At 3 weeks my 2 month baby took only the bottle (breastmilk & formula combo and each separately) for two weeks straight. I put her back on the breast after two of the bottle only and gave her a bottle once per day for a 1.5 week. For the past five days she started to refuse the bottle but would take it after 5 minutes. Today she absolutely refuses it. After an hour of trying, I give in and give her the breast (after 15 minutes of distraction). What have you done to get your baby to take the bottle? I've tried just breastmilk and mixing breastmilk and formula. I've warmed the nipple and warmed the breastmilk and formula. For two weeks, my baby used Born Free bottles/nipples. Recently, I've tried the Breastflow bottle and I plan to try the Platex Natural Latch Latex Nipple/bottle next. If that doesn't work, I'm going to try to use a sippy cup. As a last resort, I'll stop giving her the breast and give her only the bottle of breastmilk and formula. I hate to do that for that would mean she probably won't eat for a number of hours. Help!
I think it's great to experiment with different kinds of nipples. Eventually you will find one that works.
A 2 month old baby does not have the ability to use a sippy cup, so I advise against that.
Good luck.
Your baby obviously knows the container she likes best... She's got excellent taste! The breast is the best container, so why would you want your precious baby to have less than the very best? Suckling at your breast releases your oxytocin and prolaction--the love hormones, which are important to your daughter's well-being. She obviously understands that. Now, how can we help you to understand it, too?
The breastfeeding mother is not supposed to give the baby the bottle. I t causes nipple confusion and definite rejection of one or the other. The partner, babysitter, etc. are supposed to give the bottle.
Don't stop breastfeeding.... it is one of the best things you could EVER give your child for ALL of the health benefits and for the bonding.
Try leaving the house and have someone else give your baby the bottle when they are REALLY hungry.
Hope this helps.
Hi L.,
My son has always been on again, off again with the bottle! It's so frustrating! We always joked about his love of milk "straight from the tap". Certainly makes date nights short!!
I'm not sure if you have a reason for fixing the breastmilk and the formula but maybe try just breastmilk. She may be testing the limits also... If she refuses the bottle and you give into the breast then she gets what she really wants (who can blame her!). You might also try giving her the bottle when she's tired and close to sleep (and not overly hungry). Mine seemed to be less interested in putting up a fight then.
Just keep at it, and try not to let your frustration get the best of you!
T
Just wondering why you are trying to give her the bottle and not your breast? Is it so she can get used to the bottle? She might be already if she did it so well when she was 3 weeks. So she might be protesting that it's not you. But if it's possible, have another person give her the bottle when you are not around. Or try giving the bottle to her from behind. We did this, and tried different nipples that he finally liked. Good luck!
If you can, try having someone else give her the bottle. She associated you (and your smell) with the breast and get frustrated when you're trying to give her something else.
This is what friends of mind have done so to ensur the baby ate when they went back to work and for the dad to be able to participate in feeding.
When my little one started rejecting the bottle at 4 months old I tried everything to try and get her to take it again. I breastfeed almost exclusively, but I need a relief bottle now and then and I long for date nights without the baby...here is what I did that worked for me....
For one week I stopped trying to give her bottles at all. When I re-introduced the bottle, I did so during a late feeding when she was really sleepy, she accepted it no problem. I did the late night bottle feeding for about a week and then I tried a day time feeding and she took it!
I know everyone says that mommy shouldn't give the bottle, but I had to train her to take it from me as I need a relief bottle at night when my supply is low and hubby works a lot of nights.
hope this helps
Did you stop to think what your daughter obviously wants????? I know breastfeeding isn't for everyone, but she's only 2 months old! She's too young to do things deliberately, so if she doesn't want the bottle, why would you force the issue? If breastfeeding is going so well, you should feel lucky that you are able to provide your daughter with what she both NEEDS and WANTS! I know this seems a little extreme, but society needs to get over their views about a woman's breasts and realize that when you have a baby, it should be NATURAL to a woman to want to provide her baby's sustenance for as long as her and her baby feel comfortable.
