Help! Our Son Will NOT Take a Bottle from My Husband

Hi J.,
I haven't had this problem personally but will suggest some stuff that came to my mind. Maybe your son associates your husband with play and not with feeding? Has your husband ever fed your son before or is this an all of a sudden thing? I'm thinking maybe he just associates receiving his food from women (if your daycare is also women). Either that or he is just putting up a major protest because he just plain wants you to do it. I would think that eventually he would have been so hungry that he would have taken it from anyone. I guess I would suggest just to keep trying.

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Hey -- don't feel bad about supplementing, I've had to do it. Anyway -- for the bottle thing, our son will only take Enfamil ready-to-serve formula from my husband (or anybody else) and only if it is run under hot water and they switch sides halfway through like I do. Usually it only works if I've been gone for a little while to, like to the grocery store 15 minutes before and return when he is done. All of this aside, he has gone as long as 7 hours at 4 months old just because he wanted mommy. Enjoy the time. It's a blessing. You're husband will get more and more one-on-one time as your son gets older and you'll miss these days. Trust me, the only time I ever got with our 3 year old was nursing.

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I was reading the other responses and though one may work for you (it's worth a try) but sometimes nothing works! I'm only putting this out there because that happened to me and it is terribly discouraging for the husband. My little gal won't eat for anyone but mommy and "one" of her many day care teachers and it is hard for anyone else to deal with especially daddy (my husband is also very loving and involved).If this is your suituation I just wanted to suggest you remind daddy that give it another year and mommy no longer exists because daddy is so much fun..Right now you (and the mostly female teachers), are just a little more cushy and comforting to take that bottle from but it is nothing personal!

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Have you tried having your husband wear a shirt or a blanket or something that smells like you. Sounds silly, but babies know their mommies by smell first. Good luck

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We had a similar issue, although my daughter would not take the bottle from anybody but me...We discovered that if we both used the Boppy pillow while feeding her a bottle, it helped. Also, sometimes if you take a break from the bottle and re-heat it ten or fifteen minutes later, that helps. I DO NOT agree with people who make you feel guilty for supplementing with formula! You have nursed successfully for many months now, and having to supplement with formula is not a big deal! It may affect your milk supply a little, but you have to be realistic about what works for you and your family. It doesn't mean you'll have to stop nursing altogether. You just do the best you can. Good luck!

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La Leche League meetings are such a good resource for these kinds of problems. I know one thing about your milk supply. The more you supplement with formula the less milk you will have. It is a relationship you and your baby are building and formula use interfears with it. My husband had some trouble with our son taking bottles for awhile but the problem, like so many, was just a phase and fixed itself after awhile. good luck.

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Maybe your son associates being home with breastfeeding. Does your husband try to feed him in the same place(s) that you normally breastfeed him? If so he may want to try being some place else or if he is not, he may want to go to where you normally breastfeed him and offer the bottle there. You could also try sitting with your husband as he offers your son a bottle so that maybe your son will see that Daddy can feed him even if Mommy is around. You could also try bottle feeding at home with your husband nearby, too. Just a few suggestions.

I hope he takes to the bottle at home soon and that you get to quit your job soon, too! It's great being a SAHM.

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I had a similar problem when my son was born and I had to return to school. (I had him during the semester! go figure) Any ways the only advice I can give you is pump pump pump. Even if you don't save the milk. On coffee breaks or lunch break. I did between classes sometimes.

One more thing. Has your husband tried holding the bottle under his arm pit? I know you said he's tried all different positions, but just in case.....

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We personally did not have the bottle feeding issue, but our niece did. Basically it took a couple of weekends when my sister-in-law had to leave the house for at least 8 hours and then Daddy and baby just fought it out. Once they hungry enough, they will give in. The best thing you can do is give them time without you. I would suggest that he offer the bottle and if your son refuses, then play. Don't make it a struggle, but by the end of multiple hours, I truly think he will get hungry enough to eat. Good luck!

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