https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:07:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2767919 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 11:58:08 +0000 codeitall 2767919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>UPDATE! We checked for lipase (nope) and checked for tongue ties (also nope) and finally set up an appointment with the early intervention nurse therapist (they see my son for sensory and speech therapy).</p> <p>She said at this point DD not only dislikes fake nipples, but has a negative association with them after trying them for the past month (and we picked the bottle she gagged the least on and have stuck with it the past two weeks, but no progress, so I think she's spot on).. Since DD's doing well with a spoon, she recommended keeping that up with mixed milk in it. The concern she had was just preventing her from getting dehydrated at daycare.</p> <p>Also, and I feel stupid about this one, she recommended the munchkin 360 cups. No fake spout with negative associations, flow on demand, and she already loves biting everything! So I pulled out our toddler's old one and she liked it! Not sure how much she managed to drink vs dribbling out, but she kept trying! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2767192 Fri, 11 Aug 2017 18:57:19 +0000 maddyz 2767192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a really hard time with bottles and then one day just shy of 5 months ds2 took one and looked at us all like "what's the big deal" during the won't take a bottle stage he nursed so much at night. Made me kinda crazy, but I knew he was getting what he needed.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766658 Thu, 10 Aug 2017 13:43:15 +0000 hellobeeboston 2766658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: oh i SO feel your pain. That was me and my LO. I'm pretty sure I posted about this a year and a half ago...</p> <p>You've gotten a lot of great advice already... but here was what worked for us.</p> <p>We tried almost every bottle under the sun, the ONLY one he would take (when he would drink at all) was the Lansinoh mOmma bottle... he would eventually reluctantly take a few ounces a day, our saint of a daycare teacher struggled with him daily for months, but she was persistent.... we also started very liquid oatmeal right away... so he would eat at least 4 oz of breastmilk off of a spoon milked with oatmeal. he loved it! this isn't the best thing to hear, but finally at around 8/9 months he started drinking from a bottle more regularly, ha! little stinker. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766580 Thu, 10 Aug 2017 11:01:05 +0000 Adira 2766580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: What kind of bottles have you tried? I've heard the Avent Natural ones are really good for breastfed babies. We used Avent on our breastfed babies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766542 Thu, 10 Aug 2017 09:20:17 +0000 SweetiePie 2766542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is almost 3 and back when he was 4 months my ped told me I could start solids.<br /> So for at least 2.5 years they've said 4mos is fine.<br /> BUT it wasn't a substitute for a bottle. It was supplemental and more for practice. So I wouldn't be skipping milk for it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766539 Thu, 10 Aug 2017 09:17:41 +0000 MrsSCB 2766539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Six months is not a hard rule -- it's more about the child displaying readiness. And if you read anything about "open gut" in infants being a reason to hold off on food, please disregard that. It's not supported by science. FWIW, we did wait until about six months, and in retrospect I wish we had started sooner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766507 Thu, 10 Aug 2017 08:17:51 +0000 peaches1038 2766507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: the silent gagging may indicate that the nipple flow is too fast or she has a tongue and/or lip tie that makes it difficult for her to getter mouth around the nipple. We used preemie nipples for the entire time LO used a bottle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766503 Thu, 10 Aug 2017 08:07:21 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2766503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: Actually the daycare told me to STOP coming. They were the ones that noticed the baby would just refuse the bottle knowing that I was coming. </p> <p>I agree with others to try to scald the milk for a week or so and then go from there. Unfortunately before we figured out that I needed to scald, the baby was trying a bottle for over 3 weeks. So she had a really bad negative association with the bottle and with the milk. So it took her time (and letting her get hungry enough) that she took it. </p> <p>One other tip would maybe be to pick the 2 or 3 bottles that you *think* work the best and stick with them. Rotating through so many never lets the baby get adjusted. Like with solid foods, a child has to try something I think 8-10 times before really determining if they like or dislike. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766502 Thu, 10 Aug 2017 08:02:55 +0000 mrswin 2766502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: We had a similar issue with my DD when I went back to work at 5 months old. I worked an hour away so there was no way I could feed her until I got home. </p> <p>What we eventually figured out was<br /> 1. I had lipase in my milk that made it smell really metallic (not soapy like everything I had read) so I ended up having to boil any milk before freezing but luckily she would drink it from the fridge the next day so I only usually froze milk on Friday's<br /> 2. She liked her milk HOT! not warm, we heated it up well past the recommended temp but not scalding and she liked it best.<br /> 3. She liked the cheapest, most old school bottle with a latex nipple, she wanted nothing to do with silicone nipples! </p> <p>I would see if it is a lipase issue and then work from there :happy: it is so hard when they are being stinkers and won't eat while you are at work </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766491 Thu, 10 Aug 2017 06:58:04 +0000 gotkimchi 2766491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: she ended up taking her to a chiropractor at a birth center who saw it and then was referred to a pediatric dentist to release it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766477 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 23:33:34 +0000 codeitall 2766477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks ladies, you always have great points :) My only real complaint about having to feed her at daycare is that it limits my job search haha! My current job is super flexible right now about it though.</p> <p>I have a bit of a language barrier with the daycare ladies, so I usually rely on my husband to clear anything up. He clarified when he picked the kids up that they used our cereal mixed with my milk, not 'food' so it wasn't as bad as I thought.