Hunger wake ups but bottle refusal.

[Inapickle123]

The saga of DS and his bottle aversion is reaching an epic conclusion. It's sort of like Game of Thrones but...shitter.,

Brief background: DS bottle refuser since 12 weeks (he's now 26 weeks) due to severe reflux and sensitivity to milk/liquids. weaned at 16 weeks on advice of GP, while waiting for paediatric consultant appt.

Finally had appointment and consultant-whole sympathetic-wasn't too concerned. She just said that, because he's gaining weight, we should keep up with the feeds we could get in him ( bedtime bottle-with a fight-and dream feed) and try and put milk in his food.

Fast forward two weeks and DS is now completely refusing every single bottle. I'd be proud of his tenacity if it wasn't so annoying

We've completely given up on milk during the day. We feed him water with a syringe as he's not quite mastered the use of a sippy cup. He'll maybe take an ounce over the day.

Nighttime is horrific. His bed time bottle can take up to 90m to get down him. He will fight it every step of the way and the only way to get any liquid in him is to wait til he's in a deep sleep. Even then, he'll try and bat it away with his hands.

Dream feed used to be fine. Now, he'll fight it and it can take upwards of an hour-and many, many attempts- to get him to take anything. These two bottles are his only milk intake during the day (bar the few oz I can sneak in his porridge) and we used to get 13-15 oz in him. Now, we're lucky if he takes 7oz over the 2 bottles.

I could live with this fussiness during the day. Honestly, I could. But the evening bottle refusal has given way to multiple night wake ups due to hunger. Despite being ravenous (you could hear his tummy growling) DS refused a bottle at 430am and was awake, groaning and writhing, until 6am, when I finally caved and gave him calpol (he is teething)

I go back to work in a few weeks and am prepared for night wake ups but I can't have them last 90m-2h a time, nor can I drug him with calpol indefinitely. I've tried every bottle/milk combo going and nothing works.

Does anyone have any idea how i can solve the night hunger problem without actually sodding about with a yogurt/fruit at 4am? I was thinking of diluting yogurt and putting it in the bottle to see if that would work? Failing that, I'm just going to have to let him cry.

Anxiously awaiting pearls of wisdom.

[wheresthelight]

As awful as it sounds I would be inclined to not give in to offering alternative foods and just keep offering the bottle.

What formula is he on? If it's one of the lactose free ones they are vile so I don't blame him not wanting them tbh!! But ask your GP if you cam switch to a different brand. Dd had to have it after a nasty virus gave her milk intolerance and the aptimal one was vile. She eventually took nutramigem (sp?) but it was a battle.

I would try foods like angel delight to get milk into him if refusing anything other than a bottle doesn't work or seems too daunting.

If he likes fruit and yoghurt can you try making smoothies and giving them in a normal plastic cup? Maybe trybhis milk in one of the bottle doesn't work?

I have sippy cup teats for dd's avent bottles so they may be worth a try?