Baby Pushing Bottle Away But Still Hungry?

Some of the most common reasons why your baby Baby Pushing Bottle Away But Still Hungry: Your child just stopped nursing, but now wants to keep nursing. Your baby isn’t hungry enough to want to be fed. Your child is sick, has gas, or can’t eat for some other reason.

10 Reasons Why Baby Pushing Bottle Away

In this article, we’ll talk about why it might be hard for your baby to switch from breast to bottle, and we’ll give you some tips on how to make the change easier.

1. The baby might be hungry

Your baby might not want the bottle because he or she is not hungry. Well, I say it’s simple, but it’s not. Your baby can’t tell you if they’re hungry or not, so you usually have to rule out everything else on the list first.

You should also remember that your baby might eat more on some days and less on others. This could be because of several things, like how active your baby has been, whether or not they’ve had a growth spurt, and, of course, how your baby is feeling in general. But you mustn’t stress out about it too much. 

Unless there is a deeper problem, your child’s feedings will get back on track before you know it.

2. It’s too early for the child

If you have breastfed your child, you know how long it can take for the baby to learn how to latch on to the nipple.

Mom and baby may need weeks or even months to get used to it. (This is something I didn’t know until I wrote this…)

So, when the bottle comes, it will be a whole new challenge for both of you, and if you try to give it to the baby before he or she is ready, it will be even harder.

The nipple on a bottle is different from your own. Your baby isn’t used to it, and if they are too young, they may have trouble adjusting. Around 6 months, you should start to wean your child off of the breast.

3. A baby could have a milk allergy

Like adults, babies can have problems with dairy, too. Even if your baby doesn’t outright refuse to take a bottle, you will see signs like frequent spitting up, diarrhea, tummy pain, eczema, and in some cases, hives.

If your baby reacts to dairy, you can switch to a formula made with soy. A hydrolysate formula is another type of formula. If you are breastfeeding your baby, you should stop eating dairy.

Once you figure out where the problem is coming from and fix it, your child will change in a way that seems almost miraculous. They will be much more calm, happy, and at ease.

4. Formula is not good for the baby

If you can, it is always best to feed your baby breast milk that you have pumped, but if you decide to use formula, you will see that there are a scary number of brands, each with a different taste. 

(Try it and decide for yourself!) Take a sip of your lowest milk and then a taste of the formula you’ll be giving your baby.)

As with nipple swapping, you’ll probably have to try different flavflavorssee which one your baby likes best. Watch out for a wrinkled nose! Remember that babies tend to like formulas that taste a little bit sweet, so do your research. 

You should also try the formula when the baby is tired, like at night or in the morning.

5. The wrong temperature is given

When my siblings were young, I don’t remember much about them, but I do remember my mother testing my youngest brother’s milk on the inside of her wrist. 

She just had to put a few drops on her skin to see if it was safe or if it needed to go into a jug of cold water.

When you’re breastfeeding, you don’t have to worry about how warm the milk is because it comes from your breast. When the milk in the bottle is warm, it reminds your baby of what it was like to be fed by you. 

It makes you feel better and is easier to digest than cold milk.

Never, ever heat your baby’s milk in the microwave. When the milk doesn’t heat up evenly, “hot spots” can form that can burn your baby’s mouth and throat.

6. It might be the wrong size

Some babies are very sensitive to the size of bottle nipples. Nipples come in a wide range of sizes, just like pacifiers, so use bottles and nipples that are good for breastfeeding.

You should expect to switch a few times before you find one that is both comfortable for your baby and easy for him or her to suck. 

You should also think about the flow in your nose. (I don’t know about you, but I’m a little stressed out by all the things that need to be thought about!) You must make sure that the “speed” is right for the age of your baby. 

It might be coming out too fast, which could be too much for babies who are still very young.

7. Baby could be getting teeth

When your child is teething, it hurts a lot. Unfortunately, sucking is your baby’s main way to feel better, but sucking doesn’t help because it puts more pressure on their gums. The baby wants to suckle but can’t, so it may lose some of its appetites.

