Breastfed Baby Refusing Bottle

My daughter had similar issues. As with some of the other moms' recommendations, I'd try different kinds of bottles- I must have 5 different brands (playtex, born free, first years' breastflow were favorites). Some work better different stages of development. Also, I used the bouncy chair to feed my daughter. She took the bottle much better from me if I wasn't holding her directly. There were times where she wouold cry and refuse, and it was difficult, but we would take a break for a few days and start again. It is good to have an option of using a bottle even though you are lucky enough not to have to go back to work :)) good luck!

A.,

We had this problem with my youngest. He absolutely refused to take a bottle, be it breast milk or formula. My sister suggested the "boob bottle", and it worked like a charm. It is made of silicone and literally shaped like a boob. When it is full, it also feels a little squishy like a boob. You can find it at onestepahead.com or The Right Start might have them as well. I forget the official name of it, but if you go to either of their websites under bottles and feeding, it should be there.

I know it sounds weird, but all it took was my husband giving him the bottle a few times and once he was doing it, then we were able to go back to the bottles we were trying to use all along.

Good luck.

A.,
I am in the same position but my baby is 15 months old. I think once they choose what they like it's hard to switch back and forth. Maybe if you were away for longer than a few hours he'd take it- or at least enough to tide him over, until you returned, that's what happens with mine. But she still is stubborn and won't take a lot, maybe 2 ounces. I say nurse and if you have to or want to go out , leave the bottle and don't worry too much. He'll take some if he's hungry I am sure.
I find trying to give the bottle myself is a joke- she refuses or takes 3 sips then THROWS it on the floor ! It's better if someone else gives it. Practice runs midweek don't work over here either.. I also am gone 13 hours on Sat AND Sun and nurse before work and at night after- in the middle she gets bottles and that's it. Sometimes she takes it and sometimes not. I can tell by the way she waits for me to get home so she can nurse. We've been doing this since 3 months to so I know how you feel. He'll get the hang of the schedule I am sure. Don't feel housebound, take your few hours..you deserve it!
Baby will be fine :) Enjoy nursing when you are with him too, don't quit because you feel housebound. Better 99% nursed than none I say- Almost PERFECT !

My daughter was the same way, refused bottles everytime we tried to give her one. The day I went back to work I was SO worried, but she drank 2 bottles like a champ and was fine. If he's hungry, he'll eat! Good luck!

I had the exact same problem with my daughter at the same age. Except she was with Grandma and Mommy and Daddy were at a Bruins game when she suddenly decided that bottles were no longer for her!(Let me say Daddy was not so happy to leave the game to care for a screaming baby!) Anyways, my advice is to first of all be consistent and offer the bottle every day whether he takes it or not. I did that and in about a week and a half it worked and she took one bottle a day. The other thing is to let someone else give him the bottle. This is a great daddy/baby bonding thing especially for breast fed babies. My other advice is to try other bottles. My daughter ended up taking to another bottle other than the one I gave her originally. I would recommend the one I got her to take which was the Gerber Nuk orthodontic. They carry them at most Walmarts and Targets. The milk comes out of the nipple towards the roof of the mouth just like the breast when breastfeeding. My daughter loved these bottles.
It's a hard transition to go through....I felt like I was never going to be able to leave my house other than in 2 hour intervals. But like I said, stay consistent and it will happen.

Hi A.

My son, now just over 6 months old, is breast fed. We introduced the bottle at about 5-6 weeks, and he did great. We tried to give him one bottle a day. After about a month, he started refusing the bottle. He would cry and scream, and my partner and I felt HORRIBLE! We tried (Well, my partner tried -- I haven't given him a bottle yet) different nipples, different positions, different times of day, etc. We would take periodic breaks because it was stressful. Then one day, he just started taking it again. We, again, had made a few changes at once, but I think it may have been that he was now ready again. Who knows? I was wishing that we hadn't tried so hard! The poor little guy! I didn't go back to work till our son was 6 months old (I envy you not having to go back to work!), and he's doing fine with both breast and bottle. I don't really have any good advice for you but thought I would share my experience. Best of luck to you!

Peace,
S.

We actually introduced solid foods at 4.5 months since our daughter refused bottles (screamed whenever the bottle was offered) and I started working 6 hours away from baby. She did take the bottle a few times, but then decided it wasn't for her (same with pacifier). She loved solid foods, so that helped. She had a definite preference and would wait for me to come home - about 1/2 hour before my arrival, she would become anxious (hungry). The only thing we didn't try was me going away for 1+ days to see if we could wait her out. All things considered, she liked the solids, the bonding was good for both of us and it was a fight that she was set to win. But we had no trouble weaning her at 11.5 months and she's a healthy active baby. If you need time away, take it. The baby will get used to it.

