3 Month Old Won't Take Bottle

Hi T.-

What you are experience is not at all abnormal. Your baby is developing to the point of being able to have a preference......your breast over the bottle. Maybe try a different nipple on the bottle, one that closely assimilates your breast. There are different brands. Try a few different ones to see which works.

A little about me:

I love to shop and read as well as help others. I own my own business and I am a business coach providing free mentoring to individuals with stay at home businesses, teaching the skills needed for success.

I am newly married (Sept. '07) but we've been together for 5 years. I have 3 children, 1 is special needs. He's the best little boy! Christopher is 7. My other 2 are 13 (girl) and 20 (boy)

First of all, you're not being "selfish" at all! Everyone needs a little "me" time and it makes you a better mommy...so dont let anyone tell you otherwise. My4 mo old is going through the same exact thing, and has been for the past month. My older one did the same thing at 3 months...and she finally started to take the bottle on her own after I bought every bottle on the market! I actually went to the pedi today and he basically said to leave him with hubby or grandparent or someone and be persistent with the bottle. He basically said to let him "starve"...and he'll have no choice but to eat. I know, easier said than done, but they will have to learn at some time, and the longer you wait, the harder it gets. Believe me, I feel your pain, literally. My nipples are so sore and have been for weeks...I just need a break! Good luck to both of us!

Have you tried different bottles? My son used the breastflow bottle by first years which is most like the breast. Are the people who are babysitting holding the baby close and comfortable the way you would or laying down or rocking? When the baby is hungry he will eat. Also try sleeping with a blanket or doll under your shirt to get your scent on it and having the babysitter keep it near him when feeding.

You have to keep giving the bottle on a daily basis even if you aren't going out that often that way the bottle is a part of the routine and there is no preference...have your husband do it once a day(or night) it's a great bonding thing for the two of them and gives you a break....be out of the room for this until baby starts taking bottle with no problem again. Goodluck!

T.,

Have you tried changing the type of nipple on the bottle? When my kids were young I used the Avent Bottle system and whether I breast feed or bottle fed my kids took to the nipples on those bottles. They are more natural and the infant should feel more confortable with those nipples. Now mind you my kids now are 14 and 20 but those bottles are the best out there and I would highly recommend them. You could also buy some Karo syrup and just dabble a little on the nipple to give a little taste of something sweet and maybe that might work. Or since I would assume you do pump your milk then try soaking the bottle nipples in the breast milk that too might help. Another idea to try is when your sitter is feeding the baby have her hold that baby close to her and let the baby turn its head for the nipple and that too might get the baby to take the bottle. These are old tricks of motherhood but they do work.

L. Walk

Welcome!! Congrats!!! I would ask r pediatrician. If u live in East Meadow I have a perfect pediatrican His name is Dr. Martocci. his phone is ###-###-####. He is in the Garden City area. He is the Best.. He will have a solution for u.. Also, u can look into seminars at Babiesrus. They have Consultants there that can help u for free.
Good Luck. Barbara G.

I feel your pain. My son has not taken a bottle in 2 months, he just stopped taking it one day. I agree with pp, please don't feel you are being selfish, you need me time and I know I'm suffering from being without it. Try every day, make it a game, when he's very happy and it should probably be from someone other than yourself although Max has started taking it a little from me. I've tried EVERY nipple and the nuk ones have worked the best so far, but they were the original ones he had when I was supplementing. I have some hope and you should too! I keep telling myself that eventually it will happen, even if it is when he's old enough for a sippy cup! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi T. B,

Your little one is having a wonderful time with mom this happens some time. So don't worry keep trying the bottle as your baby is growing and will need to learn different methods of eating, especially when your baby start to taste diffrent kind of baby food and your baby grow older.

A.

Just keep at it. If baby is hungry enough, he'll figure it out. Date night is just as important for the two of you. Good luck!

This is a tough one! My first two experienced this when I returned to work between 6-10 weeks and they went to daycare. I've been home with my youngest since birth and she NEVER took a bottle!

Like another poster said, keep trying. Trust that your baby is not going to starve. He will eventually give in if he is hungry enough.

I had success with the Dr Brown's bottles. They seemed to help with gas reduction too.

Good Luck!

If he is used to breastfeeding, you might want to try different bottles and nipples that better mimic your own nipples. That should help.

Hey! Don't listen to NB for one second! It's not selfish of you to want your baby to take a bottle occsionally. It's unrealistic to think that in this modern society that we'll spend every minute with our child. I am also a SAHM with a 4 month old boy. We just had a major battle with him over taking the bottle. We wanted to go out for our anniversary so we wanted to ensure he would take a bottle from my mother-in-law who was babysitting. In the past we had given him a bottle frequently and he would always fight taking it for 10-30mins and then give in. I guess since he's a bit older he thought he would be more stubborn because he went 6 hours without eating! Even though I felt a little bad for all the crying we stuck with it until he took the bottle. We have been giving him one every day since then and he doesn't fight it anymore. Stick with it and remember you are the parent and you're in charge!

A.

The problem is not with your precious little baby, it is with you, you can't have it all sometimes! But your baby wants it's all and can you blame him? Your warm, soothing, comforting, loving breast vs a lousy "rubbery" nipple, who wouldn't choose the breast! So get used to not going out for awhile, my husband and I haven't been to a movie theater for 3 years, so I have little sympathy for you, I sympathize with your son. He is trying to tell you, he needs you a little bit more, so give him what he needs, he is only 3 months old for goodness sakes! He's trying to tell you he is not ready for that rubbery thing, you are expecting him to accept the nipple just because you want him to and when it is not convenient for you, you get ittitated, well imagine how irritated he gets! Don't be so selfish.
Maybe when you relax your attitude a little about the bottle, things will eventually work themselves out. Always remember it is a two way relationship between Mom and baby a reciprocal, cooperative, loving and respectful one.
Best Wishes,
NB

Hi,

Keep trying. Find someone who is willing to deal with a crying baby. You should be out of the house. The more often you can try, the better. The ideal is probably to have your husband try every day when you are out of the house for awhile. If that isn't feasible you can try being out for a large chunk of the day on the weekend. It is definitely difficult but for me and for several moms i know persistence eventually paid off. One more thing, if you can have breast milk in the bottle at least at first. it will make it more palatable for the baby.

Good luck!

C.

I had the same problem with my little girl. She refused the bottle. In the beginnig she wouldn't take it from my husband. We tried everything with me leaving the house, different postions and different bottles. After trying many nipples, I found the NUK brand worked the best. Finally I tried giving her the bottle and after a few tries she took it from me. We only started with about an ounce and then went up from there. Once she was comfortable with taking it from me, we had my husband try and then she began to accept it. We did it every night for a while. Now we have started solids with her we've not been giving her the bottle as often. Big mistake. We are back at square one again. I am going out for an evening this week and she is refusing the bottle again. I hope she takes it again. I wish you luck!!