[~Supernova~]

I'm going to preface by saying I've seen my GP, my paed, and my CHN. DS will not drink bottles. We spent the last 3mths feeding him when he was asleep. He won't do that anymore. He eats...a LOT. He nearly eats as much as my 7yr old. And before someone suggests feeding him less food, I've tried that, he still won't drink formula.

I am seriously stressed, and at a total loss. I add formula to EVERYTHING now, his weetbix, his lunch etc etc. What do you do when your baby flat out refuses formula???

Should I give him vitamins? He eats a wide variety of meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetables. He loves his water. But formula? He'll scream his head off in refusal

He has been formula fed for many months, so it's not like it is new.

All the medical advice is to just keep persevering, but he refuses and goes mental

All the professionals, and all the books tell me he needs formula until 1yr, but what do you do when they just won't? He hasn't gained much weight in the last few months, but he is growing in length, happy, and hitting all his milestones. He is almost walking.

I really need advice please.

[ingrid74]

What about cows milk? What about from a sippy cup rather than from a bottle?
TBH, he is 9 months. If he is eating a wide variety of dairy in other ways I wouldnt be overly fussed. My daughter is 8 months (12/4) and only has 2-3 breastfeeds a day. I honestly don;t think she would be overly fussed if she didn't get them. My first child pretty much gave up most milk (might have had one night time feed at 9 months) but had milk on her cereal, had cheese sauce mixed in with vegies, cheese etc.

[luke's mummu]

It may have been very obvious to you but have you tried different brands of formula? Different teats? Will he drink water out of a bottle or sippy cup?

Does the GP/paed think he is dehydrated at all?

[It'sallgood]

9 months? Eating a really good, wide variety of foods?
Just give him ordinary milk from a sippy cup.
That's what Id' do and yes, if there are things you can easily add a bit of formula to, do so, but dont' stress about it.
Tamm

[fairymagic]

He is 9 months old is that correct. If he is eating heaps of food and in a great variety, I wouldn't worry about the formula. I would offer things like yoghurts and custards to get the calcium into him that he needs plus offer other calcium rich foods too. As he gets older and can go onto cows milk, see what happens then. You could perhaps try the tiniest bit of flavouring in the milk to give it more taste and then gradually wean him off that but I would leave that until after his first birthday as it is obviously not the most ideal thing to give a young child. Perhaps try using the formula to make a smoothie??? He may like some banana or strawberries in it and may like to drink it from a cup or through a straw. Trying to introduce it in a way that is different from the way he has been offered formula in the past may make it easier for him to take it too.

Good luck.

[It'sallgood]

9 months? Eating a really good, wide variety of foods?
Just give him ordinary milk from a sippy cup.
That's what Id' do and yes, if there are things you can easily add a bit of formula to, do so, but dont' stress about it.
Tamm

[~Supernova~]

What about cows milk? What about from a sippy cup rather than from a bottle?
TBH, he is 9 months. If he is eating a wide variety of dairy in other ways I wouldnt be overly fussed. My daughter is 8 months (12/4) and only has 2-3 breastfeeds a day. I honestly don;t think she would be overly fussed if she didn't get them. My first child pretty much gave up most milk (might have had one night time feed at 9 months) but had milk on her cereal, had cheese sauce mixed in with vegies, cheese etc.

He won't take formula out of a cup. He will drink water out of a bottle, straw, cup...I haven't tried cows milk because I have been told it's bad before 1 He has no night time feeds, only water. The only time he gets unhappy is when I try to give him a bottle...

I'm tempted to try cows milk, or even toddler formula. But it's apparently not right, ugh...

[~Supernova~]

It may have been very obvious to you but have you tried different brands of formula? Different teats? Will he drink water out of a bottle or sippy cup?

Does the GP/paed think he is dehydrated at all?

He is not even remotely dehydrated, BM's 3 times a day, and plenty of water. And we have tried every teat and cup known to mankind!

[KT1978]

Is it really a problem?
He's growing, eating well, drinking water. Does he "have to" have formula?

Pay attention that he gets a balanced diet and stays a healthy weight then stop worrying! Yes it's earlier than other babies but it's not a problem. Formula tastes terrible, maybe his taste buds Re more developed for his age?

[~Supernova~]

Is it really a problem?
He's growing, eating well, drinking water. Does he "have to" have formula?

Pay attention that he gets a balanced diet and stays a healthy weight then stop worrying! Yes it's earlier than other babies but it's not a problem. Formula tastes terrible, maybe his taste buds Re more developed for his age?

That's what my DH keeps saying, but I keep being told he needs formula until 1.