Q&A: baby who won't drink anything

Before we go on to the question, does anyone know how to get iron drop (like Polyvisol) stains out of fibers like clothes and carpets? A couple of people have written in to ask me, and I have no idea. The only thing I can think of is trying a rust remover, but don't know if that would work (or if it would ruin the carpet).

Now on to the question. Mrs. Gryphon writes:

"I've searched your archives, and I don't see anything that addresses my concern with our almost-10-month-old.  She was breastfed exclusively for the first 6 weeks, then I pumped and/or she had formula on the odd occasions that I was away.  She was great at taking a bottle, and never had any issues that way.  We waited until she was 6 months to start introducing solids, which she loooooves.  She is a great little eater, and eats a wide variety of foods now.  The problem lies in the fact that she started self-weaning at 8 months (pushing me away and crying when I tried to feed during the day - she still breastfed at bedtime and in the morning, sometimes I could sneak one in if she was tired enough before her nap!).  I'm not concerned that she's weaning since she's the one dictating it BUT she refuses to drink anything from a sippy cup, a regular cup or even a bottle now.  She only has 3 heavy wet diapers a day, and I know she's not getting enough fluids!  We've tried cold formula, warm formula, room-temperature formula, water, watered-down juice.  We've tried spooning it into her mouth (works for about a 1/2 ounce and then she sticks her tongue out and we can't get the spoon in there anymore!), have tried several different types of sippy cups, with and without the valve sealed.  We've tried plastic cups, glass cups, plastic water bottles... I'm stumped.  Please help :)"

It is my guess that this is a temporary thing that's got everything to do with developmental spurts and new skills. I predict that she'll be back to drinking within a few weeks.

In the meantime, try two things. The first is letting her drink out of a regular cup/glass with a straw. You'll need 3-4 straws, so she can play with a few and can drink out of one. Try whatever beverage she'll take. Sometimes plain seltzer water will fool kids into drinking because the bubbles are so unnerving and fun. The hope is that she'll be so tricked into thinking she's grown up or so excited by the straw and real glass that she'll forget to refuse to drink.

The other thing is feeding her as many water-rich foods as you can. Cucumber, watermelon, grapes, etc. all day long. The problem is probably either that she doesn't like the sensation of the liquid or she's refusing to drink on principle, and feeding her foods with a lot of water in them should sidestep both those issues.

Does anyone else have any suggestions?

Comments

[ashley]

NESTLE ALSOY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My baby JUST took this after a month of forced feedings with a spoon, I wish I knew about this formula sooner !

[Chris]

my 8 month old has been breastfed since birth. a while back he got sick and refused solids, the breast and the bottle. He was on anti-biotics for a throat infection and it is now cleared up but he still refuses to drink and eat. He will drink from the breast in the moring and in the evening if I'm lucky. He will only take 1-2 oz of formula during the day. I'm going crazy. The doctor says he looks fine but I don't think this is normal so I will be pursuing it further.

[R anderson]

my baby is 9 months and im having the same problem. she just refuses al her milk now and juice from a cup! ive tried everything! her nappys have dribbles of pee in them but again docs dont seem concerned! thats almost a week now that she has had nothing to drink except what i manage to put/make with food!

[Yvonne]

Wow, thank you all so much for all your comments, this parenting thing is so hard when things aren't going 'text book'. I know that every child is unique, but to hear that you have all gone though exactly what I have is just so re-assuring. It takes the stress away, that's for sure! No one has mentioned that this 'phases' passes. I really hope so, I'm kinda tired of pouring formula down the drain!! And I'm down to only expressing twice a day and that (I don't think) is enough for my little man. So please someone report back...will this end, or should I just put away the bottles for good.

[Tres Edu]

Thank God I found this even if it is "old" now. My LO, 6 months old, has refused bottles and sippy cups. He will BF but maybe 20 min total in 24 hrs. But he pees just fine although his poo is a little hard. He has a milk protein allergy and went from 25%ile in weight pre-allergy to 3%. But he is happy, healthy, and VERY active. I worry but don't know what to do. He LOVES food and will gladly eat solids so I mix about 2oz formula or breastmilk in with about 1.5oz fruit or veggie and add a dash of rice cereal to make it thick enough to spoon and entice him (but runny enough to make my no-liquid fears subside). The pedi. said to add a tenny bit of olive oil or soy yogurt to his food to boost calories and to make him some foods with chicken or turkey. No clue if it's working as it's been only 2 weeks but he is continuing to pee, smile, sleep well, wiggle a lot and act healthy. His dad is not much of one to drink so maybe it's hereditary? Whereas I'm always thirsty!

But I'm so glad to know I'm not alone.

[Andrea]

I'm so glad I found this post today! I know that most of the children in this post are alot younger than my daughter. My 3 year old daughter came down with a bad case of croup about 2 weeks ago and ever since she got sick, she refuses to drink almost anything! She used to love to drink watered down v8 vfusion juice. She would drink coutless sippy cups of it a day. Once she got sick, she rufused any juice and only wanted water. Ok...fine....now over the last 5 days I'm not really seeing her drink anything! I'm really worried as to how long this is going to last and if she is becoming dehydrated. She is acting fine and eating normal, but she is only having about 3 wet diapers a day and they are only a little wet (yes, we are still struggling with potty training). Has anyone else experienced this with an older toddler too???

[Kris]

My son is 8 months, breastfed since birth- always been a challenge though. Started solids at 5 mo. Tried to start weaning about a week ago and giving him formula once before bed and then he got a stomach bug, vomiting and diarrhea. He still has diarrhea so I'm worried he's not getting enough fluids. He doesn't have really wet diapers throughout the day either. He will breastfeed first thing in the morning, I'll mix formula with his cereal (he's cut back on solid eating too tho) then again at lunch and dinner. He then takes a bit more milk before bed, the last 2 nights ive been able to get 5oz in but tonight he drank only one. He'll also have some veg or fruit with each meal and I always offer the breast then formula from bottle before each meal and sometimes in between. But he refuses!!! He's never had a problem taking formula/bottle in the past. It's like he's protesting- he doesn't want to wean? But I don't feel like I'm producing enough, and most times he actually doesn't even want the breast. I just got pedialite today so he's had some of that and a bit of water: I tried mixing the pedialite w formula and that didn't do anything. He's more cranky throughout the day but I'm not sure maybe he's cutting more teeth? I feel like a horrible mom, I wish I knew what he wanted and needed. I just feel stressed out because he's not eating or drinking like normal- and not getting what's "required" for his age.. Anyone know if this is something I shouldn't worry about or if I should get him checked? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!