Breast Feed Baby Who Won't Take a Bottle

i just went through the same thing with my 2 1/2 month old daughter literally...1 week ago. I must bought $50.00 worth of bottles /nipples. My sister tried giving her a bottle last Friday and she finally took the bottle (my family and I have been trying for a month). The reason she took the bottle my sister used the playtex ventair bottles and she had the nipple touching the the top of her mouth. The minute she did that she has been taking a bottle like a pro ever since. Good luck.

If you find something that works, please let me know. I have the same problem with my five month old little girl. This was never an issue with her older sister, so I'm really confused. I have to go back to work at the end of August and I don't know what to do. I have found that even though she (the five month old) won't take any kind of a bottle she does like to eat solid foods. So far we have had success with rice cereal and squash.

with my first daughter I breast fed but also gave her breast milk through a bottle. All of a sudden at 5 months she decided she didnt' want anything from a bottle. So the next week I fed her direct breast milk. Then she started to take a bottle again. That is when I decided I wasn't going to breast feed anymore and I switched her to formula. She did fine with it. Give it a break for a while then try a bottle again. You may need to try different nipples too. My daughter would never take the yellow ones.
If they aren't going to take breast milk from a bottle then you will get tied down. Everyone wants you to breast feed until 1 yr. of age, but the doctors will tell you as long as you can do it at least the first 3 months that is the most important.

Neither one of my girls took a bottle either. They went straight to a sippy cup, the ones that you have to suck on to get the liquid out. However, I breastfed one for a year and one for 9 months. Four months sounds a little early to wean her to me, but that's just my opinion. Sometimes the material the nipples are made of is what babies don't like. I'd try a sippy cup or even a small regular cup. My sister was drinking out of a glass pretty well at about 5 months old. She couldn't hold it herself, but she would take whole milk out of it just fine.

Just see what works and don't sweat the no bottle idea. Good luck!

Pedi's agree that babies need full fat milk until age 2 for proper brain development. What better that milk that is made specifically for them? Why stop giving people milk, and start giving cow's milk (or soy milk)?

I agree with all the pp's who said to try to keep bf'ing. I am a firm believer that babies should be bf'ed as long as both baby and mom want to continue. Social pressure shouldn't cause weaning, and going to work really only requires partial weaning.
As long as you are ok with bf'ing, please continue. It's the best nutrition you could possibly give your baby!

R.,

A mother and her baby should breastfeed for as long as they wish to breastfeed. The American Academy of Pediatrics currently (2005) recommends: "Pediatricians and parents should be aware that exclusive breastfeeding is sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months of life and provides continuing protection against diarrhea and respiratory tract infection. Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child." * As solids are introduced, usually around the middle of the first year, your baby will shift his primary source of nutrition from your milk to other foods.

All the benefits of human milk—including nutritional and health—continue for as long as your baby receives your milk. In fact, as your baby takes less human milk, these advantages are condensed into what milk is produced. Many of the health benefits of human milk are dose related, that is, the longer the baby receives human milk, the greater are the benefits.

Personally, I would try to continue breastfeeding as long as you can! What your baby needs and wants is YOU!
R.

I can't say I can offer much encouragement. I have four kids all of whom I breast fed. Only one of the four would ever really take a bottle. The others would scream & cry until I nursed them....even if someone else was offering the bottle. At about a year the oldest would take a bottle, but only to pack around & sip at occasionally. For the most part we went straight from breast to sippy cup.

We also had a lot of gagging when offered cereal at four months. I stopped trying to get them to eat "real" food & reintroduced it about a month or two later. They ate much better starting solids at 6 months than at 4.

Just wanted you to know this isn't unusual at all! You can keep offering the bottle, but try not to get too discouraged.

My daughter is 6 months, and while I'm not weaning, I do want her to be able to take a bottle. I've found that she actually does better with formula, so I've started mixing it in her cereal (she hated it at first, but I just kept trying) and now that she knows the "taste" of the formula, she is a bit more willing to take a bottle. Good luck to you!

I had the same problem with my son. You may try giving her the milk from a sippy cup. My son never really took the bottle but he did drink from the sippy cup and it did help out because when it was time to wean him from the bottle I didn't have too while the rest of my friends were having trouble trying to wean their children off the bottle.

I never succeeded in getting my daughter to take a bottle. My husband succeeded once. :) I was a SAHM at the time, so it wasn't a requirement, but not being able to leave her for more than 3 or 4 hours was hard.

My suggestion is to re-evaluate your decision to wean. I know lots of other posters gave you the pros of continuing, so I won't repeat them. If you still believe you need to wean her, you'll probably have to just stick it out and let her cry. You might try having someone else give her the bottle. I've heard it is hardest for a mom to get a nursing child to take a bottle. Also, make sure you're using a slow flow nipple to start with. I tried every conceivable type of bottle, and she didn't care. She just wouldn't take one. She went straight to a sippy cup, but I still don't think she took that much before she weaned at 14 months.

Good luck!

