Why does my baby cry when i try to bottle feed him?

Question

goes rigid but then chomps down on the teat

i could not breast feed and he is five weeks old

Answer 1

i had the same problem with my 9 week old, i told my health visiter about it who said to try cow and gate comfort milk, now she drinks fine!! she also used to go rigid and bike hard on teat because she was in pain with belly ache caused by gas, cow and gate comfort is suposed to stop this and has worked for me!!! infacol and gripe water didnt do nothing, i really sugest you try cow and gate coz your problem sounds the exact same as mine!! kerri

Answer 2

Maybe he's teething. Use a clean finger to run along his gum line. You can feel the rigid edges of the tooth poking through if that's it. If he's a new bottle user try a different teat. There are many available sometimes it just takes awhile to find one he likes. I tried to find one as close to my breast shape as possible (ending up with doc browns they are nice and soft unlike the advent ones my son HATED!!).

If it's none of these, and he's been at the bottle for a some time with no problem...

It could be an ear infection. The common indicator is crying when being fed and sometimes rosy cheeks.

My guess is he's teething. I used tylenol for my son's teething. It worked better than those orajel things. Those just made him a very unhappy baby!

EDIT:

I'd try a different teat/nipple. I just went to Babies R Us (any local store with baby supplies) to find one that my son liked. By a nice selection of all different kids see which ones he likes. If he likes the Gerber NUK or Soothie pacifiers they make teats like that. The Soothie requires a new bottle, but the NUK fit on a regular evenflo or playtex (depending on your model).

Answer 3

If you started with breast feeding, it could be that the shape of the teat is different than the breast. Try using Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature bottles as they are shaped exactly the same as the breast. I breast fed my daughter for the first 4 weeks then changed to formula in these bottles and she took it without flinching an eyelid. Another possibility is that you baby may have thrush in her mouth (dont worry, it is extremely common and very difficult to diagnose). My daughter had this and it is painful for babies to drink as it makes their little mouths swollen. If it looks like she has milk on her tongue, this is possible. My doctor had to put a wooden stick in her mouth and scrape around the inside to see whether it was actually milk, or it was Thrush. In our case it was thrush, but it cleared up within 1 day of giving her the medicine and she took her food no problem after that! Hope this helps!!!

Answer 4

Alot of people have offered great answers to you..But I would also rule out the possiblity of an ear infection...If a baby has an ear infection..It hurts when the try to suckle on the bottle...You would also notice this at naptime/bedtime..Because the ear tends to hurt more when they are laying down. As stated..It may be the nipple..You will have to try many different nipples till you find the one the baby prefers...I like the regular old fashion nipples..nothing fancy. Teething could very well be a factor..gentley put your finger in the babys mouth..feel his gums..do you notice any teeth trying to break threw? It may also be the formula...Does the baby throw up after feedings? or have excess gas? You may want to try a soy based formula. What does your peditrician say? If the problem continues..I would go to the doctor. Good luck!

Answer 5

It takes babies a while to figure out that the bottle is what makes the hungry feeling go away. They'll feel hungry and frustrated and they haven't learned to associated the bottle with food so they cry when this big plastic thing is put in their mouths. What I do is before sticking the nipple in their mouths, I let some of the formula drip onto their lips so that they know food is on the way. Very often this is enough to get them to open their mouths and take the bottle. Just be patient - he'll catch on eventually!

Answer 6

My son was a terrible eater, he wouldn't breast feed and bottle feeding was tough as well. Once he was about 1 and could have a sippy cup he was much happier. I think when they go rigid like that it could be cramps, possibly need to try soy milk, could be sensitive to the lactose in cow's milk.

Good luck, I hope this helps.

Answer 7

You said you aren't breastfeeding, so that rules out bottle rejection from that.

He might not like the nipple or its composition. For example he might dislike rubber or latex. I wholeheartedly endorse the Playtex Ventaire WIDE base nipple bottles. They look and feel a bit closer to a breast. Babies instinctively prefer the feel of a human nipple, but if they can't get it, they'd take comfort with a nipple that closely resembles the real thing.

Answer 8

your baby's probably got some wind still from the last feed. both my kids did the same rigid thing.does your baby have colic? give your baby a damn good rub on the back and see if he/she brings any wind up. if your baby has colic try laying a warm towel on his/her tummy and rock him/her back and forth gently while rubbing his/her back. if that doesn't do the trick try infacol or gripewater before a feed. or maybe your baby's just not hungry and just wants a hug from his/her mum. good luck chick. hope that helps. L

Answer 9

Try positioning him snuggled into you, if no use then try changing his bottles as there are loads of different teats and of course make sure its not to hot but you need to contact your midwife or health visitor if it gets no better, good luck

Answer 10

sounds like he could be teething,thers alsorts of teething gels and cooling rings for the lil fella to chomp on.If hes old enough for calpol this will help the pain as its paracetamol for little ones.If hes not teething it could be wind? if its non of these he could just find feeding time boring?