https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 05 May 2026 16:40:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1793828 Fri, 01 Aug 2014 09:20:29 +0000 Pirouette 1793828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our issues around that time were more with BFing, but she went on a huge nursing strike at that age. I absolutely second the not forcing it - maybe even try to stretch out the feedings a little because absolutely the last thing you want is to make her want it less. Also, let her play with the bottle, make it a little more like an activity.</p> <p>We did this for nursing, but it could help...try some skin to skin! a little naked time for the two of you before a bottle feed may help relax her a bit.</p> <p>We've gone through a lot of periods where my LO wouldn't eat (bottle or nursing) and she's had a lot of times when she's taken like 5oz during the day. Sometimes it's teething, sometimes it's developmental stuff, sometimes it's her tummy, and sometimes we don't know what it is and it goes away. But she's growing well and finds a way to make it up. That said, she continues to have at least some wet diapers, so if you think she is getting dehydrated, definitely call your doc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1793490 Fri, 01 Aug 2014 06:21:40 +0000 Mae 1793490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Callalily: yep we did get the fixed so it shouldn't be that for her. i don't know when i'm going back to work (whenever i find a job??) so i really need to fix the prob asap so that when i do get a job she can start daycare! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1793408 Fri, 01 Aug 2014 02:16:40 +0000 littleredhairedgrl 1793408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we take a ton of breaks with A who is currently 11wks (2wks adjusted). she eats almost completely upright and away from me so she doesn't get to comfy and fall asleep. and I burp her every 1/2 ounce or at least try to. when she starts freaking out singing loudly and bouncing seem to help. but sometimes she just will only take 1oz of the full 3oz. she eats between 15 and 20oz a day and as long as we are a bit closer to 20 and plenty of wet diapers I'm ok with that. good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1793389 Fri, 01 Aug 2014 00:46:45 +0000 Woolly Mammoth 1793389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When LO would fuss and refuse to latch even though he was hungry, the thing that worked for us was white noise. It would get him to calm down and focus on nursing. Might be worth a try! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1793342 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 22:47:05 +0000 lady grey 1793342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: I agree with @spaniellove, try using a syringe. I have done this to get my LO to take pedialyte when he is sick and doesn't want to drink anything. It takes a while. but you can slowly get some fluids in her.</p> <p>Also, I heard this trick for getting babies to drink in really difficult situations: let her watch tv. I would never normally recommend that for babies of course, but this situation sounds extreme and very stressful, so it may be worth a try! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1793301 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 22:06:05 +0000 Callalily 1793301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really have no idea :( There's a lot of back-arching, gulping, and gassiness, so I'm assuming something refluxy. I've eliminated dairy and that didn't help. Solids have been a nightmare, as you can imagine, so we've actually had to take a break from those this week. </p> <p>I can't remember, did you get her posterior tongue and lip tie fixed? Our daughter has both of those and we didn't get them fixed because she used to drink from a bottle with minimal issues when she was really young. Now I'm wondering if they're contributing to the problem.</p> <p>And I can definitely under your concerns about daycare, we can't leave her with anyone else anymore because they just say she's not hungry. I'm in Canada so on leave for a year, but I don't see this magically disappearing in four months! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1793230 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 21:17:16 +0000 Mae 1793230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: Yea we do usually burp every 1-2oz (1 oz formula, 2 oz bm), although on the really really bad feeding days I usually will do more like 2-3 because very often if she's taking the bottle and i stop her to burp she won't take it again. :/ </p> <p>@CObee: You know I was thinking that tonight but my yoga ball has gotten sort of deflated. I should make hubby blow it up tonight!</p> <p>@LovelyPlum: thank you! and you too! you've had your own share of issues with the mspi!</p> <p>@Callalily: the dangling something miiiiight work. I think that is maybe why dancing around with her/bouncing her sometimes works because she gets distracted looking around and forgets she's eating lol. Do you have any idea why your LO won't eat? I just refuse to believe there isn't a REASON we can fix. I'm worried when I send her to daycare they won't work as hard as I do to feed her! (how could they possibly?)</p> <p>@Chuckles: thanks :) I've never been able to get her to eat when she is tired or sleeping, although if this continues I suppose I might try again. I think she (usually) eats well at her MOTN feed because she has a really great first stretch (like 7-8 hrs) so I think she's super hungry maybe? although i guess she was super hungry by late afternoon today (she'd have to be!) and she didn't want to eat so maybe that theory is out the window haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1793216 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 21:07:36 +0000 Chuckles 1793216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No real tips - just wanted to send support. Feeding issues are so tough. The only thing I noticed is that the MOTN feed went ok, so you might want to try a dream feed before you go to bed. When I was worried about my LO's intake, that used to work sometimes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1793173 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 20:50:51 +0000 Callalily 1793173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Me again, haha, with the same baby at 8 months :) Our bottle feeding sessions are now an elaborate, theatrical collection of tricks. I'll just say everything we do in case any of it is helpful! </p> <p>She will only eat when laying flat. I know that's not recommended, but it's seriously the only way possible for us. </p> <p>We burp every 30 mls, and burping involves bouncing her upright for like five minutes, and then sitting her down somewhere firm so her legs press into her tummy. At 150-180 ml per bottle, this means it takes absolutely forever. As a plus, I'm quite fit now from all the bouncing! </p> <p>The most helpful thing for us has been to dangle something interesting above her before I try and get the bottle in. That way she is already distracted and just starts eating because she's so interested in the thing I'm dangling. For us it has to be something new and non toy-like, e.g. my hairbrush. </p> <p>I hope some or all of that helps you, and good luck!! By doing all of those I manage to get 25 oz per day into her even though she really doesn't want it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1793170 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 20:49:59 +0000 LovelyPlum 1793170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thinking of you and F, lady. G got prescribed Zantac today, too. Hoping it is your ticket to better eating! