himeda@dataio.UUCP (Mark Himeda) (08/13/85)
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can anyone give us some advice based on real-life experiences with
a child that refuses formula? We have a four month old beautiful
baby girl. My wife has been breast feeding since birth and now that
its time for her to go back to work we're trying to wean her to
formula. We have tried the following methods:
o ALL brands of doctor recommended formula.
o Two types of nipples: Platex nurser and nuk orthodontic.
o Feeding with a cup: paper and other.
o Adding Karo syrup to sweeten a little.
All has failed. We have tried to be persistent for about twenty
minutes at each bottle feeding (my wife still breast feeds the last
feeding in the day) despite the kicking, rearing back, and LOUD
crying. This is becomming a very stressful situation for both
parents and child. It's extremely difficult to see your ordinarily
cheerful child in so much sadness (and hunger). We have talked to
several parents and nurses, but no one seems to have had an experience
with this severe a problem. Any suggestions or advice are welcome.
We will ALL be grateful. Please send mail to me as I don't seem to have
much time to read the netnews lately.
Thanks,
--
UUCP ~ ALOHA ~
uw-beaver!entropy!dataio!himeda M. Himedadjg@busch.UUCP (Joe Guilliams) (08/14/85)
In article <768@dataio.UUCP>, himeda@dataio.UUCP (Mark Himeda) writes: > HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > Can anyone give us some advice based on real-life experiences with > a child that refuses formula? We did not breast feed our daughter but did run into a similar problem when we switched her from formula to regular milk (about 9 mos - 1 yr). The milk tasted so much more bitter than the formula that she refused to take it. Our solution ? We mixed the two gradually. At first we put in about 1/8 bottle 2% milk and 7/8 bottle formula. Within about 3 weeks we had her on just milk. Again, I'm not familiar with breast feeding but if you could mix mom's milk with formula a little at a time it might do the trick. This assumes the bottle nipple would not be a problem. -- Joe Guilliams ..!ihnp4!we53!busch!djg The Anheuser-Busch Companies; St. Louis, Mo.
jmc@riccb.UUCP (Jeff McQuinn ) (08/14/85)
> > > HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > > Can anyone give us some advice based on real-life experiences with > a child that refuses formula? I had a similar problem with our second child. (Our first didn't have to face the bottle). The solution to my problem was not in the formula or the nipple (although he did prefer one type nipple over the others) but rather in the way I held him during feedings. It turned out that my wife held him a certain way during breast feeding and Eric had grown accustomed to it. I started holding him that way and he started to eat. But again we would have problems half way through the feeding. He wanted to switch sides! He was never entirely happy with the bottle but at least he would eat if I mimic'ed Mom. Our third is now 7 months old and I've had no problems with her. We started giving her a bottle on occasion a LOT earlier. One other thing that may help. Try freezing breast milk (if she's going to continue nursing when she can) instead of using formula. My wife works half time (5 days out of 2 weeks) and pumps when she's at work. Any excess or pumped milk is saved for when I feed the baby. This worked fine until Erin was about 5 months old, then demand exceeded supply so now she gets formula also (but she doesn't seem to mind). Jeff McQuinn just VAXing around
plw@drutx.UUCP (KerrPL) (08/14/85)
Goat's milk is to be the closes to human mother's milk. I enjoy goat's milk but can't stomach raw cow's milk. Many babies who can't tolerate formulas have been able to drink it. Patti Kerr ihnp4!drutx!plw
stevev@tekchips.UUCP (Steve Vegdahl) (08/19/85)
> HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > > Can anyone give us some advice based on real-life experiences with > a child that refuses formula? We have a four month old beautiful > baby girl. My wife has been breast feeding since birth and now that > its time for her to go back to work we're trying to wean her to > formula. We have tried the following methods: > > o ALL brands of doctor recommended formula. > o Two types of nipples: Platex nurser and nuk orthodontic. > o Feeding with a cup: paper and other. > o Adding Karo syrup to sweeten a little. > > All has failed. We have tried to be persistent for about twenty > minutes at each bottle feeding (my wife still breast feeds the last > feeding in the day) despite the kicking, rearing back, and LOUD > crying. Our first (who his now 3.75 years), refused to take formula from a bottle at ~3 months when we where attempting to prepare him for my wife going back to work. Here are three things that we tried, the combination of which worked for us. * Begin by mixing formula with expressed breast milk, first a small amount of formula, gradually increasing the amount over a period of several days. (Someone else had previously suggested this in response to your request.) * The first few times, have Daddy give the bottle, and have mommy be completely out of the house. For example, have Mommy go shopping for a couple of hours, and try the feeding in the middle of that period. Philip seemed to be able to sense when Mommy was around. * The first few times I tried this (successfully), I put Philip on his back on the floor and fed him the bottle sitting/kneeling next to him. I don't know why he was more receptive this way, but it sure made a difference at first. I'm not even sure why I tried it. After a few days, Philip got used to the idea of formula from a bottle in Daddy's arms, even if Mommy was around. Steve Vegdahl Computer Research Lab. Tektronix, Inc. Beaverton, Oregon
jtb@kitc.UUCP (John Burgess) (08/22/85)
(original article left out by mistake ... topic was
a baby who would NOT accept formula, circa four months ...)
We had similar, but not so severe problems only a few
short months ago.
Suggestion 1: do NOT let your wife give her (or was it him?)
the bottle; she'll smell the (natural) milk.
Suggestion 2: our baby was fussy about temperature - just
like the 3 bears (sorry, I can't help it), some are too hot,
some are too cold, others are just right!
Suggestion 3: start BEFORE she gets too hungry; its almost hopeless
after she start the incessant screaming - both because
she is then determined, and because you'll lose your cool!
Good luck.
... now if only I can get MY baby to eat real food ...
Ask me again in a few months!
--
John Burgess
ATT-IS Labs, So. Plainfield NJ (HP 1C-221)
{most Action Central sites}!kitc!jtb
(201) 561-7100 x2481 (8-259-2481)