If your baby is protesting a bottle that much, it is a clear sign that she is NOT at all ready to wean. I would take her cues and provide what she needs... you. :-)

I know it can be very demanding, but maybe you should keep breastfeeding her. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for a MINIMUM of 1 year and the World Health Organization says 2 years. Also, be cautious of starting solid foods too soon. Most pediatricians now recommend waiting a full 6 months because the baby is less likely to develop allergies.

I just went through this with my son. I was getting ready to go back to work and had to start introducing the bottle. He was 2 months when I started with the bottle and he would scream and cry and refuse to eat even with breastmilk in the bottle. I finally had to use toughlove as much as it pained me. I just had to give the bottle and when he refused I wouldn't breastfeed I would just offer another bottle a little later. He would go another hour or two and then I would give the bottle again. I kept repeating until he finally was hungry enough to take it. Then I just gave him the bottle of breastmilk around the clock because if I nursed we ended up at square one where he would act as if he never had a bottle before in his life. Believe me the whole process was very hard. I called my pediatrician many times thinking I was dehydrating him. He was very stubborn and would go 5-7 hours sometimes without eating. My pediatrician said they won't starve and that they will take the bottle eventually. She said as long as they have wet diapers they are not dehydrating. While I was in the midst of this "toughlove" I didn't feel like it would ever work, but in the end it did. Now I nurse my son before bed and through the night, but otherwise he gets bottles of breastmilk. Honestly, the process took me a month to where he could finally take a bottle with ease. Just be patient. But if you keep nursing when she refuses the bottle she is learning that if she fusses she will get the breast. It is so hard I know. I never thought I would be able to go back to work or even go out by myself if my son didn't take a bottle. It is so freeing knowing my husband or mom can feed the baby if I am not there. Let me know if you have any other questions.

S.

Why do you want to wean at 4 months? Your baby depends on the nutrition you provide. Actual food intake at this point should be a tablespoon or so. Your breastmilk is the perfect nurttion for at least a year. Breastfeeding provides more than nutrition, though, and your baby longs to be close to you, hear you, feel you, and nursing brings that for her each time. Listen to her and listen to your heart. The gagging means that she is not ready for solid food right now, and the lastest research says don't start solids until 6 months or older. It also says start with fruits and veggies, not cereal.

Babies need to be nursed or formula fed till a year old. Breast is best but it's a personal choice. There are tons of benefits to breastfeeding but I am sure you know all them already. My son started solids at 4 months old and was still nursed. Well the solids were more for mom and dads fun..we were so excited to be able to feed him "real" food. He wasn't ready and had all kinds of problems after that. We had to use suppositories just to make him poop. He also would not take a bottle but took to a sippy. I suggest investing in the avent bottles that are interchangeable with avent sippys. If nothing else and she refuses cup/bottle/everything...take heart...it won't be forever and you can still be without her you just have to make sure you aren't gone longer than a few hours at a time. If it is a situation where you have to go back to work she may well take a bottle from someone else when she gets hungry enough! Good luck! Parenting is hard!

R.,
WHY do you want to wean her? You didn't mention if this is something that is necessary (like you're going back to work full time, and won't be there to nurse her). The way your post reads, it sounds like you're just weaning because you're giving her solids now.

If you don't HAVE to wean her, I'm in agreement with the majority - let her continue nursing through month 12, and hold off on introducing solids until 6 months. (I know that in Ohio, 4 months seems to be the norm, but out on the west coast, we wait until six months)

If you DO have to wean her for a specific reason, then have you tried the Avent? My friend swears by it. I was never able to use a bottle with my daughter - I wanted to be able to pump, so my husband could feed her - but she refused every bottle on the market. (I ended up nursing until she was 16 months.) I was very fortunate because I worked out of the home and didn't have to leave her. I can only imagine what it would have been like if I'd had to force her to bottle feed. Best of luck to you!
J.

I read some of the other posts and just about everyone mentions feeding the baby formula or breastmilk until they are a year old. I know this is what doctors suggest, but it does not work for all babies. My son started cereal at 1 month and was on ALL solid foods and milk by 6 months because the formula just wasn't enough for him. He got to the point where he would spit his formula up whenever I tried to give it to him. He is now 7 and is very healthy. Don't rush your baby. If she's ready for solids, then she'll do good with them when you feed them to her. As far as weaning her, you have to do what you feel is best for her. Your her mother and you know her better than anyone. Good luck!!

If she's gagging, she's not ready for solids. This is one of the reasons why solid foods should wait until around 6 months of age (each child is different though, so follow her cues).

Babies need either breast milk or formula for a year. If you are breastfeeding, it is best to offer the breast until they are ready to wean themselves. In a previous post, someone mentioned that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breast feeding until the age of 2 years and beyond.

Delaying solid foods not only helps with preventing food allergies, it is also because babies are not 'made' to process solid foods at such a young age. That is why they are on an all-liquid diet.

So, unless she has growth issues or weight issues, waiting to give her cereal is fine. Just as long as she is continuing to thrive and reach milestones.

God bless,
A.

