Baby (Almost 6 Mos) Still Won't Take Bottle and Hubby Not Much Help!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but at this point, you probably won't get her to take the bottle. As you mentioned, especially not from you. My oldest took a bottle without any problems so I expected the next one to be the same. The second one never would take one no matter what we tried. This included my husband and SIL who has 4 kids when we did attempt to go out. I breastfed both of them but they were on very different schedules. At this point, she is more likely to drink out of a sippy cup then a bottle. She is also old enough to start on cereals so it might be easier to try to get that started before you want to go out so that the babysitter can give her cereal to tide her over. Other then that, all I can suggest is to make your evening out short. Feed her right before you leave and try to be back before the next feeding. My second nursed every two hours so I understand your frustration. It won't last much longer though. It won't be long til she is pushing you away so enjoy it while it lasts.

Good Morning! I work with babies who have feeding difficulties. Here are some ideas that usually help. I'm sure you have already tried several nipples, also, babies usually have a hard time taking bottle from mother since they associate mom with breastfeeding. Try to have someone else bottle feed as much as possible. Also, if you are out of the house, this helps so he doesn't smell mommy and want to nurse. Also, try the bottle feeding in a completely different room in a different position. I am working with a 7 month old now, and he is taking breast milk from a straw....they have sippy cups with built in straws. Good Luck. If you would want to contact me, please feel free at ____@____.com. Thanks!

A couple thoughts come to mind...

Have you tried different temperatures for her. Breastfed babies can be very picky about what temp they like their milk. I would suggest using a food thermometer to test the temperature of your freshly expressed breastmilk and then try heating the bottle to the same degree next time.

How fresh is milk that you are using? I would, in the beginning, try to make sure that it same day pumped. This way you can be sure that there aren't any issues that she may not like because of it being stored.

Some babies just don't take breastmilk from a bottle. Has you tried a sippy cup at all? Maybe she would take milk from there. This option is a little scary unless she is good at cup feeding or you have an extra stash of milk for the babysitter.

The other option is to try formula in a bottle. I know that most breastfeeding mothers cringe at the thought of giving their little one formula, but it might allow you the freedom to get out. Hopefully you have one of sample cans from the hospital, so you could try it out before making an investment in formula.

Do you have other an person, besides your husband, who could offer the baby the bottle? Maybe ask a friend or neighbor to try it while you wait outside.

Best of luck!

I had the same issue, mine would take one in the beginning, but then refused about the time I took her back to daycare at 3 mo's and still was refusing at 9 months. The ladies at the daycare would hold her so she was facing straight out from them so she couldn't see them and slightly rub her cheek while they fed her, they had the ceiling fans going with some crafts above her that hung down, sort of like a mobile does, but she loved watching them and it pre-occupied her, so that she would watch while they fed her. I consulted the lactation specialist at the hospital, I would suggest to call them for support, when I did, they said that some babies even drink from a cup better than a bottle, so they would lap up the milk from the cup almost like a kitten, I know it sounds crazy but it works. My daughter did better drinking from a cup than a bottle or sippy at first. Also the straw idea is a great idea as well, a sippy cup with a straw. It's so hard, I left her at 9 months for 5 days and went with my hubby to Hawaii on an all expense company paid trip and coudln't pass up the opportunity, but was so worried because she wouldn't take a bottle, my mother said she did okay while I was gone, but the minute I returned home she went straight back to nursing. Now she just turned 2 and loves the bottle and I'm having a difficult time breaking her from it. Good luck and hang in there, it will happen. I think they just feel so close to you nursing and love that bonding time, and the milk of course :) I would try holding her outward or having your husband or someone else try this, and try giving her milk from a cup, or even through a medicine dropper, that may work as well, if she totally refuses.

It sounds weird by a friend of mine turned on the vaccuum cleaner while they tried the bottle and it worked....you never know.