8Mth Old Has No Interest in Nursing and Not Taking bottle...any Suggestions?

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Maybe scale back on the solids to help increase his appetite. Rubbing the rough of his mouth will trigger sucking. He will need breast milk or formula for at least the next 4 months minimum.

If he is eating well, gaining weight, and seems happy, I wouldn't worry too much. Babies do not starve themselves. Both of my girls lost interest in breastfeeding right around the time they became proficient at eating "real" food - about the same age your little guy is now. Neither of them really cared for formula at all, and I didn't want to give them cow's milk (I tried that but their little tummies were unable to handle it - horrible constipation!) Anyway, they both survived just fine. ;) If your method of mixing breastmilk with cereal into "soup" is working - just run with it! Maybe he would like whole milk yogurt as an alternate source of calcium - or also remember that dark green veggies often have lots of calcium too.

In terms of drinking, see if you can give him a cup with maybe half an inch of liquid in it. He will dump it out at first, but eventually he will get the hang of drinking from it. If he's thirsty, he will drink.

Have you tried juice in a bottle? Most kids will LOVE juice, so it might get him used to taking a bottle.

He may be teething. Some babies will lose interest in sucking then because it hurts. Just be consistent & keep trying. Also, some babies get easily distracted by other stimuli at this age (my daughter did). Try to nurse in a quiet, soothing area if you're not already doing so. As long as he's wetting & pooping normally, don't stress. You're doing great!

I would look to making sure there are no under lying issues such as thrush or if there is a physical reason why the B. is not wanting to nurse or take a bottle. Look into a dentist and ENT. Another thing to do is hand express breast milk into a small cup. Introducing a cup can be done at this age.

is he sitting up? try a very cute sippy with colorful pictures and make it a game. You sip then he sips.. if that does not work... It might be something more serious, please call your ped nurse's office. She might have a better idea.

My almost 8 month old is doing the same...but he nurses like crazy at night. I think he just loves to eat versus drinking...he is a big chubby boy!

Try offering him a sippy cup with a straw. This is better for their teeth, and really easy for them to suck. I, personally, wouldn't offer any juice unless it is so diluted that I would just go with water. Too much sugar and really no nutritional value, to me.

If your supply is decreasing, make sure you are getting plenty of water (at least a gallon a day), eat oatmeal (I do the instant ones), take fenugreek, or More Milk Plus, or milk maid tea...there are tons of ways to increase supply, go to www.kellymom.com

At 8 months, he should be able to have a thicker substance.

And lastly, talk to your ped...if s/he thinks your son is doing well...disregard all these response, IMO.

Sounds like a nursing strike. I'd simply not force the issue but offer the breast (not bottles) often. In the morning, 2 hours after that and 2 hours around the clock until he finally starts going back as he did. He's too young to self wean and a growth spurt is coming up soon!!

How is he acting where you know he is loosing interest in BFing? Just wondering if he is just super efficient and you think he is not interested. My DS could finish off a breast in 2 minutes max. He would be on his way playing and only nursed for a little bit. I would continue to offer the breast.

At 7.5 months my sister's mouth hurt so much from teething she wouldn't nurse anymore and took straight to a regular cup, no sippy. Take the top of his sippy cup and give it a try.

Also give him yogurt and other foods to supplement the calcium he's not getting.