</p> <p>We do try the bottle every day, even weekends. I've personally tried feeding her intermittently, swapping the bottle, or dedicated feeds with just the bottle, but she seems to struggle physically with it. She treats it like a guinea pig drinking from its water bottle... @gotkimchi: who checked for a tongue tie? Is that just a doctor thing? I didn't think she could have a tongue tie and still latch easily for me, so that gives me hope!</p> <p>@Mrs. Pickle: Thanks for finding that, it was a large part of my problem thinking it went against doctor recommendation.</p> <p>@Meso: Thank you. I hope it doesn't take that long, but I love hearing that someone else made it work! I'm working up a pretty decent oversupply myself since she snubs what I pump and I still end up feeding her :silly: </p> <p>@babybean404: I'll try having her face out next time, she just always seems to gag silently on the bottle so I've tried to closely watch her. Maybe I'll try in front of the mirror for added distraction ;)</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: Did you just tell the daycare you'd be there every day for lunch and not to worry about trying the bottle at all? Part of my problem is the unpredictability of when I'll be summoned, so maybe if I just established I'd be there at lunch every day that would work better.</p> <p>@peaches1038: I'm going to look into that lipase thing now, I hadn't considered it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766455 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 21:14:38 +0000 DesertDreams88 2766455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: true true... but I think we all agree that is FAR from optimal. Also I think at 4 months, 8 hours day OR night is too long of a stretch, unless completely asleep for the entire time. But I guess there's always the exception!! It just would make me as mama extremely uneasy, as the OP seems to be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766442 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 20:36:59 +0000 caterw 2766442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: that would be my suggestion too- mix breast milk with a little cereal/ puree so LO is getting at least some milk and some calories. I would probably still go nurse once a day if your work is OK with it though since 8 hours is a long time for a little baby to go without a proper meal. Sorry you have to go through this- my second LO still hates bottles at 9 mo and it is terribly frustrating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766437 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 20:16:38 +0000 peaches1038 2766437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you think you might have high lipase?<br /> <a href="http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/lipase-expressedmilk/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/lipase-expressedmilk/</a></p> <p>Paced bottle feeding helped my guy get used to switching between breast and bottle. I printed these out and gave them to the teachers </p> <p><a href="http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.mamanatural.com/paced-bottle-feeding/" rel="nofollow">https://www.mamanatural.com/paced-bottle-feeding/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766436 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 20:13:25 +0000 babybean404 2766436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just went through this with my 6 month old. She didn't eat more than an ounce at daycare the first week. I didn't go to rescue her but they knew they could call me. She started reverse cycling. I decided that if she wanted to eat at night she would get a bottle, so I pumped while my husband fed her. She protested the first two nights, then started taking it! This is her second week at daycare, she's taking three bottles a day, and last night she slept through the night again. She does better when facing out, being bounced a little, and being firm with the bottle. Comotomo bottles seem like o help too. Don't lose hope! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766434 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 20:07:34 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2766434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: some babies do completely reverse cycle and simply will not eat during the day away from Mom and make up the calories over night. </p> <p>I've been in this situation (twice). First time I finally had to stop going to rescue him. He learned he could easily wait from 8am to noon to feed. The second time I never went at lunch and we suspected lipase so we boiled milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766418 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 19:18:41 +0000 DesertDreams88 2766418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>- I would keep persevering with bottles at least once if not twice a day.<br /> - baby needs milk in the 8(?) hours of daycare. Food doesn't replace it, not to that level, not at that age.<br /> - what about mixing breastmilk with cereal or stage 2 purees (so then it would be really thin like stage 1) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766417 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 19:18:38 +0000 gotkimchi 2766417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think food at 4.5 mo is ok! That was the recommendation from my ped for my current baby (2016). Had changed from 6mo from my first baby in 2014. Have you checked for tongue tie? That's why my neice couldn't take bottle, had the tongue tie revised and she takes them fine now! she breastfed fine it was just bottles she couldn't latch</p> <p>ETA while my sister worked and her lo wouldn't take bottle we tried EVERYTHING including food/pedialyte/any bottle ever made/syringe/straw/spoon etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766399 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 17:21:32 +0000 Meso 2766399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>so i had a similar situation. my LO started daycare when she was 3.5 months and refused to take a bottle, she would take an ounce at the most. i worked close enough to daycare to nurse her when she wouldn't take the bottle or only drank an ounce, so i went twice a day. at 6 months, we introduced solids and she loved it, we would mix purees with oatmeal cereal and 2 oz of breast milk, and i would still go and nurse her if she didn't take her bottle. around 7 months she started to take the bottle half of the time and drink more and more, and i went to nurse her less and less. at 8 months, she started to eat two meals and drink two 4 oz bottles and i no longer needed to go and nurse her. </p> <p>i had an oversupply, so i was able to pump in the morning and at night to have enough for bottles, and the time i would have spent pumping at work, i just nursed, so it wasn't taking away any time from work. for me, it was worth the peace of mind to nurse her and know she wasn't hungry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766393 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 16:55:48 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2766393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Cereal at that age isn't ideal; however, I did it too. In my case my baby was maxed out on formula and needed to put on weight.