11 Week Old Who Will Not Take Bottle & I Go Back to Work in 2 Days

I was reading in a baby book that someone who had this problem tried sippy cups and it worked. I have not even tried to give my daughter a bottle yet so I don't know from experience...

A friend of mine had the same problem. She had to start using sippy cups and her son would take those.

Are you able to go to the daycare over lunch at all? My daughter was the same way when I went back to work. She refused the bottle for 4.5 weeks at daycare. I nursed her in the morning, at noon and then when I picked her up. Eventually she figured out that she was hungry and took the bottle. Eventually they give in, and she will be fine. Don't stress out too much about this. My girl liked the little gerber bottles with the small nipples. She didn't like the Avent bottles at all, which is of course what we had from our first!

You could have someone try spoon feeding her. I've heard by 3 months that can work well. I'd also keep trying nipples. My youngest would only take a latex Playtex nurser. He wanted nothing to do with silicone.

Blessings,
~A. <><

ETA: I agree re: nurse just before dropping her off (even at the sitter's), use expressed breastmilk (do not microwave), and use toxic free bottles if at all possible. LLL or a good LC may be able to help.

Hi S.,

I can understand what you are going through. My son also did the same thing. We tried 15 different bottles and 40 different types of nipples and he refused all of them. He also never took a pacifer. The daycare very helpful and worked with us. So I day I tried a small cup he started to drink from it. Ofcouse it went everywhere. Then I tried some sippy cups and found out that Avent sippy cups with the soft white spout worked the best. Since he could not suck on the spout, I removed the plastic disk from inside the spout. I would let my son sit half way where his head is not tilted all the way and where he was comfortable in a position. It is amazing how even at 12 weeks they are very adaptable. By removing the plasic disk, I could control the amount of milk and it took us hardly a day and he was drinking out of the sippy cup. So at 12 weeks he was the only one in his infant room drinking milk from a sippy cup. What I like about the Avent sippy cup was it was soft for him to feel it on his lips and mouth as compared to the other sippy cups, did have an after taste and did not hurt his gums.With other sippy cups he would just chomp on them when hungry and he was teething at 12 weeks which would hurt his gums. Hope this works out for you. I was also fortunate to go and nurse him once a day at the daycare. So in the mornings he would take a sippy cup with breastmilk and at around 2:30pm I would take a late lunch and go and nurse him. Hope this info was helpful. Take Care and welcome to motherhood. That's the best thing that happened to me;0)

Have you tried leaving the house & having someone give her a bottle? She will get hungry enough to get used to the bottle.

I agree with trying the latex Playtex nipple. I think latex looks gross, so I only tried silicone with my son who also wouldn't take a bottle (never did). But, I heard from numerous people that we should've tried that one. Good luck!

HI, My name L.. When I was getting ready to go the bottle, after nursing. I would use the Playtex bottle. That seemed to work very well will both my boys. I have a 7 yr. old and a 10 month old. I always went for the nipple that would have some simliar look to the breast and it helped us.

I'm convinced that there is no solution to this. My daughter was at day care for 4 weeks without drinking from a bottle. I would nurse her right before dropping her off and as soon as I picked her up (about 7 hours apart). The daycare teachers said she was perfectly happy and content and only cried when they tried to give her a bottle. On the first day of the 5th week at daycare she suddenly drank an entire bottle. This being my first baby I worried myself sick about it, and she was FINE! When she was hungry enough, she drank from the bottle, I guess. Don't worry about it. Hope your daycare providers are as patient and kind as my daughter's were.

Are you using breast milk or formula in the bottle? My 3 yr old had a hard time latching on, even to my breast. She had to be bottled fed because of it, but we had to battle to get her to attach to it too. You might have to push her tongue back in with the nipple or positioning it to make it easier. So if its breast milk, be patient and consistant. If it formula, try pumping for a few feedings, she might except it better. Then start weening her off of breastmilk and on to formula by mixing them. Good luck!

I'd try the Adiri Natural Nurser, a bottle that is nearly identical to a breast and very soft. It think it's the best transition bottle on the market and ends nipple confusion. It's also 100% bisphenol-A and phthalate free so it's safe for baby! Here's a link to a review I've written on it: http://uggamugga.blogspot.com/2008/03/adiri-natural-nurse...

Do you have to go back to work? Can your husband carry the financial burden while you take care of your daughter? It doesn't have to be forever, but a year would be nice.I know it sounds old fashioned, but our bodies were designed to nurture our children, and bottles are a slow second. Some of the suggestions seem cruel to me when your daughter really seems to need you.

S.,
Not to sound harsh, but I'm sure once she realizes it is her only option if she wants to eat at daycare, she will take the bottle. My son was a little reluctant for a while when he first started at daycare, but he picked up on it. Don't get stressed out, she'll be okay.

