Bottle strike...help!!

I thought we were past the days of trying to get the girls to drink thier formula! Now at 8 months they have gone on formula/bottle strike. They used to eat 6-7 oz every three hours and now we are lucky if they eat 3-4 oz! I have started feeding them a little more at breakfast and dinner but I wouldn't think they would refuse bottles like this. Any suggestions? Does teething decrease their appetite? They eat like piggies with solids. I'm just worried they aren't getting enough formula. HELP!

 

I thought we were past the days of trying to get the girls to drink thier formula! Now at 8 months they have gone on formula/bottle strike. They used to eat 6-7 oz every three hours and now we are lucky if they eat 3-4 oz! I have started feeding them a little more at breakfast and dinner but I wouldn't think they would refuse bottles like this. Any suggestions? Does teething decrease their appetite? They eat like piggies with solids. I'm just worried they aren't getting enough formula. HELP!

 

Maybe they are "big girls" and feel like eating solids like big people do. Teething does sometimes affect appetite because it hurts to suck when teeth are trying to pop out. You could give them some Tylenol and see if that helps them drink more. Other than that I can't think of anything, I'm feeling brain-dead today.

 

We had the same concern and our pedi told us not to worry about it because at this age, they tend to take in less formula as they eat more solids. If they're eating solids like piggies, and are getting at least 20 - 24 oz. of formula a day, they told us to not worry. HTH!

 

Just another factor to consider. Sam went on a bottle strike last month (her grandparents were visiting). It was purely emotional / power struggle issue because of the upheaval. We tried forcing her and it made it worse. As soon as we backed off and relaxed about it, she went back to the bottle.

 

Are they fussy, acting hungry but not drinking? If not then it is probably just growing up.

Ear infections and Foot and Mouth diesease(bumpy red rash that I 1st thought was chicken pox, but it was on feet and hands not the trunk) both caused my girls to reject the bottle, or any sucking.

It hurts their ears or sore throats. Check to see if their ears are red, or the back of their throat, or if they have a fever.

 

We've had this same problem. I think part of it was teething, b/c when the teeth finally popped out the bottles got a bit easier. But I asked the pedi & he said they're probably just ready for more solids. He suggested doing 3x day with solids, where I was only doing 1x day. So we bumped up the solids, gave them extra water & life is a lot easier.