M.S. asks from Naperville, IL on November 02, 2007
Help!! My 14 Week Old Won't Take the Bottle Anymore!
Help!! My 14 week old son use to take my breast milk and formula in a bottle but for the past 2 weeks refuses to take the bottle from me or anyone. The other day I went out and he refused to feed for 6 hours...my mom had to call me back home in a panic. We travel a lot and I am currently out of town at my parent's place. Why would he stop taking the bottle? He does have a bit of a cold, could that be it? But he nurses fine. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
So What Happened?™
Hi Ladies! Thanks so much for all your help. I am using the Dr.Brown wide neck bottles and had a the long thin bottle as well with a smaller nipple. I gave my little monkey that bottle and he absolutely hated it so i then poured the milk back into the original wide neck and Voila! he was back at drinking from the bottle!!! :) Only problem is for some reason he only drinks 2oz regardless if it's breast milk or formula. :( Not sure how to fix that problem. Any suggestions??
More Answers
J.C. answers from Fort Wayne on November 03, 2007
I would try a different type of nipple. Maybe he's starting to get picky....little stinker! My daughter would take whatever bottle was given to her, but my son would only take the flat nipples. I had such a problem getting him to take the bottle at one point, that I went to the store and bought an array of nipples and tried them until I found one he liked.
J.G. answers from Chicago on November 04, 2007
My son went on a strike around 8 weeks. I bought several different nipples and he took to the third one I tried. I think they just become more aware of their likes and dislikes at that age. I was also breastfeeding at the time and he had been taking a bottle since 1 week of age.
D.W. answers from Jacksonville on November 08, 2007
He is probably too old for his bottle. My boys were 1 year and 11 months when I stopped giving them their bottles. He's growing up and ready for a sippy cup!
K.N. answers from Chicago on November 02, 2007
M.,
I feel your pain. My son did the same thing at 3 months old. For the first three months I would breastfeed him and give him EBM in a bottle without a problem, as could my husband and mom. However, at three months he refused the bottle--he cried two hours straight once with my husband. I think I looked on mammasource and found a similar question and many mothers said their breastfed baby did the same thing. I'm afraid it comes with the breastfeeding territory. Since I am a SAHM, I just gave up on the bottle along with going out at night--as that is the time he really wants to nurse to sleep. My son is now 8 months old and it is a little easier to leave him because he eats solid food which takes the place of the nursing.
Maybe try continually offering the bottle and he will start taking it again. Good Luck.
K.
P.D. answers from Chicago on November 03, 2007
M.:
I see this a lot in my practice. I have found that there is always a reason - what we need to do if figure out the reason and we can then solve the problem.
Certainly the cold does not help. Breathing is much easier while breastfeeding.
You could try a cup.
You are welcome to call me for assistance.
P., RLC, IBCLC
Pres. Lactation Support Group, Inc
www.lactationsupportgroup.com
D.F. answers from Chicago on November 04, 2007
My oldest son stopped taking a bottle at 10 weeks. Dr. told me to give him whole milk in a sippy cup. Nuk with the soft top is what I gave him.
T.K. answers from Chicago on November 05, 2007
My first son went on bottle strike around 3 months (he's now 23 mo.). I had just gone back to work and he decided that he didn't want the bottle any more. When I did get him to take the bottle he would only take it if it was breast milk and wouldn't take formula bottles. I called my doctor and she told me to try feeding him with a spoon which I found to be ridiculous. So I waited it out, I would pump instead of nurse since he had to have bottles. I tried giving him a bottle often and he eventually took it. If you stick with it, he will realize that he has to take the bottle. Also, I did try changing bottles since in his first month he took the advent bottle and then wouldn't I ended up using playtex. Hope this helps.
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