• Knowledgebase: Infant Feeding Problems

    Questions about nursing, formulas, spitting up, and colic.

    6. Difficult to feed a 4 month old baby - Top

    Q: It is now difficult to get my 16 week old baby to take begin a feeding. She protrudes her tongue, thrashes her arms and turns her head when trying to insert bottle nipple in her mouth. This started about two weeks ago. Once nipple is properly inserted, she eventually begins to suck. Feeding has begun to be a challenge for us and our infant. We want this time to be solely for nourishment and bonding. Please help.

    A: There are many reasons why a 4 month old baby might not want to feed now.

    1. Teething: if this appears to be a possibility, treat with tylenol or motrin

    2. Mouth sores: any illness of the mouth such as thrush, cold sores, etc could cause difficulty and pain with feeding.

    3. Ear infection: swallowing and sucking can cause pain if there is middle ear fluid or infection.

    4. Gastroesophageal Reflux: can cause gastritis and esophagitis due to acid going up and down the throat all day, even without visible spitting up. Discuss this possibility with your doctor as an acid blocking medicine may help in this case.

    5. Other: any unexplained, persisting difficulty in feeding should be brought to your doctor's attention. - Updated: July 2, 2001

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    • James L Horwitz, MD

    David C. Thomas, MD

    Barbara Lindberg, PNP