What should I do if my five-month-old baby doesn’t take a bottle?

Understand why babies don’t take bottles

The baby\’s refusal to take the bottle may be due to a variety of reasons, such as inappropriate shape of the bottle, bad taste of the formula, aging of the pacifier, etc. In addition, babies have different needs at different stages of development. Only by understanding why your baby won\’t take the bottle can you fundamentally solve the problem.
The first step is to check the bottle and nipple for age or wear. If the nipple becomes looser, your baby may smell the milk in the nipple and not want to eat it. Secondly, the baby\’s taste is also an important reason. You can consider trying a different brand of milk powder, or adding some syrup or juice for flavoring to guide your baby to accept new textures and flavors.

Try various methods to guide your baby to accept the bottle

If your baby still refuses to take the bottle, you can try a number of different methods to induce your baby to accept the bottle. Some babies may prefer to drink from a cup or spoon. You can also try to play with the baby while he is drinking milk to divert his attention so that he drinks the milk without realizing it.
Additionally, your baby will be more likely to accept a bottle when he or she cries. At this time, you can give the baby some comfort, and then slowly bring the bottle to him and try to feed him. When your baby needs to feed, don\’t wait until he cries before starting to feed. This will make your baby more picky.

Establish good breastfeeding habits

Establishing a good feeding routine can make it easier for your baby to accept a bottle. You can fix the feeding time and try to maintain a quiet and comfortable environment every time you feed to avoid interference. At the same time, holding the baby while breastfeeding, making eye contact with the baby, and playing with the baby can enhance the intimacy between mother and baby and make the baby more willing to accept the bottle.
In addition, the mother\’s mood can also affect the baby\’s appetite. To make it easier for the baby to accept the bottle, the mother should try to stay in a good mood and avoid anxiety or worry. You can listen to some music, read some books, etc. to soothe your emotions and let your baby feel the mother\’s warmth and care.

Seek professional help promptly

If your baby continues to refuse the bottle, don\’t delay and seek professional help promptly. You can seek professional advice from your doctor, specialist pediatric nurse or breastfeeding consultant.
Some babies may have physiological problems, such as a long tongue tie, narrow fontanel, etc., which will also affect the baby\’s eating. If the baby does not take the bottle for a long time, it will affect the baby\’s health and growth. Seeking professional help in time can better solve the problem.

Summary

For the situation where the five-month-old baby does not take the bottle, we need to fundamentally understand why the baby does not take the bottle, try a variety of methods to guide the baby to accept the bottle, establish a good feeding habit, and seek professional help at any time. Only in this way can the baby more easily accept the bottle and ensure the baby\’s health and growth.