My husband stayed home with my son after I went back to work. We had the same problem, but here's what worked. My son prefered a latex nipple (we ended up special ordering them), my husband wrapped one of my "dirty" shirts around the bottle so it would smell like me, and lots of patience on the part of my husband. It can be a tough transition, but I'm sure you will both do just fine. Good luck!

Hello there
This is your first baby right? Baby will take a bottle fine once you leave for work. WQhoever is caring for the little tike may have to keep trying for a good while at first, but I can assure you that if he/she is hungry that they will come to LOVE their bottle! Relax all will be ok!

There are lots of things you can do - spoon feeding, flexible cup (like a medicine cup - baby will lap at the milk like a kitten), syringe or dropper, medicine spoon, etc. A different type of bottle is the Adiri Breastbottle, found at this website:

http://todaysbabies.com/breastbottle_nurser.html

They are making a new bottle style which comes in 3 stages - probably a marketing thing, cuz you have to buy the three different bottles for different size babies. But these bottles are very popular with nursing babies/toddlers. The new design looks less like a breast (which might make dads/caregivers more comfortable with using it) but still has the soft, flexible, warm feel of the breastbottle.
http://todaysbabies.com/adiri_natural_nurser.html

Good luck!

Keep in mind that your job must allow your leave to be extended until you can leave your baby without nursing. You can get a doctor's note that will extend your leave (they may even have to pay you) based on "failure to thrive".

She is probably responding to the disgusting flavor of the nipples (have you tried putting one in your mouth?). There are SAFE BABY internet sites that offer non-toxic nipples that don't taste bad or stink. Google on "safe baby products" to see what's out there.

A new report out last week indicates that most bottle nipples are causing nervous system damage in infants and children. She is doing you a favor by rejecting the nipples you are offering.

Then, fill these non-toxic bottles with your own breast milk. Formula is also a disgusting flavor to babies who have tasted the ambrosia of mother's milk.

I have had a few babies in my daycare that have been breast fed and had some trouble transitioning to taking breast milk from a bottle. The latest little girl really took some patients :) We tried several different bottles and nipple types to find something that she was happy with. We ended up with a Playtex Nurser with the wide nipples. If she still has trouble I rub her tongue with the tip of my finger while the bottle nipple is also in her mouth. I don't know if it is the texture or taste of the skin but it REALLY helps her latch on. (yes, I wash my fingers first)

She would have some trouble on Mondays after breastfeeding all weekend but now she is a trooper and does great.

Hi S.,

Call the local La Leche league person if you can. there may be a number in your phone book. This was a huge help to me with my second child when i had to return to work and was breastfeeding. I was able to continue breastfeeding!

your baby knows what's good for her - if there is a way to pump a few ounces for her to have during your work time that would be ideal. regarding nipples, I'm guessing the softest most malleable are most like yours and could work.

I think 411 is a number to call for various resources like la leche.

best wishes to you!
K. C

I had the same problem and after many weeks of trying my mom suggested the platex nurser with the nipple that looks most like her pacifier. She still wouldn't take the bottle from me and it took about 3 days for her to take ot from the daycare provider but she got used to it. She started solids at 4 months and began to refuse the bottle again at 5 months because she just wanted food. So the daycare mixed my brest milk with rice cereal and still does to this day, she is 9 months. Trying a sippy cup is a good idea too. It's a very stressfull transition, I know, but it will get better and she will eat it when she realizes it's her only option. Good luck!

...and you also might want to be prepared for what is looking like the most likely thing to happen which is your daughter may very well decide NEVER to take a bottle, and this is the most hazardous situation to anyone's health here. Are you able to get a letter to your boss from her doctor stating it is medically necessary for you to stay home or bring your baby to work with you so that she may eat?

You are not alone!! My little girl ( Turning 2 next week) had taken bottles numerous times until apx. 3 months old, and then decided to refuse it! I know you don't want to hear this, but... Nothing worked. I think we bought almost every bottle made, with every nipple, we tried dropper feeding, spoon feeging, cup feeding, and sippy cups! Thankfully I was off for 4 months before I had to return to work full time. By the time she went to daycare she was able to take baby food- cereal made with breast milk and baby fruit etc...During my very frustrating and stressful time I found that this is a very common problem of breast fed babies- some eventually figure out that the bottle is not so bad, and some will never do it again. Like mine who never took her bottle again, and finally started on the sippy at 15 months when I quit nursing!
This whole thing was very stressful for me and my whole famly and support system. Talk to your pediatrician. Feel free to contact me! Good luck!

Have u tried having someone else give her the bottle. I was worried about the same thing but i know my son took it when he got hungry. Im sure things will work out. It could just be that she dont want it from you!

Is there a local La Leche League or organization for breastfeeding mothers to help you out? I did not have issues with this for the most part, but it was a few days of refusal and minimal intake to get my kids to realize it was all they were going to get and also a natural nipple. Since I pumped and used that in the bottle first alternating with formula it got easier. Hope this helps.
C. - Disabled mom and part time Latasia Jewelry Designer