Breastfeeding Infant Won't Take Bottle

My advice is to give her the bottle, when you are not in the house. You can't even be in a different room. Baby knows you are there. Have hubby , uncle aunt , grandma, grandpa whoever is there give him the bottle. He will fuss in the beginning, but believe me as a mother of 4 it will work.

Good Luck, L.:)))

Well this happens many times, and I understand your concern, since he is only a newborn.

If worse comes to worse, and he still will not take a bottle... utilize a bulb-syringe to feed him. This is what they do sometimes, with success. Even in hospitals. Baby birds are even fed this way, in order to survive.

You could also try and ask your Pediatrician.
But I know you only have 2 weeks, until you return to work... so time is of essence.

Also, have someone else feed him the bottle or via the bulb-syringe... if you are the one doing it, he'll more likely 'reject' alternative feeding methods besides breast.

For the bulb syringe... of course don't get anything "huge"... it's just one of those type of syringes that you would use for liquid medicines. And yes, feeding him this way may take time... but it's okay. MAIN thing is that baby get enough intake, daily. And so he does not get dehydrated and gets enough nutrients.

ALSO, even when using these alternative feeding tools, whether it be a bottle or syringe... ALWAYS feed your newborn ON DEMAND, 24/7. AND, tell your care provider that as well...otherwise, some baby-sitters/care providers will only feed according to a "schedule." This is NOT good... and this way he will not be getting enough intake. Bearing in mind at "growth-spurt" periods, they need MORE intake and more frequently... as they get hungrier, naturally at these times.

As for bottles, you can try again later, or here and there and see how it goes. He may get back to it.
For me, I LOVED the "MAM" brand bottles... which you can get from www.amazon.com These bottles also have no "BPA's" in the plastic. My son LOVED these bottles/nipples. And it accumulates no air bubbles in it.

All the best, hope this helps,
Susan

The only way my four month old would take a bottle was if I put the bottle under my arm while he was in my lap and I leaned over. The bottle nipple was right near my breast and I think I fooled him. I used breastmilk in the bottle. I tried it a few times like that, then switched positions, then switched bottles, then had my DH do it. It took a few days, but we were good to go. Good Luck!

M.,
I had the same problem with my kids (all 3) eventually it does work out, but it's tough, and requires caregivers that are willing to work it out. No one thing will work for everyone (just as with ALL other topics involving children!), so do what feels right to you and the new caregiver and eventually it will smooth over.

As for the nanny, enannysource.com is where I found my nanny. She was live-out to start with, and eventually became live in. Although my kids haven't' needed a nanny since the youngest started school full days 2 years ago, we still see her regularly. She definitely became one if the family! I loved the sight and totally recommend them to anyone in need of a nanny. Be thorough and use all the resources available (the background check!!!) and go with the gut instincts. See how she interacts with the baby. Get a feel for her spend at least an hour with her. Most of that time with the baby there and awake. A fussy time is good to see how she handles the stress of constant interruptions, etc.

Good luck!
H.

I dealt with this with both my kids. Try different nipples on the bottle. I tried about 3 before he took one he liked. There is also a bottle out there that is simulates a breast. I had a friend that used it with her daughter and it worked great. They are a little pricer but it is worth it especially if you have to work. A specialty store like the Pump Station in Santa Monica would carry it i think.
Just remember if he is hungry enough he will eat. I know it can be frustrating. Take deep breaths : )

Are you trying to give him a bottle of breastmilk? If so he smells you and knows you have "the real thing" try letting someone else feed him. Sometimes breastfed babies wont take breastmilk from a bottle only formula. You will both figure it out, trust your gut and do what feels right to you for him. Try to rest.

same thing happened with me and my now 9 week old. tried all sorts of different bottles/nipples. asked the same question on this blog. turns out the only thing that works is having someone else (not you) give the bottle and have that person keep trying (preferably when your baby is most hungry). your baby will eventually "give in". it is a painful process but it works. mine still protests the bottle initially occasionally but will take the daily bottle we make sure to give.

i go back to work as well in a few weeks so i have the same concerns/issues. i am also a first time mom. we live in calabasas and recently moved here so if you live close by, perhaps we can get together for "play dates" since our babies are close in age (and we are both in the same boat). let me know what you think or if you found any mommy and me type groups that you like...

sorry i am typing one handed and holding the baby in the other which is why this is all lower case... best of luck!

The only way my daughter would take a bottle initially was if she couldn't see me giving her the bottle. She had to be in her bouncer or car seat carrier facing away from me. I had to stand behind her, reach around and give it to her that way. Eventually she came around and I was able to hold her again to give her the bottle. Good luck!

i recommend trying having someone else give the bottle while you either leave the room or the home. some babies sense you are there and want you.

Your son is making a good choice. There is plenty of research against formula. I have a friend that was able to pump amble milk for her child. If you would like more info on the product she used, let me know. You didn't mention if you were interested in trying to pump more.

Hi M.,
I know someone that had a similar problem, not sure what bottle you were trying but she tried Dr. Brown's bottles and her baby finally took to that.
Hope that helps

Hi M., what I believe a lot of breast feeding moms don't realize, it is more about the mom's smell while nursing than the milk itself, that is why it is sometimes very diffulcult to get a nursing baby to take a bottle, my advice to you is, go to the bottle only so your baby can get used to something different, I run a Home Daycare and I had a nursing mom put her 8 week old in my care who had only been nursed, and I had such a hard time to get this baby to take the bottle, I had to call the mom at work and tell her he was not going to take the bottle for any reason, and that she was probably going to need to come nurse him every 2 to 3 hours, I told her it would probably get easier for him, if she switched to the bottle at home, but she wanted to keep nursing, it took a couple weeks to get him to take the bottle like he needed, and it was stressful for me and the baby. You have a little time before you have to go back to work, so can train him to take the bottle, see the breast is always there, that's one of the reasons it is hard to wean babies sometimes, weaning them off the bottle is easy cause you pack it away, but the breast is always there and they know where to go to get it, I have seen kids as old as a year and older digging in their mom's shirt in public trying to nurse. Keep working out it, he should do fine. One more thing let other people hold him and feed him, so when you do get a nanny he will be used to someone feeding him other than just mommy, that will help the transistion to be easier for your son and the nanny. J.

Hmmm, can't speak to the bottle issue because mine actually wouldn't breastfeed, if you can believe that. Not a great latcher. But if you're looking for a nanny, we have had great success with enannysource.com Really great applicants. They do background checks. I highly recommend.

Definitely try having someone else feed him the bottle. If he won't take it, try leaving a shirt you have worn with the other person and see if that helps... My sister would only take the breast, she ended up not eating when my mother had to work, but my mom fed her on demand when they were together... On the other hand, my sister was a very overweight child/preteen...
Good luck
R.