Bottle Feeding - Maryland Heights,MO

Hi, It could be the nipple you are using and not the bottle. Try Gerber NUK nipples, they worked wonders for my baby when he wouldn't take any. I have definitely heard that some babies go directly from breast to sippy. You may want to try the nuby sippy cups. My son liked those also. Good luck!

L. M

How frustrating! Sorry to say I never had this problem and can't offer any immediate help. However, if you have another baby, don't let everyone freak you out about nipple confusion. Within a few days I would start giving both my girls pacifiers (because I am not one), and a bottle when needed (or to let dad or big sister have that bonding moment). Nipple confusion was never an issue, and for me it didn't interfere at all w/ nursing. Being a new mom is hard enough w/out worrying that if you give your child a bottle or pacifier they will never want your breast. After several months of only one method, of course a child will develop a preference. Just do what you need to do, and good luck!

Dear K.,

I want you to know that I am going through the exact same thing as we speak. I have a 4 1/2month old and she will not have anything to do with a bottle. I have been nursing her since she was born. I have been trying to wean her, but nothing has worked. I hope all of the advice that these ladies have provided you work. I am going to try the sippie cup deal and see if it works for me. Good luck!!

S.

Hi K.,

Welcome to St. Louis. What part of Chicago did you move here from? My family moved down here from Mt. Prospect about a year ago! Would love to chat with you in regards to how you are getting along etc.

Anyway, my oldest daughter would never take a bottle. I tried everything as well. At about 5 months I gave her a sippy cup with a very soft nipple ot spout; Avent made one at the time. She took to it right away. I continued to nurse but was able to give her other liquids this way. The ohter benefit was that the sippy cup spout was a little more durable than the nipple of a bottle and this helped with teething. She would naw and drink cold liquids. So, you might want to give it a try!

Call or e-mail me if you have any questions!

T. Pahls
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I have had a lot of luck with my breast/bottle fed baby using the playtex bottles with the drop in liners (both convenient and successful.) Now, we started working with him from day 1 with switching back and forth so he didn't mind. Try giving your baby some pedialite in a bottle, maybe the different taste/texture will help with the transition.

Hi K., in your "a little about me" you said that you just moved from chicago, where did you move to? I have a 2 month old son. Very few of my girlfriends have children yet and I'm also hoping to meet moms in my area.

Years ago I nannied for a baby that wouldn't take a bottle either. We tried cutting larger holes in the nipple so she would get some milk but she still didn't like them. So her parents switched her to a sippy cup. She took to it like crazy! It wasn't really any different holding her and feeding her with the sippy cup as with a bottle. I would suggest trying that and see what he thinks.

Hi K..

We just moved here from Dallas and are looking for families with small children as well.

I don't know if this would work for you, but a friend of mine tried this with her baby and it worked. You didn't say if you are breast feeding but I am assuming that you do. My friend would put a little bit of honey on her nipple so the baby could just get a taste of it and then she put it on the nipple of the bottle. Tha baby took right to it and she has had no problems since. Hope this works for yours. YOu can try anything, but sh tried honey because it is all natural. Let us know if you find something that works. Barb

K.,
Someone said it's not the bottle, it's the nipple and they're correct, however, every baby is different; some will drink from breast and bottle without problems, but many can not and end up developing problems with nipple/flow confusion.
The nipple should be silicone (soft)and have a wide base and short stem.
The Gerber dome nipple is one, but sometimes hard to find. Playtex also has a slowflow dome nipple, but be sure it fits the discription listed above. Munchkin has a tri-flow nipple that may work. The tri-flow is a revised version of Munchkin's original nipple (which was great for breastbabies), it isn't quite as good, but it's better than many others on the market.
I do not recommend the NUK nipple because the shape is similiar to what mom's nipple looks like when a baby is not latched properly at breast. However, some babies may be more receptive to this shape. You never know, "One size, fits all" does not work for humans.

The following is what I usually recommend to my clients:

1. Do NOT offer bottle at a feeding time and use breastmilk.
When babies are hungry, they don't want to learn a new thing, they want to eat and 5 minutes ago.

2. Do not starve the baby by not feeding under the assumption, "he/she will take the bottle if they get hungry enough". WRONG...no he/she will not; it will only compound the problem and can create an adversion to the bottle nipple and possibly even feeding all together.

3. Have someone else offer the bottle. You should be out of the room or maybe even out of the house.

4. Provide diversion, have the person walk around with baby facing outward (baby's back against feeders chest), stand in front of TV, follow pet around, outside where other people are, etc.

5. Do not force the issue. The baby may only gum the nipple, bite down, roll it around in their mouth or fingers and that is okay. The point is to familiarize the baby with texture, flow, etc. without anxiety, stess, hunger or anything that may cause unpleasantness. Babies are very smart and perceptive, they can pick up non-verbal ques and sense intent.

6. Warm the nipple (and milk). Some babies are very sensitive to temperature. Warming the nipple sometimes can soften the silicone to make it seem more like mom's breast.

7. BE PATIENT! Don't set a date and/or time when the baby has to take the bottle. This will only cause more anxiety/stress for you and the baby will definately pick up on the emotional turmoil and could create the counter-effect. Also, this isn't going to happen overnight and it probably won't happen after a couple tries. This scenario may have to be repeated several times before the baby feels comfortable and receptive.

Hope this helps. Let me know how things turn out. There are a few other tricks I know, but the above is usually what works best.

D. B.
P.S. Honey should never be given to children under 1 year of age.

Well I am not sure what to say! First check with your Ped and see what they say. You could try a Nubby Sippy Cup! See if that works.

Good Luck!