Need Advice for Getting Breastfed Baby to Use a Bottle

Try taking a 20 min. walk outside by yourself while your husband gives the bottle.

I bought Avent cause I read they were closest to breast, but neither my daughter or son would take them( I think the nipple was too firm as someone else had said
0 but both did fine with the Playtex Naturalatch nipples that go with the drop in liners. Also, getting breastmilk on the nipple first should help. Good luck.

I don't know if this would work for you, but it worked for us. Hold your baby so that he is lying down in your arms with his head by your elbow. Kind of as if he was nursing, then have someone else come up behind you and stick the bottle under your arm by his face. Hope this helps.

One thing that I have found true with both of my kids is that I can not be the one to give them the bottle and I can't be around when they are taking it (in sight or sound). I generally have my hubby give it to them upstairs and I go downstairs and take a nice long uninterrupted shower (this way I also can't hear any struggles). There is something about the baby being able to smell, see or hear you that their little brains say "why do I want this cold, plastic hard thing when I can have the real thing straight from the source?). With my youngest, he was so fussy one day and all he wanted to so was nurse, and I was done. Unfortunately, my DH had to work late, our neighbor "grandpa" was sick, so my 6 year old gave him his first bottle. In that case, I couldn't go downstairs, but I got her all set up, put the monitor right by her so that I could hear when he got to air, and went into the kitchen to make dinner for her and I.

Avent worked for us with no problems (he refused for about 5 minutes and then drank the whole thing in less than that!). I agree with dipping it in breastmilk.

We introduced the bottle at about six weeks, and it worked for us. Don't beat yourself up for waiting too long -- our lactation consultant actually said to wait about that long. Everybody has a different opinion!

You may have an uphill battle, but I always figure--you don't hear of formula fed babies who refuse a bottle, so all babies CAN take a bottle. Both my sons were breastfed and started on bottles at 3-4 weeks. We pinched the nipple so they knew there was milk. We had people other than mommy give the bottle. I actually left the house (went outside to garden) because it was hard to watch my baby be hungry and shoot me dirty looks, knowing he could have the boob if I was there! He didn't love the bottle at first, it was very awkward, he spit up because he sucked too fast, he had no portion control because he wanted the closeness WITH his milk, but now that he's older, he does just fine. I love knowing that he has an option in case... I guess my advice is just keep being persistent. Maybe even have other people try (people who aren't going into it frustrated and perhaps negative, since it's not worked already?). You may be opposed to this, but could you even try formula once or twice, so that he doesn't think you're trying to replace nursing? And then switch (can you mix them??)? Good luck.

Hi L.- First off do not beat yourself for waiting until now to introduce the bottle. It is a special time between you and your baby and this is what you have enjoyed. Since you are returning to work outside of the home, it is necessary for him to take the bottle so let's try this. First off, try to pump a bottle in the morning rather than evening. These pumpings have a lot of sweet stuff in it; more fat. If your husband is working day hours, try to wait until the weekend for him to give it to him during the day. The baby's hormones and the evening milk hormones are differnet during the evening hours. So try a time of the day on the weekend when he is usually happy and very content. Sleep in a tee shirt the night prior to doing this bottle feeding and give the shirt to your husband to either wear or drape across him during the feeding. Catch him before it is time for him to eat. Stick to CLEAR SILICONE DOME SHAPPED nipples (ie Advent, Playtex AirVent Advance), make sure the breast milk is freshly exspressed and let your husband try this while you are OUT of the house. Even it means to sit in the back yard for a while. Be sure to grab him before he wants to eat. Crying is too late. Offer the bottle before a regular feeding time, with the tee shirt on or between your husband and the baby, during the day with you out of the house. It may take two or three times, but it should work. Good Luck.

I can absolutely understand not wanting to spend a lot on different bottles, but I would purchase an Adiri Natural Nurser bottle...I have a link below. They are SUPER similar to the breast and make transitions to the bottle less traumatic for little ones. They are the same shape and really soft...like a breast!!!

And I'd try dipping the tip in breast milk before trying a feeding...then he'll know what he's getting by the smell.

And soon enough he'll be transitioned and happy and you'll be looking back at the situation! Best of luck!

http://uggamugga.blogspot.com/2008/03/adiri-natural-nurse...

Don't beat yourself up for waiting to introduce a bottle. Babies are supposed to prefer their mama! I waited til about 6 weeks with both my kids. We use Avent and Gerber GentleFlow bottles - I like the wider mouth, it does seem like they open their mouths wider like for BF.

Does he use a pacifier? If so, try to find a bottle/nipple that looks like his pacifier. If not, that is OK too - my first hated them and he still used bottles.

When he is in a playful, alert mood - try letting him play with just the nipple in his mouth. He will probably try to suck on it. Then you can try dipping it in a little breastmilk so he learns to associate it with milk.

