Convincing Breastfed Baby to Re-accept Bottles

Hi -

I have breastfed both of my children, and I have a third on the way. I was not successful in getting either of my children to accept bottles - but in all honesty, I didn't try that hard either. I have heard from my friends that some techniques that helped them . . . 1) have someone other than yourself offer the bottle because she associates you with food 2) make sure she isn't really hungry because she'll be frustrated when it's not the breast (I've also heard to wait until she is really hungry)and 3) try to re-introduce it when she's sleepy, relatively content but wanting to nurse. Good luck.
S.

Hi,

I had the exact same issue with mine. I know how frustrating and stressful it is. I got tips and techniques from La Leche League, lactation consultants, and numerous other people. Unfortunately, none of it worked for me.

It does turn out that this is more common than you would think! My daughter is now 9 months. She has never gone back to the bottle after stopping at 8 weeks. She did, however, start taking a sippy cup (with uncontrolled flow) at about 3 1/2 months. This has been helpful. While she would still much rather nurse, she at least takes enough milk during the day to hold her over until I get home from work. She does reverse cycle, though, so she eats when I get home to make up the calories she missed out on during the day...meaning she eats throughout the night and does her long "nighttime stretch" during the day.

I have heard of people doing "bottle boot camp" and leaving their baby with another caregiver for hours or days until the baby takes the bottle, but I chose not to do that. It was my choice, but as a result, I've been extremely sleep deprived for months...

If you just need suggestions of what to try, let me know, and I'll send you a whole list of things that you could attempt.

I know...so hard.

Besides, having someone else give him the bottle, you might try the Breastflow bottle. It requires the infant to suck and compress instead of just sucking like most bottles. My breastfed baby seems to prefer it (although he never drinks as much from a bottle as I'm guessing he takes in while nursing).

Note-- the bottle contains bisphenol A so use Avent Tempo liners inside if your baby comes to like it.

L., Try glass bottles, some plastic bottles not only have a bad taste but also have been found to be toxic to babies.

You are not alone. Right around the same time (9 weeks) we struggled with the bottle. We (it was a group effort) eventually got over it, but my husband had to take over with the bottle. I would leave the house for a walk around the block and after about a week (may be even less) she was adjusted. It takes patience, but it will all work out. I was in the same boat as you and was worried that she would never take the bottle and I had to go back to work.

Take care,
Liana

Try a different type of bottle nipple maybe. Our son only took to one type of nipple and refused every other kind. I even bought new bottles (new bisphenol A free ones - Born Free brand) and had to keep the same old nipples on the new bottles (they didn't fit exactly right but they didn't leak).

it is not uncommon for BF babies to refuse the bottle at around this age. They know what's best!

As another person said, when she is hungry she will take the bottle (though may not take as much and hold off for mommy for much of it - this is called reverse cycling). The other thing is that if you are going to work when she is ~4 mos she may be able to take a sippy cup better.

http://www.workandpump.com is a great resource.

I wouldn't worry about the bottle nw if you don't have to. Also at about 12 weeks she is going to go thru another growth spurt and you will want to nurse as much as possible to help build your supply for when you return to work. Pumping does not build your supply as well as direct from the source.

L.,

Have someone else feed her the bottle. I know it sounds funny, but don't even be in the same room as her. If she knows you are there and can smell you, she will do all she can to refuse the bottle and wait for you. When she is hungry enough, she will take it- I promise. Good luck!

M.

Hi--Congratulations on your little bundle of joy! I am not surprised that you are having some difficulty.Just a little surprised that baby is refusing the bottle! You said you introduced bottles to 'avoid nipple confusion' but that is the name for what you have going on. Babies need to feed in completely different ways from mom or a bottle. Nursing takes a lot of work using all of baby's facial and oral muscles. There is a rhythm that is established between suck and swallow. With bottle feeding, very little effort is expended to get the milk and a baby who is vigorous at nursing will find that the bottle releases the milk so quickly that they choke or can't keep up with the swallowing. In most cases, babies adapt by refusing to nurse, not refusing the bottle! Your baby is unique! If you are planning to continue nursing after you return to work, there are options that will take the bottles out of the equation. Many very young babies can learn to drink from a sippy cup if you are patient when trying it and don't give too much at a time. Spoon feeding also works, but is a bit more effort for the care-giver. Both of these methods are used by moms who don't want babies to give up nursing in favor of the easy feed of a bottle. With some effort on your part and that of your caregiver, you should be able to preserve the breastfeeding and still work. Best of luck to you!

My son had the same problem, and only liked the latex nipples. The same thing happened with my first one, I also have to make sure I'm not in the room or else he doesn't want the bottle.