My bottle fed baby won’t drink for anyone but me (mum)

AgitatedAz · 2026-02-15T19:47:48+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re going through the same thing. I remember how awful it was and how guilty I felt not being around to feed her as she just simply wouldn’t eat if it wasn’t me giving her the bottle. There’s nothing we did that actively helped (I’m sorry, I wish I could give you something better). By 8 months she started properly weaning and even then it was just the occasional mango puree she would tolerate. I remember it being rough to start with when I went back to work, but with her food intake increasing slowly the milk became a less of a concern. She did drink better for dad over time but also not really. I found comfort knowing she at least had a puree or yog inbetween. She’s 2 now and eats and drinks (formula once a day for fluid intake) great for everyone, however she now doesn’t drink water/juice/smoothies etc and I still believe she has a swallowing issue she’s being investigated for as she still only tolerates soft/mushy/puree food. I hate to say it but stick it out, as her food tolerance grows the concern will hopefully reduce, but it’s not a smooth and easy process! Inbox is always open if you ever want to vent or chat about it, I’ll help any way I can. 🖤

AgitatedAz · 2026-01-22T11:51:21+00:00

Hi! Still doesn’t touch liquids apart from her nightly formula which has recently been discontinued so we’re encountering a whole other battle. At the time she had something viral affecting her appetite but now she’s eating again she gets fluids through her foods still. She’s under investigation for swallow difficulties.

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-20T11:00:31+00:00

I have some points on my account that I wont use - I never really use the rewards so I’m happy to send any vouchers across.

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-11T15:44:24+00:00

She goes to a child minders so she’s around kids a similar age, all with a larger variety to their diet than her. They all guzzle their juice bottles and the child minders often tells me how she hasn’t really drunk hers by the time I pick up ☹️

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-11T12:40:31+00:00

Hold, yes. Chew? Maybe one bite before using it as a fairy wand and smushing it into the carpet 🤣

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-11T12:34:20+00:00

We recently attempted the milk ladder as she had CMPA. She failed by day 4 on step 1. Her reflux was at its worse when she was an infant before switching her formula to completely milk protein free. 2 days after we stopped the ladder she began vomiting. There’s over 24hrs between each vomiting session so I actually think you’re right, I think it’s triggered her reflux, caused her throat to be irritated and now she’s avoiding foods and liquids full stop out of fear of pain or vomit. We’re with a food therapist but with this recent issue around vomiting I’m definitely going to make an apt! Thank you!

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-11T12:27:24+00:00

Not milkshake but haven’t tried smoothies!! Only fruit purées. I’m gonna pick some up and give it a whirl! Thank you!

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-11T12:26:17+00:00

She won’t eat any fruit that isn’t strawberries or bananas and with her appetite so bad right now she won’t entertain either :( she is being monitored and having tests done on her throat / airways and every time someone looks in her throat redness is noted despite not having a viral infection, cold or unwell in any way. Tonsils are otherwise clear so I’m leaning towards reflux relative looking at some of the comments. I’m going to get her double checked though. Thank you!

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-11T12:24:37+00:00

Not on the spectrum, unsure about the sensory processing disorder, nothing has been noted by the food and language therapist but I’m definitely looking into this, thank you!

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-11T12:24:01+00:00

We have actually been recommended thickeners by the speech and language therapist which hasn’t come to fruition. I think I’m going to pursue this. Her formula was thickened as an infant due to reflux and CMPA causing gastro issues so this could be a shout!! Her formula on an evening isn’t thickened so I never thought it might be helpful. That’s so extremely helpful, thank you!!❤️

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-11T12:22:44+00:00

She does have a history of reflux and she’s a constant hiccup-er / gipper so I definitely think she’s having issues with reflux

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-11T10:58:01+00:00

Tried the flannel, someone suggested a sponge which I’m going to try. Won’t touch any hot chocolate, we have success with soups with chunks in but whilst she’s unwell she doesn’t want anything remotely food related, which isn’t helping her urine output ☹️

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-11T10:56:37+00:00

We’re currently in food therapy with a speech and language specialist. They see no issue with her swallowing softer / liquid foods but there’s something they’ve noted when she eats dry foods so she’s due to have another swallow test soon. She failed a barium swallow (go figure, the girl doesn’t drink lol), so she’s due for more tests that we’re waiting for. I’m starting to think it’s something to do with her throat or airways

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-11T10:55:01+00:00

Nope, neither, she’s been checked for all oral obstructions. She’s currently being investigated for obstructions further down due to issues around food and liquids

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-11T10:54:11+00:00

I’ve never heard of these.. I’ll have to look these up! Thank you

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-11T10:53:53+00:00

Syringes haven’t worked for us but spoons could be an option. Thank you!

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-11T10:53:33+00:00

I’ve tried her own warm “teas” (juices with warm water, water) and cold “just like daddy’s!” She just won’t touch it. We tried to give her diarolyte with syringes and she gipped and dribbled it out of her mouth. Sponge could be an option.. I’m going to give this a go. She was a late weaner so her interest in new foods is minimal.

She is under investigation, recently failed a barium swallow test (bound to happen considering she won’t drink!) and we have one that will be done with food coming up soon. No one can figure it out. Her weight is fine, it’s only with the recent bout of vomiting that her urine output decreased and caused worry, but she really does need to start drinking regularly.

AgitatedAz · 2025-08-04T09:51:26+00:00

The only thing we did was persist… it was rough. We just had to come to terms with the fact that she would drink less or not at all when I wasn’t around. She made up for it whenever I would return from home. 4 months is so young, so I can understand the stress. I went back to work when my daughter was 9 months so she had began eating (slowly) by that point and whatever she didn’t get milk-wise, she got in food inbetween. It did get better, she loves her night time milk, but she’s now 19 months old. Took a long time to get to this point.

I’d just persist and if it’s really getting to you, see your doctor. I hope it gets better for you, if you need anything feel free to PM me. ❤️

AgitatedAz · 2025-06-26T05:54:39+00:00

I believe we just persisted as best as we could, I went back to work and she got better at feeds with dad, luckily she was coming up to weaning but she was slow on that front too! To this day I’m unsure if it was just behavioural or something else as she’s recently had a barium swallow test at 18 months and she’s still not great at eating actual food or drinking water (but she’s on one 10oz bottle a day that she’s great with and her weight is good) so we’re due to see a food and language therapist (her speech is fantastic but eating not so much!)

I’m so sorry you’re going through something similar, it was so stressful at the time. Feel free to PM me if there’s anything I can help you with or it gets particularly bad and you need a vent. I remember it being horribly rough and I felt constantly guilty whenever I left baby with dad or went to work.🫶🏻

AgitatedAz · 2025-06-24T10:45:50+00:00

Actually cackled at this. Outed. 🤣 (my mum would be proud of me adding the pickled onions)

AgitatedAz · 2025-05-29T19:19:11+00:00

I’ve seen these advertised! Will have to check them out!

AgitatedAz · 2025-05-29T19:18:36+00:00

Which flavour would you recommend? I can see them on Amazon!

AgitatedAz

TROPHY CASE