Going from Breast to Bottle

Two issues here, the biting & the bottle. Regarding the biting, that's a pretty normal phase that a lot of moms have to deal with, unfortunately. She could be teething, or it could be that she's at the age where she's becoming very aware of her surroundings and is starting to become distracted. If the latter is the case, it may help to make sure you nurse her in a dark, quiet room. When she does bite, stop the nursing session. Don't yell or get angry, but firmly tell her "No." After a few moments, let her latch back on. If she does it again, do the same and then put her down. I know first-hand that the biting stage can be an emotional one for mom and baby. Just try to keep your cool and know that with persistence on your part, it will pass. For more info on biting, check out this site: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/biting.html

With respect to the bottle, you may just need to skip bottles altogether and go straight to sippy cups. I've heard a lot of moms in your situation (starting bottles really late in the game) had better luck just starting the baby on those soft-spout sippy cups. You might give it a try!

Not sure what to tell you with regards to the bottle other than to try several different nipples. The one that we found that works the best is the Playtex Ventaire Wide. The nipple seems to be shaped most like the breast. Also try having your husband give her the bottle instead. She may be more willing to take it from him.

As for the biting, the only thing that worked to get my DD to stop biting me was to smush her face into my breast until she unlatched, tell her "No biting" and then take her away from the breast for at least 5 minutes. I only had to do this two or three times. When she realized she wasn't going to get to eat, she didn't bite any more. She was in the 6 to 7 month age when I did this.

Good Luck!!

When we switched our daughter it took trying several different nipples before she found one she was comfortable with. Other than that I'm not sure what to tell you except just keep trying or maybe have your husband try because she knows you have something better. Good luck and don't get discouraged.

Hi K.. Okay I have a lot of advice because I have been going through something similar with my nearly 6 month daughter. I've had to start weening because by baby stopped gaining weight nursing. I remember the night before we started weening I felt sick to my stomach with dread, but it turned out to go a little better then planned.

First off bottles: the only ones that mine will take are the BreastFlow bottles by the First Years (target and babies r us have them). The thing that I like about the nipple is that it is wide and soft so the baby is forced to latch on with a wide mouth, similar to a breast latch. I noticed that my daughter sucks on it the same as my breast with her tongue out and under the nipple. Also I discovered that my stubborn little girl would not take breastmilk any other way then from my breasts. However she will take formula from a bottle. Since you have her on solids you could try introducing the taste of formula to her by mixing it with her cereal.

When the time came to get my daughter on the bottle I decided against cold turkey because I thought it would be too traumatic for her and it would be an easier transition for my milk production. What I did was figure out a feeding where she is happy and alert but very hungry. For her it was first thing in the morning. I then set the goal that I was not going to nurse her until she took something from the bottle; even if it was just one ounce. I tried every ten minutes for ten minutes or so; or until she was too upset. It took over two hours before she finally took the bottle and she was one hungry baby. Something you have to take into account though is that my daughter had taken a bottle in the past, but it was never consistent and we never knew when she would; it was always on her terms. However, I knew that it was possible for her to take it. So if your baby doesn't take the bottle after a few hours of trying you may want to just stop and try again the next day. But keep the timing consistent and be patient and persistent. Also, don't nurse her immediately afterwards if she didn't take the bottle. You don't want her to realize that if she holds out long enough that she will eventually get the breast. When she does take the bottle make sure you try it again at the the same time the next day for several days. This way she will learn to anticipate what's coming. Then when you are comfortable you can try adding in a another bottle during the day or switching the timing to a time when you and your husband might be away.

You will probably need to use some trial and error to learn things that make bottle feeding a better experience for your daughter. For instance, my daughter wouldn't allow me to cradle her with a bottle at first because that is how I hold her when I nurse her. I have to lay her on her back to give it to her. Also she prefers the milk really warm as opposed to room temperature.

I hope some of this advice helps. If you have any questions just shoot me a message. I would be more then happy to help you out, I know how you feel. Hang in there!!

Some babies just won't take a bottle. My youngest breast fed for 14 months because I could not get him to take a bottle. I bought every bottle known to man...nothing. What I can tell you is that if take your nipple away every time they bite and then wait a few minutes to feed her, it should solve the problem. I have had the same issues feding both of mine. Good luck!