DS is teething and will only take a bottle from me....

[Natale28]

My 5 month old is teething and whenever my DP or anyone else such as my Mum, DP's mum etc tries to feed him he cries and refuses the bottle repeatedly. The other day he was at DP'S mums house and he refused a bottle for over 6 hours at which time I went over and he took 13.5 ounces in one feed so clearly he was very hungry! She had tried to feed him repeatedly but he just kept refusing. DS then refused a bottle from DP today but when I tried he took the whole bottle. What on earth is going on and how do I fix this please?!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Is he definitely teething? Have they tried giving him a dose of ibruprofen roughly half an hour before his feed is due? Have they tried a teething gel, like dentinox, just before the feed too?

[Natale28]

Yes I can see and feel a couple of white lumps in his gum and he has been trying to bite me for days! He chomps on everything and dribbles constantly. He used to be happy being fed by anyone and I just don't understand why he'll only take a bottle from me now.

Yes he has teething gel before a feed and I also gave those aston and parsons powders. I haven't tried ibuprofen beforehand so will try that - thank you.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

How's he getting on now?

[Natale28]

Still won't take it from anyone but me! Really don't understand it - he's not clingy and will go to my family for play/cuddles etc but just won't take the bottle from anyone else!

Bit worrying for when I go back to work in a few months - hopefully it's a phase!

[Zara8]

I had this with DS. For a looooooong time. Like close to a year. Was worried about him starting in nursery but he eventually, after a month, started taking a bottle form the girls there. TBH I reckon it's not dissimilar from eg breastfed babies that refuse bottles. They like to get their milk in a particular way from mum and that's that!

It will be fine when you go back to work, he will get used to it, honestly. In the meantime, keep persevering if you are needing to leave him with DP/family members etc - but he may still just prefer you.

My DS still prefers to have warm milky bottle snuggled up in my arms to a bottle from daddy or a cup! He's 21 months I don't mind really...!

[Natale28]

Thanks Zara - I hope that it'll pass soon! He did take most of a bottle from my Mum yesterday but I was in the room and he just stared at me for ages then stopped drinking it so my mum passed him back to me and he finished the bottle. So strange!

[Zara8]

Hahaha my DS did the same if DH was giving him a bottle. He'll get better at it!