My son did/does the same thing. It is stressful when you want to go out and he won't take a bottle. He would cry alot when being watched. What worked one time wouldn't the next for him. All I could do was pump and leave a bottle and sippy cup (even at 3 months) some times he'd drink from one or the other. Another thing that worked for my mother in law was to lay him down and feed him. He didn't like to be cradled when having a bottle for some reason.
The only thing that made it easier was that he started with food. I nurse before I leave and the tell who ever is watching him to feed him in about 1 1/2 hours. This will satisfy him before he has the chance to get overly hungry. He's at least in a good mood longer before it's time for a cup of breastmilk.
Good luck & still go out from time to time. Even though you'll worry he'll be fine. If he's hungry he'll eat. Plus if your not worried about him eating it'll be something else.

if he's fighting you, then make the decision to go either all bottle or all breast. He's probably a bit confused. if you go all bottle, just give him breast milk in the bottle.. you can still have that closeness even without nursing. good luck.

One of mine refused a bottle. I did need to go back to work on a very part time basis. The solution ended up being that she abstained from feeding when she was away from me and made up for it when I returned. She did fine.

A., I had a hard time getting my 2nd daughter to take the bottle, too, though I had to be a bit agressive about it because I had to get back to work when she was 3 months old. In my case, my daughter would gag on the bottle and would fight it and cry. I got some advice from a breastfeeding organization that I tried -- I spoon fed the milk to her, which basically helped train her to take the milk in with her tongue (and it confirmed for me that she would take it from other than just from the breast). Eventually, I figured out that the bottle had to be body temperature warm, and I had wait until she was very hungry (but not to the point of crying). She would always end up falling asleep, but usually ingested a good 2 - 3 ounces (she was about 9 - 10 weeks old at the time). I kept at it for at least one feeding a day, every day, so that she got used to the bottle. Once she took that first bottle, it got easier and easier to give it to her. So, don't give up! good luck.

I had an impossible time trying to get my 4 month old to accept a bottle - it took almost a full month of persistent effort. There was A LOT of screaming and crying - on both of our parts : ), but eventually we got there.
Tip #1 - have someone other than yourself give him the bottle - he can smell mom, and prefers mom.
Tip #2 - try several different bottles and nipples - my son refused 3 different kinds of bottles, and finally accepted a nipple be NUK.
Tip # 3 - This is awful - I can't believe I'm recommending this, but try dipping the bottle nipple in something sweet - the baby is more likely to try it, and once he realizes there's food inside, may not fuss about it so much. Obviously, don't make a habit of this - do it just long enough to convince him that the bottle is his friend.
Tip #4 - if you can pump, put breast milk, not formula in the bottle.
Lastly - keep your witts about you. You are not starving your baby - he will be fine, and you will be too.

Good luck!
M.

I know it is very hard, and you can't help but feel guilty. With me I had to wheen my daughter off the breast and on to the bottle. If she is absolutelly refusing the bottle you can always try to spoon feed or maybe use a little medicine cup. They did that with my daughter when I was still at the hospital, I was having a hard time getting her to latch on. One thing I gotta say is that it is possoble he might have developed acid reflux or become colic. It's very common in babies. So last don't be afraid to call the doctor and ask questions.
Good Luck.

Sometimes they just won't take a bottle. Neither one of mine did. You can be away for two hours at a time at this age & maybe he'll take one from somebody else. But with you--he knows better :).

It never did us much harm. He'll start clamouring for real food soon anyway.

S.

Although a little pricey I absolutely love the Adiri Natural Nurser. It looks and (almost freakishly) feels like a real breast. I use these from time to time when I have to feed my 7 1/2 month old a bottle. I like these bottles the best because they have to latch on as though they are latching on to a real breast. You can check these out at:

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...

I would have someone other than you give him the bottle, and I would suggest that you not be around when they do. That was the advice I was given and it worked. My daughter is a little over two but we breast feed her exclusively until 9 months... so I know where you coming from in-terms of needing a little time. The theory is that while it might be more work for the baby to nurse it's likely that it's more enjoyable. Hormones or chemicals (not exactly sure of the technicalities) are released in both of you creating an incredibly bonding experience. If he can see or smell you he'll refuse the bottle to be with you. We started with one feeding a day of breast milk from a bottle with Dad and that worked. Initially I just left the room in case it didn't go well and then over time I was able to leave all together for an hour or so. Hope that helps! Good luck!!!