Your child might stop and start eating more than once, but try not to worry too much. After a few days, if your baby is still “on strike,” you should call your child’s doctor. When the tooth finally breaks through to the surface, their hunger will come back.

Teething rings can help your baby feel better, especially if they are cold. Try a frozen banana or a teething ring with a gel that gets cold when you put it in the fridge.

8. It can be a very stressful place to be

Stress and bottle feeding doesn’t go well together, especially for babies older than four months. At this age, they start to lose attention. Even though this isn’t always possible, the best place to breastfeed is in a room that is dark and quiet. 

The better the setting, the more calm and quiet it is.

At night, the room should be dark because it may help your baby fall asleep faster after the feed. Your baby might not finish their bottle if they are in a bright, noisy room with a lot of other people.

It’s not always possible to avoid stressful situations, but the more you can, the better it will be for you and your baby.

9. How the Baby Is Placed

Your baby might not want to take the bottle because they are not in the right place. Many parents find that they have to try everything until they find something that works for them.

Because it is so similar to breastfeeding, if you hold your baby in the traditional reclining position, they may refuse the bottle. 

Also, they will know how close they are to “the real thing.” Babies are astute.

You could try having your partner give the bottle to your baby in that position, but your baby may reach to see if they can find his “boobs!” If your baby is very young, the best way to hold them is at a 45-degree angle, with their head in the bend of your elbow.

10. Doesn’t want Mom’s bottle

Babies know a lot for their age. They know that mom has more to offer than what she’s giving them from the bottle right now. 

One of the easiest and most common ways to get your baby used to a bottle and make sure they stick with it is to ask your partner, a grandparent, or even a friend to take over feedings until this phase is over.

During feeding times, you may need to leave the room or even the house because your baby can smell you from far away and shouldn’t be able to smell the “good stuff.”

Think of this as a good thing and run those errands or give yourself some time. And never, ever think that handing the bottle over to someone else is a failure because it’s not.

Read About: Can Toddlers Drink Oat Milk?

5 Signs About Baby Pushing Bottle Away But Still Hungry

1. The baby isn’t giving in

As you and your baby switch from breast to bottle, patience will be your best friend. You have to accept and understand that your child will need time to get used to new things. Make sure you move slowly and carefully through everything. 

If your baby starts to cry and pushes the bottle away, the best thing you can do is take it away, comfort them, and try again. If you’ve already done this three times, you should put the bottle down for now.

Don’t start feeding your baby right away. Your child needs to learn that refusing the bottle doesn’t mean he or she will get mom’s boob right away. Waiting five minutes before breastfeeding is best. Try the bottle again in about an hour.

2. The baby is easy to get off track

When your baby is under 4 months old, you don’t have to worry about possible distractions. But once they reach that age, you’ll have to step up your game. Your baby can now see things that were blurry before much better, and the world becomes a lot more interesting.

If you live in a place that is always busy, you should make it a priority to find a quiet spot where you can give your child your full attention while they eat.

“Once babies reach a few months of age, they go through a social-butterfly stage where they want to see what’s going on around them,” says Stacey H. Rubin, author of The ABCs of Breastfeeding.

3. The baby will only drink from a bottle when he or she is sleeping

Some babies almost always eat while they sleep. When these babies are asleep and calm, it is much easier for them to take the bottle than when they are awake and tense. On the other hand, sleep feeding is not a good thing. 

Parents often have to put their child down so that the child gets enough to eat.

Most babies who are fed while they sleep have signs of acid reflux. Babies who are lying down, whose stomachs empty slowly, or who only eat liquids are at risk.

Understandably, parents continue to sleep and feed their children, but if they aren’t treated, they will continue to struggle to eat and may even grow to dislike it. Pediatricians don’t know much about sleep feeding, so you should talk to someone who does.

4. Eats and drinks slowly

Most of the time, we don’t think of babies as being “too slow” when they eat, but one worried mother says that they can be.