4 mo. is too young for solids.
Be patient, she'll grow up quick enough.
I won't lecture on breastfeeding, but please don't stop, unless you have no choice. It's SOOo good for her.
Good luck.

why are you weaning her just b/c of starting solids? they need breastmilk/formula for AT LEAST THE FIRST YEAR. when introducing solids it is basically getting them to learn to eat. 6 months is when you are normally supposed to start b/c of allergies and low mmune system. but anyhow, i would keep trying the bottle, my son was th same way, he hated bottles until one day he just started sucking. get a slow flow nipple for the bottle otherwise you'll choke them.

My friend's baby went on a 3 day strike (wouldn't take a bottle when she went back to work - she was nursing at night). She screamed all day her SAHD was beside himself. On day 3, she finally caved and took the bottle. By giving in, you're teaching her that she can outlast you and she'll get her way. If you're serious about weaning, you're going to have to get tough.

Could you clarify what you mean when you say you want to wean her? Are you just going to cut her nursing back? Are you going to supplement with formula? She needs one or the other for the first year of life.
I also nurse my 6 m.o. son and he also will not take a bottle. Have you tried letting someone else give her the bottle? Will she take a sippy cup? How about drinking from a straw? Babies who have been nursed drink from straws better/easier than babies fed from bottles.
As for the gagging, the bottle may have too fast of a flow. With the cereal, it is a new texture and it may take a while for her to adjust to the consistancy. Is she showing interest in solids? Sitting with minimal support? Able to use the pincer grab? If not, she may not be ready for solids quite yet and this may be the reason for gagging...good luck!

She is probably not ready for solids. A babies digestive system is not ready to digest solid food until their first teeth come in, they lose they thrusting reflex and they can sit up on their own. Sounds like you might be trying to move a little to fast for her.

R.,

It took me forever to find a bottle that my daughter would use. I finally found the Breast Flow bottles from The First Years

http://www.learningcurve.com/product/detail/Y1130A2?local...

and yea!! she finally started drinking from a bottle, I finally had a break.

I also played around with the temperature of the milk and found that my daughter liked her milk quite warm. Remember that breast milk is always the right temperature, not too hot and not too cold.

The Breast Flow bottle's nipples are also interchangeable with the Soothie Bottles (also made by The First Years)

http://www.learningcurve.com/product/detail/Y1866A1?local...

The soothie bottles have the same shape as the soothie pacifiers so if your baby uses that pacifier she may use this bottle.

I hope that this helps.
Take care and God Bless,
M.

We had sort of similar issues with our daughter. She refused any bottle and solids. We found that some developmental delays were the cause. She is now almost five years old and eats better than my soon to be seven year old son. She just needed a little help along the way.

If the issues continues with your daughter, I would highly suggest you contact Help Me Grow for an evaluation. My pediatrician told me she was fine however the eval proved she was delayed.

I have 3 children, 10, 7 & 5, and have breastfed them all. I learned my lesson the hard way after my first child. I decided to stay home with her and didn't want to "bother with bottles". Well, when I needed to be somewhere and wanted to leave my daughter with my husband, she refused to take the bottle. We tried ALOT!! I would recommend to anyone who is breastfeeding to supplement with a bottle from about 4-6 weeks (breastmilk preferably, but I have also mixed formula & breastmilk when I didn't have enought milk). This gave me freedom and my husband, not to mention the grandmas, loved that they could share in feeding the babies. I never started my daughter on solids until about 6mths. and always started with vegetables and sometimes we had to try again because of the texture or taste. Hang in there new moms...sometimes it's just trial and error and using those "motherly instincts". Debbie

Your baby loves mommy and her breast....poor thing.
She is not ready.

Try different nipples. Don't get discouraged. keep trying
M.

R., First of all, I am so proud of you for making it this far! The only thing I can suggest is trying different bottles. Good luck! J. ( mom of 3)

She's gagging because she's too young for cereal. If you want to wean her from the best, have someone else try bottles, no baby wants to take a fake nipple when the real thing is next to it. Whatever you do, don't starve your child into taking a bottle. Nothing says "I don't care what you need" more than forcing a baby to do what you want instead of what they are used to. She's only 4 months old!!!

Hold off on solids, the AAP, WHO, and UNICEF all say a baby should be 6 months before starting solids. Breastfeds don't need cereal, you can start with avacado, sweet potatoes, etc...even meat.

Here are 4 criteria a baby should meet before starting solids:
At least 6 months of age
Has doubled birth weight
Can sit in high chair (not lay reclined)
Is interested in what you eat, watches you eat, mimicks chewing motions

Good luck:)

She probably hasn't learned how to swollow and suck from the bottle. Her little muscles just haven't figured it out yet. You can try several different nipple types that are similar to your own body. There are different textures like silicon and rubber. Some bottle nipples are softer and easier to suckle upon. Some have a longer nipple or the nipple detracts into the lid like a real nipple.

My boys did not like drinking from the silicon nipples. They were too hard. They only liked the rubber nipples that were like a brownish-orange color. Another thing to think about is that nipples have holes in them that allow the milk to release. If the hole is too large, it may let the milk disperse too quickly. Or if the hole is too small, the baby may have to suckle much harder to receive any milk. My boys never liked to breastfeed since my milkflow was always low and I had a hard time letting down. I ended up feeding from the bottle and putting two extra pin holes in the nipple. This helped them drink faster and reduced fits and whining.