Have you tried different bottles/nipples? Maybe breastfeed for a bit first to satisfy his hunger, then follow-up with a bottle?
I had a friend whose baby never took to a bottle, so they tried a sippy cup around 3 1/2 months, and it worked! Just an idea.
Good luck!!

Have you considered holding him against your bare skin (breast or otherwise) and giving him the bottle? Sometimes it's the warmth of the body that they miss. This could work with the baby's dad or other caregiver, unless the dad has a very hairy chest. Bottle feeding is easier for the baby - less sucking required - so it could be more of a sensory issue. You could also try a different bottle nipple or even warming the nipple against your skin. Good luck!

My daughter wasn't super excited about bottles when we first gave them to her, particularly not bottles of formula. She would take bottles of breast milk relatively easily, but cried when we tried a bottle w/ formula. I did some pumping and often gave her breast milk in a bottle, and eventually mixed some formula and breastmilk- the first time like 3/4 breastmilk 1/4 formula- eventually I tapered back on the breastmilk, but I think it allowed her to get used to the tast of the formula a little bit at a time...she now takes a bottle of formula pretty easily- not her first choice if I'm around, but she does take it!

Do you see any signs that he might be teething? Three months is a very common time for teething to begin even if you can't see any signs of it. It's common for infants to refuse the bottle when teething because it hurts their gums more than breastfeeding does. If that doesn't seem to be the case, I would suggest you keep introducing it but try to have someone other than you giving it to him and you should leave the room. If he's next to you, he's smelling the breast milk and getting frustrated he can't have that instead. Also, make sure you stay with the size 1, slow flow nipple- breastfed infants don't need to switch up to higher number nipples that increase flow because the slow flow stage 1 nipples much more closely represent the movements he uses when breastfeeding. if you find yourself getting really frustrated I would drop in on a free lactaction group. Don't know where you are but most hospitals have free drop-ins weekly or you can call the La Leche League for support. I teach at Isis Maternity and they have free breastfeeding clinics every week at their three locations (Arlington, Brookline and Needham). Good luck! And by the way, it is imperative- you need to get in some Mommy time even if you aren't going to work!! Good luck!

My daughter, who is now almost 9 years, refused bottles and pacifiers. I wanted pacifiers for the car because she would cry in the car. They only made her more angry. I ended up always staying with her. She is my first, now I have two. Now I would take some time away for myself if I could do it again with her. Even if you only take an hour, it would help. Or, if you know that she naps for a certain number of hours. You could leave right after putting the baby down. This could be tricky. You would have to have a sitter or dad waiting around for nap.
Good luck! I hope you find some "me" time!

I have an 8 week old who's gets breastfed and milk in a bottle (since week 1). Lately he's been slowing down a lot on the bottle and won't drink as much (he gets maybe 1/day). I think it may be because he needs a new "stage 2" nipple, the stage 1 being too slow for him now. This may only be because I have a fair amount of milk and it flows fast and easy out of my breast(at least when he gets started) so I suspect he finds the bottle too slow now that he's up to handling the breast (it was a bit much for him for a while there). I have to get some new nipples still to test this theory. Maybe that's part of your son's trouble? I know it runs counter to most of the advice people have given, but who knows?

Hi A.. Have you tried the Special Needs Feeder by Medela? Also know as the Haberman feeder?

They are specially made bottles where the baby HAS to suck in order for milk to come out (like breastfeeding) - unlike other bottles where the milk just flows regardless.

They also have long nipples on them where it goes into the back of the baby's throat - again, just like breastfeeding.

My baby would NOT take to a bottle - we tried 5 brands, and she took to this one first try.

You can buy them locally at Johnson Drug in Waltham, and if you google it there are some places online as well.

Good luck, and feel free to email me directly as well.

Hi A.,

The bottom line is, if he's hungry enough he'll take the bottle :-) I have a 4 month old and I breastfeed him in the morning, then he has 2 bottles of my pumped milk during the day when I'm at work. Then as soon as I get back from work, I breastfeed him again. Then his last feeding at night is from a bottle even though I'm there - because he can get more ounces out of a bottle than with breastfeeding and it gets him sleeping thru the night.
Sometimes when I go to feed him when I get home from work after he's had 2 bottles during the day, he decides he doesn't want to breastfeed (because the milk just flows so much easier and faster for him thru the bottle). So I just rock him, soothe him, etc. and wait 15 minutes or so and try again. I keep doing that until he decides he'll give in and breastfeed. Don't worry, he'll be ok - even if he misses a feeding. Like I said, when he's hungry enough he'll take the bottle. You're the boss, not him :-) I know it makes you feel bad because you just want to make him happy, but he needs to learn that he needs to be able to drink his milk in 2 different ways. Be patient, and the little guy will comply soon enough :-)