Bottle-Feeding Problems

Bottle-Feeding Problems

Breastfeeding is the best for feeding infants, but sometimes the mother may have to mix between breastfeeding and Bottle-Feeding or rely on Bottle-Feeding completely, depending on the condition of the child and the mother,

  Among the problems that may occur is that the infant refuses Bottle-Feeding, and in this article, we will talk about this problem and try to offer some solutions to it.

Signs of a baby rejecting a bottle

• Crying when seeing a feeding bottle close to his mouth.
• He shook his head repeatedly to show his rejection.
• Sleeping while breastfeeding.
• Spit out and do not swallow the milk.
• Coughing.
• His mouth does not close on the nipple of the bottle.
• He closes his mouth when the nipple is inserted, but does not suck out the milk.
• Milk comes out a lot from the mouth instead of swallowing it
• Not feeding the expected amount.

Breastfeeding problems and how to treat them

The problem of misunderstanding associated with child hunger:

Some mothers think that their babies are hungry by sucking their fingers, but this is not necessarily a sign of hunger

This sign may mean that your baby is feeling anxious, bored, or tired, so when you try to feed him, he is refusing milk, because he is not hungry.

Therefore we advise you not to insist on feeding him in this state, and to wait until he is hungry.

How much milk a baby needs:

The mother relies in calculating the amount of milk that her infant needs on a personal guess, or a professional opinion, which sometimes does not give accurate results,

And because each child differs in the amount he needs, be sure not to insist on feeding your baby, until you are sure that he is hungry.

Baby distracted:

When the child reaches four months or more, he begins to explore what is around him and is preoccupied with some things, such as toys or television, which distracts him from eating milk,

 So at mealtime, make sure to provide calm in the room to feed him, and remove what might be distracting him.

 Child fatigue:

The child refuses food sometimes because he feels tired, or because he does not take enough sleep, so make sure to organize his eating, sleeping and feeding schedules before feeling tired.

Night feeding:

When the child is six months old, avoid feeding him at night, because he may depend on food until he can sleep, and he refuses milk for the rest of the day, so we recommend that you encourage him to breastfeed during the day.

Additional foods:

The appropriate age for the child to eat additional foods, after reaching six months, and these foods may saturate the child and refuse milk, so we advise you not to provide additional foods for him, until after reaching six months.

My child refuses to breastfeed what should I do?

Infants differ in their responses to bottle feeding, so try one of these methods based on the experiences of some mothers:

1-Have another person feed your baby while you are not around:

 Because if the mother is in front of the child, he will only accept breastfeeding, but when he knows that you are not in the place, he may accept the bottle.

2-Use the right feeding bottle:

There are many types of feeding bottles, so choose what suits your baby, and you may even use those that resemble nipples, as they are very effective when used.

3-Warming the bottle before feeding your baby:

Offer your baby warm formula.

4-Putting the bottle next to the baby’s toys:

This is one of the important steps that helps the baby get used to bottle feeding, and you can also put water, juice, or breast milk inside the bottle.

5-Use alternative means:

If the previous methods do not work, you can use alternative means, such as a dropper, spoon, or cup, to feed your baby, depending on his age.

İmportant notice:

The content of the submitted articles, including all text, graphics, images, and other materials, is provided for educational purposes only.

The information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice or professional diagnosis.

Moreover, the information on this website should not be taken as a final medical advice in relation to any case or individual situation.

We strongly recommend that you always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health service provider with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition, your general health, or the health of your child.