“Sebastian is a slow eater. It takes him an hour to eat 4-5 oz, and sometimes it takes him up to 1 1/2 hours. His first feed of the day takes this long, even though it’s been 11 hours since his last meal, so you’d think he’d be hungry and eat it quickly.

Even though he doesn’t eat much, he’s steadily getting bigger. He eats between 4-5 oz at 5 feeds a day, which is between 20-25 oz a day, though sometimes he can only eat 3 oz. 

The HV (Health Visitor) seems happy because he is happy, alert, and has a healthy weight. Is this just how he is, or do I just have to deal with it?”

5. Baby Starts to Push Away Bottle

If your baby refuses to take their bottle and pushes it away when you try to feed them, check their mouth for sores, blisters, or thrush, all of which can make feeding painful.

It could have something to do with how the teats flow. One mom had this problem over and over again until she changed the nipple to one that let the milk out faster. After that, her child took to the bottle again as if by magic. 

Don’t forget to check the temperature, either. The baby’s milk might not be warm enough.

It’s also possible that the baby needs to take a breather or burp because he or she swallowed too much air. Before you try again, you’ll need to be patient and rock, burp, and cuddle them a bit.

What to Do If Your Baby Throws Away the Bottle

Feeding an infant is hard, and it’s even harder if you don’t know what you’re doing wrong. But now that you know what’s going on with your baby’s bottle feeding, you can take steps to fix it.

Let’s look at some things you can do to get your baby used to drink from a bottle.

1. Figure out the best place and atmosphere

When your baby won’t take the bottle and cries or fights, try different positions to find the one that works best. If they are in a good place, they will take the bottle without a fuss. Most babies who are breastfed do well in nursing positions. 

So, try this way to feed your baby.

Since babies are easily distracted, choose a calm, quiet, and boring place to feed your baby where they won’t be able to pay attention to anything else.

2. Choose a formula that your child likes

If your baby won’t drink from the bottle, cries, or acts fussy, it might be because they don’t like the taste of the formula. 

You can try giving your baby a different formula. You can also talk to the baby’s Pediatrics or advice.

If your baby is over six months old, you can give him solid food. But you should only give your baby solids that are easy for them to digest and good for them.

3. Find the Right Size Nipple

When your baby pushes the bottle out with his tongue or in another way, choose a nipple size that works well with breastfeeding so he doesn’t have any trouble taking it in his mouth. 

Also, check the nipple flow before giving your baby the bottle. If the flow is too fast, your baby may feel overwhelmed and refuse the bottle.

4. Watch for signs of teething

If your baby is teething, he may take a bottle but then push it away because he is not hungry. In that case, get your baby a teether or a pacifier so he can chew on them for comfort.

5. Find out how hot or cold it is

Check how warm the bottle is before giving it to the baby. Apply some to your inner wrist and ensure that it is close to body temperature. 

If it’s not, soak the bottle for a while in cold water. But don’t make it too cold or the baby may have trouble digesting the formula later. If the same formula is heated more than once, it is bad for the baby.

6. Don’t eat too much

Parents sometimes keep feeding their babies even after they’re full because they think it’s good for their health. This makes the baby cry when they’re being fed by bottle. Too much food can hurt your baby because it can’t digest as well as adults. 

You can try feeding your baby more often, but not too often. At least two hours should pass between meals.

Your baby will take the bottle when he is asleep, but not when he is awake. This does not imply that you should force-feed him when he is awake. Sleep feeding is not recommended. In babies, it can cause acid reflux. Because of this, you shouldn’t feed babies while they are sleeping.

The Final Thoughts

It’s frustrating when your baby pushes the bottle away but is still hungry. You want to give them what they need, but they just don’t seem to want it. There could be a few reasons for this. 

Maybe they’re not that hungry and just need some attention. Or, they could be teething and the pain is making them not want to eat. 

If your baby is consistently pushing the bottle away and seems hungry, it’s best to talk to your pediatrician to rule out any medical problems.

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