My 4 Month Old Son Does Not Take a Bottle...

My son did the same thing. He is now almost 5 months old. I left the room when my husband was feeding him as he could tell I was there and it was distracting him. He takes the bottle now as long as I am not the one feeding him with it. I have a friend whose daughter would not take a bottle until a couple weeks ago and her daughter is the same age as my son. I told her about this bottle at onestepahead.com and her daughter took it right away as it is shaped almost exactly like the breast. Here is the link, hopefully one of these ideas will work for you. Good Luck and congrats on your little one!

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...

If the link doesn't work it is called the Adiri Nurser

mt son never took a bottle.... at 6 months he went directly to a tippy cup... for a few weeks the sitter used a medicine syringe to make certain he was getting enough ounces each feeding ... but he would never get the hang of a nipple... and we tried all the brands.
L. f
mother of 3

Hi A.,

I am not sure what kind of nipple you are using, but that will have something to do with it. Sucking from a bottle is easier for babies...but they prefer the natural nipple over the fake...so once they are exclusively breastfed, they will have a hard time going back to the 'other way' of sucking, it is a different motion for them. I know the other mom that posted unrecommended a bottle system for you to try...unfortunately, that's what you're going to have to do...either make your son learn on the bottle you are using, or try different ones. All 5 of my kids were breastfed, when I introduced them to the bottle, they all used the playtex disposable with the 'squarish" nipples...my first two wouldn't use the traditional shape, so I tried the other one, when I had my last 3, I didn't even bother with the traditional shape, I went directly to using the 'squarish' one and they all took it without a problem. I have friend's that used the system the other mom suggests, but it wasn't around when my kids were babies, so I don't have personal experience on that system. If you can as close to a natural form and feel to the breast, then it will be easier for your son. It will be easier to start, but it will also be easier for you if you plan to breastfeed him while he's with you, this way it's not SO different to alternate between the bottle and you. I hope all of that made sense!

Hi,
You can try various nipples. I had to do that as well. But, when I was having trouble getting my son to take the bottle, a lactation specialist told me that even newborns can take milk from a sippie cup, a syringe, or a medicine cup.

Also, if your son took this nipple before, it sounds like there may be something else wrong. Perhaps the opening in the nipple is too small for him now. I just had to get the "rapid flow" nipple for my son because he was getting frustrated with the other one. Or, it could be that he just wants the comfort and closeness he felt from you when you held him during feedings. Perhaps your husband can try using a "dirty" shirt of yours to lay the baby against while he is feeding. Or try the opposite, hold him away from him during feedings so that it doesn't simulate your holding.

Basically, be patient and try several different things. Something WILL work.

Good luck.