Can't Leave My Breastfed Baby...

There are the babies who do this :) My first would drink pumped breast milk from a bottle, but the second wouldn't come near a bottle-any bottle with a 10 foot pole. I had a friend who needed to leave her 4 month old for 4 or 5 hours and she left a pumped bottle, and her baby waited for her to get home. The baby just wouldn't take a bottle! Yours may be the same way. Some babies just know what the 'real' thing is, and don't want a fake! No worries though, the time will go by, and she'll be eating some solids after a few months or so, and then you won't have to worry about taking a trip out. Unless you're trying to get her on a bottle so you can be at work all day, then I wouldn't worry about it. Just plan your trips around her feedings and all should be fine!

I had this problem too, and I never found a solution except for only leaving for a few hours at a time. Feed the baby until she's full and go out for a few hours, and then come home and feed her again. This is how we did it for the first 6 months until she slept through the night, and then, you have from bedtime until the morning. I know it's hard, but don't give in to formula, you'll regret it!

Have you tried pumping and storing the milk? Have you looked at all the stuff they put in formula? I'm very pro breastfeeding and encourage you to keep at it a couple more months.
It will make a life time of difference.

www.kellymom.com - has information on all things breastfeeding.

Even if you are committed to having a 100% breastfed baby, you might enjoy a couple hours alone without the stress of "I have to LEAVE NOW and get back to my baby!" After 3 months, you shouldn't have to worry about "nipple confusion", but she may not take a bottle of she knows the real thing is around. Have someone else give her a bottle and don't let her see that you are there.

If you are pumping milk, I found the the Avent Isis hand pump (usually under $50) to be better than those $300 electric ones. I had to return to work when my first baby was only 8 weeks old, though it broke my heart. But I managed to pump for over 20 months! He never had a drop of formula, and yeah, I was pretty proud of that, 'cause that was a lot of work.

"Not taking a pacifier" is a good thing. She knows her rights! And she knows a paci is an inferior substitute for you.

Hi! I am a mother of two. I have a 4 year old son and a 15 month old daughter. I breastfed both of them. I am actually still breastfeeding my 15 month old. I had the same problem with my son. It was hard for me to leave him with anyone. The only bottles I could get him to use were the Playtex Nursers. I don't know if you have tried that or not. You have to find the nipple that looks the most like a breast. I hope this helps. You can also call the lactation department at a hospital(Northside Hospital in Atlanta), and they may have some advice.
Good Luck!!!!

Two questions - Who is giving her the bottle? And what is in it?

If you are giving it to her, you may want to get Dad to do that. Why take left overs when the source is right there! lol. I don't think i ever gave my son a bottle until he was drinking juice, but Daddy and Grandma and others did.

Second - if you're using formula, you may want to switch to pumped milk. They smell very different. Your milk smells like food and may make it easier for her.

I remember reading to put some drops from the bottle on her lips and let her lick them off, then she may realize it is food. She may not have any idea why you're sticking this strange thing in her mouth!

Keep it up and she'll get it! Good luck, don't stress, and you're doing the right thing to get her bottle trained before it is a must.

My son would take any nipple you put in his face but my daughter didn't want it if it wasn't Mommy. When I went back to work (nightshift) and she wouldn't take a bottle from her dad at bedtime we started feeding her Yo Baby yogurt. They make 2 kinds with baby cereal in them, one is iron frtified and the other id DHA and RHA fortified. This worked great for us but my daughter was older (8 months). Also a lactation consultant recommended freezing breast milk until slushy and feed it to her with a spoon. She said this works especailly well if they are teething. Call the lactation consultant at your local hospital. She can give you more suggestions.

I had the same problem--just keep trying and she'll get it. I had to try several different bottles before I found one she would take. There are some bottles on the market that claim to simulate breastfeeding--one that actually looks like a breast filled with milk:)--you could try those.

If you are wanting to breastfeed why is a bottle needed? If you're wanting time away maybe just do things in between feedings.nursing is definitely selfless and requires sacrifice. If you need her to take a bottle because you can't nurse anymore that is different. I have a friend who's daughter never took a bottle. some baby's just won't.

babiesrus has a "booby" bottle as i call it, looks like a breast, there are 2 types, one is Adiri, I can't remember the name of the other one, but it may help!

I have the same problem and I have been trying to give my baby at least one bottle a day so he can get use to it. I use "the first years" bottle breast flow with breast milk. He won't take a paci either.

I suppose if she gets hungry enough she'll actually start drinking the bottle. I'm sure you tried that though.

Both my kids were breastfeed exclusively until I started with cereals when my daughter was 4 1/2 months old and son was 4 months old. Hang in there, you'll not be her only source of food for long. For now, if she absolultely refuses a bottle...plan a date with your hubby and breastfeed her right before you head out...then you'll be lucky to get a few hours at least not worrying. (Just remember to leave some breast milk in a bottle in the fridge...in case your babysitter really needs it!)

I have the same problem with my son. He is now 4 months and I haven't tried the bottle in a few weeks but I keep trying. I got a bottle by Adiri and that is the only one he kinda likes. You can get them at Babies r us or online. He won't take a paci either.
Have somebody else try. I get the girls at my gym nursery to try with him. My husband can't handle the crying and gives up too soon.

Try Avent bottles, all my boys seemed to be most comfortable with that style....also...my third was a lot different when it came to breastfeeding and giving a bottle (different from my other 2 boys) good luck...dont get frustrated.

have you tought of pumping some milk and leave it with the baby sitter

I would try some other types of bottles. I think someone suggested the one that's shaped like a breast, so that may work. Just put pumped milk into it and she'll eventually drink it. I'm sure you're going nuts not being able to leave her sometime for over 2 hours. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for wanting or needing time away!