8 1/2 Month Old Won't Take Formula

Updated on May 22, 2010
J.R. asks from Sioux City, IA
14 answers

i have an 8 1/2 month old daughter and she has been bottle-fed from the start. she all the sudden will not take her formula. i have tried switching formulas, i have tried a sippy cup and a regular cup. i am worried that she is not getting enough nutrients. she only takes about 12oz a day of formula. has anyone ever dealt with something like this before? i don't know what to do.

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J.R.

answers from Davenport on

my oldest daugther who is now 3 1/2 and went through the same thing around 9 months so we mixed up the formula as usual and then mixed it with oatmeal cereal so she could get the nutrients still, but she wouldnt take a bottle. Eventually by the time she was 10-11 months old she started drinking whole milk out of glass and was solely on table food, we also have a 8 1/2 month old now who is starting to do the same thing...hope that helps. Good Luck!

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J.M.

answers from Des Moines on

Maybe it's not so much the formula, but that she's teething and the sucking motion is making her gums hurt? My kids were sometimes slow to grasp a change so if you keep offering it to her she may eventually take it. Sometimes the type of sippy cup is an issue. My son was very picky about cups, until we tried the old-fashioned rock-n-roll tommee tippy. no spout. you do have to pay attention because they aren't spill proof and you would only want to give it to her in the high chair. My point is that changing recepticles might be causing a hard adjustment.

My dr. told us that we should not go to milk until 1 yr. of age. (now all dr.'s are different) Because cow's milk has nutrients in it that are harder to break down and sometimes it's harder because their digestive system is as mature. Not that it's not working, only that younger system, easier digestable things.

Try looking at what she was doing around the time she quit wanting to take it. Maybe you can determine if it's just teething, maybe it's too cold (if you refrigerate it)...something like that.

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B.B.

answers from Davenport on

I am going through the same thing right now with my 11 month old. I nursed him until he was 6 months and it was horrible getting him to take a bottle. When I finally did he did great, but now wants nothing to do with it. Like you, I've tried everything. My doctor said try changing the temperature and that has helped (he likes it really warm) and I have also found that instead of 8 oz every 4 hours he eats better if I give him 4 oz every 2 hours. You might want to try that. Hope this helps.

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A.L.

answers from Lincoln on

my daughter did this i had to start he on whole milk early

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L.R.

answers from Lincoln on

Does she drink anything else? My daughter who just turned a year, will not take a bottle or sippy cup if she has an ear infection. That is usually the first sign of an ear infection for my daughter. After the first few times of her not drinking anything I got concerned and took her to the dr and sure enough she had a double ear infection. So now everytime she refuses to drink I take her in to the dr and low and behold she has an ear infection. I don't know if this helps you any but maybe it is worth looking into? My daughter's dr said the sucking motion irrates the ears when there is an ear infection present. Good Luck

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C.D.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

Hi my name is C. and I have two wonderful childeren ages one and four. I had this problem with my daughter. I started giving her whole milk with liquid vitamins. It worked like a dream. My pediatriton said it was fine too.

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A.R.

answers from Omaha on

My first son went on milk at 9 months. The doctor suggested liquid vitamins that you actually put in the milk. They are sold in the pharmacy areas of stores. It's been 6 years since I used them so I can't remember the name but just ask the pharmacist and they should be able to direct you. My guess is that they are with the other vitamins.

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M.Y.

answers from Los Angeles on

I also have an 8 1/2 month old who all of a sudden refuse to take his bottles. I have been having issues with him taking his bottles since 4 months but the past week it's gotten to the point where he won't even take a sip. He just use his hands to push the bottle away or start fussing or just close his lips. The only time he will drink 4 to 5 oz is when he is half asleep at night. During the day, I just mix some formula into his baby food to get him to take some that way. He is going for his 9 month check up in 2 weeks and will see what the doc has to say. I wonder if he is sick of the taste of formula or if he is just going through a phase. I am hesistant on starting him with cow's milk. I am also wondering if he has a sore throat or if he is teething that's making him refuse his formula. My son has gone from 26 oz. a day to now about 12 oz. a day and that's on a good day.

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L.V.

answers from Boise on

The liquid Vitamin that previous mom has mentioned is Polyvisol. It's vitamin supplement that you can give to your daughter. I've used this vitamin until my daughter was 20 months old. Also try to give her some yogurt for Calcium supplement. I buy the YO Baby for my daughter and she love it...she still eat it everyday. You can get the vitamin and Yo Baby at Walmart. Hope this will help.

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C.M.

answers from Sioux City on

My 16 month old did that, but I think it was because he had accid reflex and had to use the Nutramigan with the same amount of rice as formula in the bottle. The rice was making him not hungry as often. Have you been using rice? Just thought I'd share my story with you. What has the doctor said? I think your daughter will be fine, they say as long as she is having a certain amount of wet diapers a day they are fine. Thats what my doctor said when I was concerned anyway..
good luck, and keep you chin up.

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C.C.

answers from Des Moines on

It could be it hurts her ears to suck on the nipple. That is how I could tell my kids have ear infection. So I would maybe get her check out at the doctor. Also,she might be ready for Milk maybe try 2% AE Milk. Put part regular milk part formula and see if she likes the taste. She is probably ready to switch over some kids do earlier than others and some don't. Using a glass early is no harm at all. but also at the same time see if she is just ready for something different.

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L.B.

answers from Sioux Falls on

is she eating solids? Sometimes they dont need as much once they start eating solids. Mine eats 2 meals a day and has like 3 or 4 bottles. She use to have more bottles. Your baby might also be between growth spurts, which slows them down on eating and drinking. As long as she is thriving and growing, you have nothing to worry about. Next doctor check, ask about it. Yes its horrible when they go thru those Im not Hungry Spells, but they know what they need. My sister had a little girl who at 2 would eat one pea and eat nothing until the next meal time. Drove us both up a wall!!! She is 12 now and very healthy. Things to watch for to know if she is failing to thrive, which is a worry, is loss of weight, loose clothes, not moving around or doing things that she always does. So try not to worry (;)) and Good Luck!

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C.

answers from Casper on

Have you considered she may have pain when she drinks? When they have an ear infection or sore throat they do not want to drink at all. She could also be teething and that can cause her to not want to drink as well. I would call my Doc and ask about giving her some Tylenol or Ibuprofen, then see if she will drink the milk. Obviously if that works then you have to find out what hurts her. I used to gently tug on my son's ear lobe and if he responded as if he were in pain then I took him in. You can use your finger to feel for bumps in her mouth as well.

Good Luck! Kids are a mystery.

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S.P.

answers from Great Falls on

Is she eating a lot of solids yet? That could cause her to be full and not need as much formula. Have you talked to your doc, yet? What do they say? Is she still gaining weight? If she'd eating more and more solids, she should be fine. Good Luck!!!

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