Baby Won't Take a Bottle - South Rockwood,MI

Hello A.-
I breastfed my son until he was 6months old. Very rarely would I supplement. Once his teeth came in I had to stop breastfeeding completely. The transitional period of breast to bottle wasnt very easy for us, he refused the bottle until he coudnt refuse it any longer. I waited it out with him- let the baby throw a fit keep on her with the bottle and within a few days she should know that the bottle is her friend. Let her get hungery enough to want the bottle. Playtex bottles and drop in bottle fillers is what worked the best for us~!~
Good Luck

When my kids did the same thing, it was because the flow in the bottle was too fast. I had to get the newborn nipples from the store, and then they took it fine. Hope you get some relief.

It's really common for this to happen. She likes her milk straight from the source! However, she can drink straight out of a cup. Even a newborn can do it!
http://drjacknewman.com/video/cup%20feeding-1.wmv
This way you know she's not starving while you're gone, and she's getting practice for the future. It takes patience at first, but she'll be a pro in no time. With a newborn they recommend using a flexible cup, but for a 4 month old that won't be necessary. Just use a small cup (even a medicine cup or shot glass!) to cut down on the spilling until she gets the hang of it. Good luck!

I think your baby is very smart! If there is a necessity to use a bottle when you're not there, you can use a sippy cup (as you said), a spoon, a flexible plastic up that you can bend into a spout or something else with a little spout, or a baby medicine syringe. A lot of us who breastfeed don't ever use an artificial nipple.

You have gotten alot of good advice, but I just have to say Kudos to your husband for being such an invested dad to think about the medicine dropper and take the time to feed his baby and nurture her and comfort her in moms absence - wow!, what a sensitive guy. You are a blessed woman.

I don't know if your daughter is on solids yet - I know there is varied opinion of this, but it may not be long before she is and that would be an option too when she is ready.

It IS hard, but know that you are attached to your baby, not attached down to your baby..Sounds like she is holding out for the real thing!!!

Good luck to you.

my son did this... he took a bottle for a while then refused.. he will drink juice out of a bottle but not milk.

you can try a sippy cup.. maybe she will take it..

I had the same experience...the only thing that worked was using a dixie cup. This took place for about a month then I tried the bottles again and it worked. Good Luck!

Did you try the different nipple size? The flow is different perhaps that is it. My son refused to take a bottle until 3 months - I I breast fed and then returned to work. He had to take the bottle no ifs, ands or buts.

Sorry I could not be of more help -just wanted to let you know you are not alone.

I also went through this. I nursed for 13 months and my son never ended up taking a bottle. I didn't return to work so it wasn't a huge issue but it was a little bit demanding for me.

I was also a nanny for a baby who transitioned to bottles of breastmilk while his mom was at work. He basically went on a hunger strike for the first week (during the day while he was with me). After a week he realized that if he wanted to eat during the day it was going to be from a bottle. I tried a couple different types and the Playtex with the drop-in liners worked best for him. I also had to hold him facing outward, with his back against my chest at the beginning.

I wasn't about to go through all of this trouble with my own son so I just gave up on the bottles altogether!

try the more natural nipples like advent or playtex. Drop a little breast milk on the nipple and she will probably take it. Also, make sure it's pretty warm. Good luck>

We had the same problem with my son! After trying several different bottles/nipples, I got a nipple with a larger hole and that worked better for him, but he would only take a bottle from Grandma, NEVER Daddy or anyone else (we learned this the hard way!). In the end, he decided he'd rather have breastmilk from a sippy cup instead of a bottle when Mama's not around.
Hang in there! It is frustrating. Hopefully you will find a solution that works.

Hi A.,

Sorry your little one isn't cooperating with you on this bottle thing. She knows that she likes it straight from the source :) I'd back off on getting her to take it. Just use a small 2 ounce plastic bottle with a plain nipple. Give it to her to play with, mouth etc. Don't put anything in it at first. When she's comfortable putting the nipple in her mouth, put a 1/4 ounce of breastmilk in it and let her discover it, by tipping it up herself. Don't pressure her. Treat it like a toy etc. In no time at all she'll take it again. Running the nipple under warm running water might help as well. Some find that walking around with baby's back against their chest (sitting up) while they jiggle around, as well as offer the bottle, baby will take it. I hope this works for you. S.

Give her a sippie cup. Why does she need a bottle? You already went through this once use your gut your a mom of two. Do what you think not what the dr thinks.

Oh how I feel your pain! My daughter started to refuse the bottle around the same age. We tried every bottle on the market, it was so frustrating. We even tried the Adiri nurser which she would put in her mouth without screaming but couldn't seem to figure out how to latch on. The only one that she would kind of take was the Breastflow bottle, all the other nipples seemed to gag her. She's now 6-months-old and does well with the Avent Stage 2 nipples...however she rarely takes more then 2-3 ounces. I love nursing and I'm glad that she loves nursing, but sometimes bottles are necessary. Good luck to you!

I went back to work when my son was 4 mos old. We went through the same thing as I nursed him and had to introduce a bottle. We tried every bottle and nipple. He would only take the Playtex nurser - orginal brown nipple - with the drop in liners. My husband fed him upstairs, while I would go downstairs to keep my "scent" away from him. We strugled for a while until we found "the" bottle. After that, he had no problem drinking from a bottle while I was at work. Good luck!

I had the same problem with my daughter. The solution, this will sound weird, but it worked for her....instead of warming up the formula/breast milk, give it to her cold. After I gave her the cold "milk" I had no problems. NOT all babies like cold milk, but some do.

I totally understand. I really hope it gets better soon. Try warming the nipple of the bottle. You could heat up water in a cup and then warm the nipple in that water right before giving the bottle to the baby. Also have your husband stand up and try bouncing with the baby in his arms while feeding her or feed her when she is barely awake. good luck

Hi A., I would not worrie if your baby will take a feeder cup let her do this, it is better that she has some fluids then none at all. But monitor her on how many cups she is actually drinking. She may be ready to start on solids, them being very mushy. Most important keep check on how much she drinks.Dont leave it too long before seeking medical advice, if you are still worried. Good luck Jackie

A.,

When I was getting ready to go back to work (three weeks before) I started popping a (playtex dropin) bottle in my sons mouth when he started to wake up (he was seated in his carseat) while I stayed hidden behind the seat. He would start to eat without realizing the source.

He did go to daycare and to our church nursery where he would take a bottle. BUT if I was around he would refuse to drink from a bottle. They start to realize you are the source and their preferred bottle if you know what I mean. :)

I suggest you actually leave - not just the room - until she gets the idea. I don't know how but they always seem to know if you're there. You might be able to try the "pop the bottle in the mouth before they're truly awake method" that worked for me.

Good luck and hang in there!

C.

I have no advice...except that she is giving you a big clue...she wants YOU and your breastmilk. If you have to go out, make sure you fill her up good before you go. If dad has to try to give her a bottle, a blankey that you have had around yourself for awhile will smell like you and maybe give her some comfort. I think she is just telling you and hubby she misses her mom and wants the comfort and dinner that come with the breastfeeding!