mother also has the opportunity to do household chores in between feedings. In addition, during these breaks a new formula is prepared for the next feeding.
If a woman will not give herself a rest, it may also adversely affect the health of the baby, because at a young age, children and their mothers have an invisible connection.
Night feedings
At a young age, for rapid development and growth, the baby’s body needs constant nourishment. Because of this, one breastfeeding has to take place at night. When children reach a certain age, this is gradually abandoned, but in the early stages of development this moment is mandatory. Feeding at night is required in the following situations:
- The baby is sick and undergoing treatment;
- The first months after birth, when more nutrition is required;
- In the middle of the night, the baby wakes up and naughty;
- There is a lack of weight;
- Other health problems are present.
It helps your baby to get rid of all these troubles by periodically feeding at night.
It is not recommended to make more than one feeding in the middle of the night, as the baby can quickly become accustomed to it and constantly demand to eat.
Refuse to be wrapped up
Mothers often take excessive care of their baby’s health without thinking that excessive clothing can affect health and appetite.
Constant excessive clothing leads to the following:
- The baby overheats, which causes him to eat poorly;
- The child experiences constant discomfort because of the heat;
- The immune system deteriorates;
- The risk of infectious diseases increases;
- The child is often naughty and shows discontent;
- Soreness in the child is present;
- He gets tired quickly and sleeps all the time.
It is necessary to equip your baby with clothing according to the weather conditions. If there is a high temperature outside, it is recommended to refrain from excessive clothing. Excessive care, as well as a negligent attitude, can lead to negative consequences, which later manifest themselves in the form of unpleasant symptoms or diseases.
When it is worth going to the doctor
The life of a young child often involves regular check-ups with specialists, but you should consider when mom needs to seek immediate medical help:
- The child does not take food well (no appetite).
- Other symptoms are present.
- There are congenital diseases (regular medical supervision).
- Frequent caprices and refusal of food offered.
- Problems with restful sleep.
- The baby often goes to the bathroom.
- Strange behavior is manifested.
- The child prefers to sleep most of the time.
Each of these moments is a reason to visit the doctor and get a consultation, as this will allow the mother to calm down if all is well, or to identify the abnormality in time and begin to eliminate it. Young children need constant care, as well as monitoring. Their body processes develop quickly, which makes it necessary to monitor everything so that they do not encounter serious abnormalities.
Breastfeeding presents a number of challenges for mothers. Babies often refuse to eat after breastfeeding. Any change requires the utmost attention, as the growing body is fragile and needs constant maternal care. If the mother cannot cope with the situation on her own, she needs to seek help from a specialist or follow a series of recommendations from doctors and experienced mothers.