</p> <p>Have you tried feeding her a bottle? Maybe if you break the boob feeding she will take a bottle from you and others. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766388 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 16:19:26 +0000 gingerbebe 2766388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally I would stop going to rescue her at lunch time to feed and hope she learns to take a bottle out of hunger. That said, you run the risk of a reverse-cycling baby who wants to nurse at home with you for all her milk needs and keep you up a lot at night. If you're fine with that, shrug. </p> <p>I would personally want my child to take solids while at daycare if they refused to take any kind of milk for the hydration and electrolytes that thin stage 1 fruit and veg purees could offer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766348 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 14:29:48 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2766348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh tough situation and I feel for you! It is a little disappointing that they fed her solids without getting the true go ahead. I wasn't planning on giving my son cereal, but ended up buying some when he ended up being a major bottle refuser, so I could mix some with my milk to try to get a little more in him. He basically never truly took to bottles, aside from taking maybe 3 oz max in the whole time I was at work. But, he was older when I went back to work, so I had that on my side! I also agree with some responses that it isn't a good idea to come nurse her at daycare unless you are ok with continuing to do it. I truly feel your pain though because of how difficult it is to be away from your baby and know all he or she wants is the breast and you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766340 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 14:22:35 +0000 erinbaderin 2766340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's fine that she's eating some puréed food - we started my older son on purées at 4 months (skipped cereal completely). That being said, I wouldn't be happy that they did it without you saying it was ok and providing the food, and I also don't think, at 4.5 months, they should be going all day with just purees and no milk, so I think you're still going to need to figure the bottle thing out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766339 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 14:22:07 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2766339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The mom in this article was in a similar situation to yours.</p> <p><a href="https://scienceofmom.com/2015/05/14/starting-solids-4-months-6-months-or-somewhere-in-between/" rel="nofollow">https://scienceofmom.com/2015/05/14/starting-solids-4-months-6-months-or-somewhere-in-between/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766337 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 14:19:07 +0000 MenagerieMama 2766337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be really mad if they gave my LO solids without my strict permission. Your LO might be refusing bottles longer because she knows the boob will eventually come! Have you tried a week or two without rescuing her for a feed?</p> <p>I just went back to work and my 3 mo LO isn't taking a bottle yet. So I somewhat feel your pain! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766333 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 14:15:11 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2766333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm trying to find the link, but I believe the AAP recently changed their recommendations for solids from 6 months to between 4-6 months.</p> <p>That being said introducting solids should be your decision, not daycares. So I wouldn't be pleased in this situation.</p> <p>This isn't from the AAP but it says introducing solids between 4-6 months may reduce allergies.</p> <p><a href="https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/at-a-glance/prevention-of-allergies-and-asthma-in-children" rel="nofollow">https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/at-a-glance/prevention-of-allergies-and-asthma-in-children</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4mo-daycare-feeding-woes#post-2766327 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 14:10:13 +0000 codeitall 2766327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Let's preface this with the fact that I love my daycare, they are undoubtedly the kindest, most flexible and persevering ladies ever to deal with my kids.</p> <p>My 4.5 mo DD has been there two weeks. But she still absolutely refuses to drink from a bottle.</p> <p>Every day I pump at work and then wait for the text "She will not eat. Please come feed her." I only work 8 minutes away, so we make it work. We've tried different bottles, different nipples, different people feeding her, different temperatures, different sippy cups, even spoons and straws. Nothing but the boob will do.</p> <p>My lovely daycare ladies suggested trying pureed food. She's 4.5 months, so I said I'll send cereal. I mean, you're supposed to wait till 6 months, right?</p> <p>Today I was waiting for the typical cry for help when I got a picture of her eating some gerber food with a spoon. She ate it! Buuuuuuut, should she?</p> <p>TLDR: Is it bad that my bottle-hating 4.5 mo is being fed purees at daycare instead of me driving from work to feed her every day? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-lo-stop-eating-purees-1#post-1533960 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 09:56:51 +0000 Alivoo01 1533960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is about 8.5 months, and daycare asked me to stop sending purees to school because he wasn't a fan of them. He would however, gobble up whatever solids they gave him. Works for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-lo-stop-eating-purees-1#post-1533873 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 09:32:07 +0000 bisous 1533873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay! This is why I love HB. So hard to know what's normal. I will definitely start sending her with more finger foods! </p> <p>@jessibear: Hahaha. This cracked me up. I have so had some moments like that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-lo-stop-eating-purees-1#post-1533861 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 09:28:06 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1533861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would def start sending other stuff along with purées. Westilldo some purée at 14 months for extra fruit. </p>