r/FormulaFeeders • u/Hot_Acanthocephala • Aug 29 '25
Bottle Aversion / Feeding Refusal ❌ Bottle Aversion - Looking For Recommendations on what worked
Hi All - our LO is almost 4 months old and has been diagnosed with failure to thrive after crashing off his growth chart. He was born very big (98th percentile) and ended up dipping all the way down to the 18th percentile. We are currently hovering around 26-30th.
At the core is a severe bottle aversion that seems to be getting worse by the day. For three weeks we were able to help him gain weight by sleep feeding all of his hypercalorized bottles - but now he has begun to reject eating to sleep as well.
We have read the Rowena Bennett book and also seen a number of other resources online but really are nervous to take the plunge because we cant afford for him to go 2-3 weeks without gaining weight. We found the thebottleaversioncoach on Instagram who advertises solving aversion in 1 week with minimal weight loss - that is music to our ears but of course I know that many people prey off parents fears and insecurities.
Was there anyone who has a recommendation of a specialist or a method they used? Did anyone use the instagram bottle aversion coach? I dont care what it costs just want our L.O. to be ok. Thanks
5
u/tokitunes Aug 29 '25
We did the Rowena method and it really worked for us. Turns out our baby had CMPA and reflux which is why he was rejecting the bottle but we put on the pressure too hard which created an aversion. Once we found the right formula and meds, we got him back on track in about a week. But man was that a long painful week.
3
u/Hot_Acanthocephala Aug 29 '25
How did you land on him having CMPA & reflux?
3
u/tokitunes Aug 30 '25
He had excessive spitup (we went through multiple onesies and burp clothes per day), inconsolable scream crying after feeds, mucus poops, and plateaued on the growth curve for weight. He ultimately had to go on an amino acid formula.
1
1
3
u/all_day-throwaway Aug 29 '25
My friend is going through this, same age, and her lactation consultant recommended doing a switch-a-roo on her baby. Start with breast then sneak in a bottle mid feed. She is having success doing this. Also recommended Pigeon bottles.
4
u/Agreeable-Luck6560 Aug 29 '25
We are going through this now with our 3 month old. We met with the most AMAZING lactation consultant this morning who helped us come up with a plan to get him back on bottles. Check her out Rachel O’Brien
3
Aug 29 '25
Following because we’re also going through a bottle aversion. Sitting at 11-15oz a day. Sorry you’re going through it too. I also have found OT and Speech to be unhelpful.
1
u/Icy-Valuable-9106 Sep 21 '25
How you going with it
2
1
2
u/DumbbellDiva92 Aug 29 '25
I don’t have personal experience with this. But if you have some money to spend on this I would see if you can get a referral to an actual professional (like a speech or occupational therapist) over a coach.
2
u/Hot_Acanthocephala Aug 29 '25
We've seen OTs and Speech Pathologists both - neither have been very helpful tbh. Speech just gives generalized "feed without pressuring" and "talk to your pediatrician if you're worried about low volume/dehydration". While that is fine general advice doesn't really help us in the moment which is why we are considering some of the other resources.
1
u/sunshine8672 Aug 30 '25
Lansinoh was recommend by our speech pathologist and it has worked wonders !
2
u/Hot_Acanthocephala Aug 30 '25
Thanks we use pigeon bottles which I think are the same manufacturer/have interchangeable nipples
1
u/juliomej99 Sep 27 '25
Hi we use pigeon as well. How is it going with your baby? Did you try the Rowena method? We are thinking on doing it but very hesitant at the moment. Thank you for your response and I hope everything is fine for you now
1
u/justthetumortalking Aug 31 '25
I can vouch for Rowena Bennett! We weren’t at the point of sneaking night feeds primarily, but we definitely were chasing a screaming mouth with a bottle because once he spat it out the feed was over and it was a fight to get him going again. The first day we definitely had a one ounce feed or two. It is so, so hard to stick to the two offers rule. But it has truly changed our lives. We continue to struggle with sometimes not getting full feeds but she taught us that babies know how much they want to eat and we have to trust them.
1
u/Icy-Valuable-9106 Oct 10 '25
We have had a fair bit of success on Rowena Bennett. There are definitely feeds that still show signs of aversion and her intake isn’t amazing but you just have to stick to the golden rules don’t you? It’s so hard!!
1
u/AZMamaFatima Sep 28 '25
Currently going through this at 8 months. Have you managed to fix this for baby? 😭
1
1
1
u/princesscalaviel Jan 21 '26
Hi OP any update on if you went with a consultation with either Rowena or Szilvia?
7
u/Storm_Xhaser Aug 29 '25
We went 2-3 days with far lower intake and then he was grabbing onto the bottle again. That’s it, just those 2-3 days.
I scheduled a pediatrician appt weekly, for two weeks, so I could mentally outsource worrying about his weight to our pediatrician.
It helped me take the plunge. Just those 2 days and little man now takes full feeds. We’re in such a better place.
ETA - we went off Rowena’s book + method.