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1793142 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 20:33:30 +0000 Applesandbananas 1793142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: hope the bedtime feeding went well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1793140 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 20:32:52 +0000 CObee 1793140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: my baby girl was colicky and would often get herself too worked up to eat - in those cases the only thing that would work would be to bounce on an exercise ball gently while holding and feeding her. We were breast feeding but maybe worth a try with the bottle? Hope you (and she) figure it out soon!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1793071 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 20:07:34 +0000 spaniellove 1793071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is kind of late and hopefully you've found a solution by now, but when the reflux was at its worst the on call ped suggested the syringe. I also find it helpful to make him stop and burp (or at least stop and sit up) every ounce or half ounce when things aren't good. The bad days are so hard. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1792850 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:40:32 +0000 Applesandbananas 1792850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: walled you &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1792819 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:30:23 +0000 Mae 1792819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: i'm not sure how i could keep pouring milk into the paci... seems hard for more than a few ml... but maybe </p> <p>@MsLipGloss: nope she isn't. not much in, not much out. </p> <p>@Mrs Green Grass: she usually eats 26-28 ounces/day without too much fuss so this is a huge departure for her. i only try to feed her for like 3 min. she flips her shit and i try one new tactic then stop. Her "norm" is 4-6 ounces every 3 hours. </p> <p>@Applesandbananas: she's scared of water. my kid is weird lol. Also I have been considering trying to nurse her. She hasn't nursed now in 3.5 weeks so i'm not even sure she'd remember how-- and I'm also scared of setting us back feeding wise... but if she continues this tomorrow I might do that because getting 18 oz from me is better than 11 oz from a bottle. </p> <p>@Anagram: Hm. I might try that tonight if she won't eat before she goes to bed. Generally when she falls asleep she stops sucking. We put her to bed with a paci but when she falls asleep it falls out. I've tried feeding her super sleepy before and she just leaves her mouth hang open-- but might be worth a shot. And we already tried eliminating dairy way back in week 3 when we were having other issues and didn't see any difference. Doc today also said she doesn't think that is it because her stool is totally normal and because she's happy between feeds and because (until the last 3 days) she mostly would eat happily and only flip once or twice a day. But the doc did say that if the zantac doesn't work after a week or two i could try a dairy free/soy free formula and see if that makes a difference-- but she just didn't really think it was that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1792789 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:20:55 +0000 Anagram 1792789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: have you tried feeding her asleep? as in, completely asleep? We used to put LO to asleep sucking on a paci (before 3 months, she wouldn't really accept a paci) and then we'd switch the paci for a bottle after she fell asleep and she would drink a few ounces then.</p> <p>Also, sorry to keep pressing the issue....but have you thought about eliminating dairy and soy, just to see? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1792768 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:13:31 +0000 Applesandbananas 1792768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've heard of people nursing their babies in the bath tub to move past a nursing strike, could you try that with the bottle?</p> <p>Could you try nursing her? I know you'd decided to EP, but maybe she'd get some milk that way? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1792763 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:11:27 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1792763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would think you might need to back off a little bit and keep things positive so that she doesn't develop a feeding aversion. I would offer every 2 hours, feed for 20 minutes, then stop. Don't push it if baby is fighting it, just try again later. Half sleep feeding worked really well for us. It was rare for LO to take more than 2 oz, and in a day 18 was our goal but we didn't always hit it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1792762 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:11:19 +0000 MsLipGloss 1792762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is she still having plenty of wet diapers? If she is, I wouldn't worry too much, and just try to roll with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1792754 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:08:20 +0000 sorrycharlie 1792754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: the only thing that crossed my mind that you may not have tried..does she have more than one binky? I've heard the trick for medicine to poke a hole in the end and they suck the meds right in. maybe try that with her formula or breastmilk? worse case, she freaks, and replace with another suitable binky without a hole? </p> <p>I wish I had better tips! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sos-any-tips-to-get-a-baby-to-eat#post-1792744 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 17:59:51 +0000 Mae 1792744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I posted about this yesterday (<a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-the-hell-is-going-on-with-my-kid-feeding-issues#post-1792561" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-the-hell-is-going-on-with-my-kid-feeding-issues#post-1792561</a>) but cliffs notes: My baby is exclusively bottle fed (breast milk and formula) and she has been refusing the bottle more and more. Every day has gotten worse this week and today she was prescribed zantac for reflux. She's been dosed but obviously it is too soon to see improvement. </p> <p>For right now though? She has barely eaten all day. It is 7pm here and she has battled me through every meal except her MOTN feed. She's eaten a total of 11 ounces all day. Even short term-- that cannot be good right? I mean she's got to be dehydrated. But she just WILL NOT EAT. I've tried both breast milk and formula. I've tried walking and bouncing her. I've tried rocking her. I've tried feeding her when she's just woken from a nap and barely awake. I've tried waiting for her to wake up a bit. I'm considering busting out a syringe and feeding her 5ml at a time but it might make my head explode to do it that slow. </p> <p>Any tricks to get a baby to eat when they just... won't? I'm seriously losing my mind today. Like, this might be the worst day I've had as a parent losing my mind. Help. :(</p> <p>ETA: she's 11 weeks old-- weight is good. she's always been a fussy eater but I've always won the battles until today. this is by far the least she's ever eaten. also she is all about her binky today, but is not amused when i try a quick change between that and a bottle. </p>