Another teething question...?

Question

My almost 5 month old daughter has began teething and it has really started to bother her within the past couple of days. She's slowly began eating less and is now starting to refuse her bottles. I breastfeed her and supplement with formula and she usually takes 4-5 bottles of formula per day and breastfeeds 3-4 times per day.

Today, of the 3 bottles that I have offered her she has only drank 2 of the 5 oz she usually drinks and almost immediately begins spitting it all up. She eats fine when I breastfeed her but unless she falls asleep during the feeding she's also started spitting up breastmilk too, so much that it seems she is losing her entire meal. Can anyone offer any advice/experience?

I'm afraid that if I call her doctor about the situation all she'll say is keep offering her a bottle and if I'm really concerned to take her to the E.R. (since it's the weekend) where they will most likely try to stick needles in her which I dred.

Answer 1

This happened to my son every single time he was teething. It's nothing to worry about. They do lose their appetite when they're teething.
She will eventually eat when/if she is hungry. Trust me, she will not go hungry.

My son lost his appetite for about 1.5-2 weeks every time he was teething. It really freaked me out, but his pediatrician said it's okay. And it was.

I know it's hard not to worry when they're not eating, but they're okay.

Give her a pacifier, it will help. You can also rub on her gums baby teething medication, and hopefully it will help. It never helped my son.

On these sites, you will find more info:

http://www.babyteethingsymptom.info/

http://www.hpb.gov.sg/hpb/default.asp?pg_id=865&aid=206

Good luck.

Answer 2

I know babies can go off their food when teething but they don't normally get sick from it. I wouldn't be so quick to chalk this up to teething. Monitor her temperature, make sure she pees and poops ok and if the throwing up is still going on by Monday, take her in and have her looked at. She may have the flu or a stomach virus or even an ear infection (ear infections can cause a baby to feel dizzy and the dizziness can make them throw up).

If she is teething, try massaging her gums before you give her the bottle. It stimulates her body to release natural pain killers to numb the teething pain for a bit and maybe she will eat better.

Answer 3

I wouldn't be so quick to lock this in as a teething problem. It could be ear infections making it painful to eat, a bug that's causing the vomiting, or some other cause. Monitor her temperature and wet diapers, focus on smaller meals and if things take a turn for the worse be prepared to head to the doctor.

Both of my kids loved having their gums massaged while teething.

Answer 4

It definitely sounds more like a stomach virus if she is throwing up that much. Lay off the food for a little bit. Try pedialyte to re-hydrate her. Baby should be vomit free for 8 hours then you can try bf or bottle again.

Good luck. Hope she feels better soon.

Answer 5

Is she just spitting up or vomiting? Its possible she's got a little tummy bug.

For comfort for her little gums I suggest lemon juice. Rub lemon juice on her gums, its safe, natural and won't slow down the teething process like a numbing agent like orajel will do.

Answer 6

teething is harder on some babies. She won't starve herself so while she is feeling bad i would go with whatever she wants. And cuddle and love on her to help comfort her. Be sure and give her something for the teething pain.

Answer 7

babies like to breast feed for comfort too, I would let her eat the normal amount of breast milk and then give her a pacifier but hold her close to you so she can be comforted by you, without over eating.
it could be that you are eating something that doesn't go welll in her stomach,
If it is her teeth try motrin, and baby orajel on her gums.

Answer 8

You could be producing more breast milk and so she doesn't want the bottles. The best way to test if she is getting enough to eat is to weigh her.