I'm At My Wits End..Help

[Unregistered]

Let me preface this .I've been an in home provider for 24 years. I have a 4 month old infant in my care..3 days a week....when I try to feed him..he'll latch onto the bottle..eat well...if I talk...the dogs bark..the phone rings.
ANYTHING....he will stop and scream..
it can take 10- 20 minutes to calm him down to try again. Of course parents and grandparents..all is well in their world. I have tried different positions..a bit quieter place..and this goes on all day...I've been doing this for 2 months with him. Just want to reach out and see if I'm missing anything..before I term to.stay sane
Thanks

[Play Care]

Is he nursed at home?

Although I don't have screamers, I know the infants I have now are very easily distracted from eating.

I can't wait until they turn 1 and we go to scheduled meal times with self feeding.

[laundrymom]

A few questions first::
How many do you have in care?
Is it typically quiet?
You said "takes 10-20 min to calm him down again" how do you do this?

[Unregistered]

BF 80% at home.
I have 7 kids..no necessarily..I've tried.a.quieter room..but kids still come to me.
Sometimes I just have to put him in the bouncy seat.
Or pop...if I can just shushing and patting his back...Sometimes nothing works

[laundrymom]

My advice.
(30 yrs experience)
Feed him. When he gets startled just lay him in his bed for a few. If he cries still it's ok. If he cries harder it's ok.
Wait a couple minutes. It will be hard.
Pick him up.
If he continues to cry put him down.
Try again in a couple minutes. Repeat until he stops crying when you pick him up. Then feed.
Repeat every time it happens.
It will get better.
Even if it feels like it won't.