Then when trying a bottle - I would have someone else give it to him and you should leave the house. I'd try it when he's hungry, but not starving so that he hopefully will have a bit more patience about it. Who ever gives him the bottle can put a little milk on the outside of the nipple again to entice him to at least play around with it - then he might find that he gets his tummy full too!

Another thing to try would be faster or slower flow nipples. Either one could be making it difficult for him. Good luck - and congrats on BF!

I had the same problem with my second daughter. I solely BF and tried to introduce the bottle at 8 weeks and she wasn't taking it and I had to go back to work at 12 weeks.

I tried giving her expressed BM, my husband tried, I tried leaving the house so he can try, we tried walking her around and facing her outward.

The lactation lady told me that I was too late and she was nipple confused the other way around. Instead of not taking the breast she wouldn't take the bottle. The lactation lady told me I should have introduced the bottle between 4-6 weeks. Why doesn't the hospital tell you these things before discharge? :) Anyway...

We tried each day until I went back to work and like the lactation lady told me, she will eat if she's hungry enough and by golly it's true!

The daycare lady had issues the whole first and some of the second day but my daughter took to it after that. It's just hard on the daycare person but your child will do it.

I had purchased several nipples and bottles. The Dr. Brown's that worked for my first didn't work for my second. What I found to best resemble a real nipple shape was the Playtex drop-ins nipples. There are two styles and my daughter liked both. I liked the drop-in bags too. So much easier to clean than the Brown's bottles:) Oh, they do sell a bottle that is as big as a breast. The Avent nipples were just too hard I thought. Here's some products that we tried....
Playtex:
http://www.playtexproductsinc.com/infant/bottleFeeding_nu...

Dr. Brown's
http://www.handi-craft.com/

Adiri-looks the closest to a breast:
http://www.adiri.com/

I would get an assortment of different nipples from silicon to the real rubber and try different types of bottles. Just buy one of each and try again at home. If you can't get the baby to take any then I'd give your daycare lady the best two you think your child will like and he'll learn to accept what he's given.

Definitely make sure that you aren't the one giving him the bottle. It will help keep him from being confused if he knows that breastfeeding is how mommy feeds him and bottle is how anyone else feeds him. Don't wait until he's super hungry and don't expect him to take an entire feeding from the bottle the first time. Try starting with just an ounce or so and let your hubby feed try to feed it to him while you're out of the room (go read a little bit or something). Maybe try dribbling a little bit of milk over his lips so he can get the taste of the milk and then he may open for it. If he's eating every two hours, try feeding him the bottle an hour and a half after the last feeding. And most of all, try to relax a little about it. Once you return to work, your baby will take a bottle from daycare when he's hungry enough. And btw, 6 weeks is exactly when you would want to introduce a bottle. Anytime earlier and they can develop nipple confusion and stop breastfeeding.

The advice I was given by a friend who's been working in childcare for 26 + years said to hold the baby facing out (away from you). She said that some babies get too frustrated and confused if snuggled like they were nursing. Worked like a champ for us!

Another piece of advice I got was to have whoever feeds the baby the bottle hold something with your scent (like a shirt, or you could even sleep with a burp cloth).

Hope this helps. We weren't consistent with the bottle and now he refuses it again.

Sorry, for not having the time to read all of your other responces... First of all, you have NOT waited to long, your son is still very young! If you introduced a bottle earlier, you may have compromised your breastfeeding experience. I have three kids and introduced a bottle about the same age as your son. I used Playtex, they seemed to work for us - actually I didn't really give them the choice to like or dislike the bottles - I wasn't going to spend a lot of money on different kinds of bottles - I don't really think this would make a difference, it's just an adjustment for them. I have read that breastfed babies can smell their moms, even if in the other room or on another floor of the house. I've also read that breastfed babies often times at first will not take a bottle from their moms (because they can smell you, they want you), so I left this job up to my husband. Your baby won't starve, he'll eat if he's hungry...pump some milk close to feeding time and leave to run a "quick" errand. If he's not sucking on the bottle to know that your milk is in it, have your husband squeeze the nipple a little bit to have some of the milk on the nipple when he puts it into your sons mouth - he will play with it a little bit because it feels funny and the texture is weird (and he can't smell you), but once he realizes it's milk, he will drink it down. After he gets this down, you will have more freedom. Hope this helps...It took my middle child a bit to get used to the bottle, but it will all work out! Good luck!

Do you use a pacifer? I know mine would take a pacifer, after a while wouldn't and took the bottle. Try to have someone else give the bottle to your baby they know you. Make sure nipples on bottle are not to big, the Event bottles are the only one my youngest would take, they have a clear nipples.
good luck,
mother of 4

Even though my baby got a bottle at an early age, he won't drink out of some nipples. My husband says "it's all about the nipple." We only have one that he likes, and at nine months, he still might scream if he is hungry and we give him the wrong nipple (although now we can also give him food).

Hi Lindsey,

Try to give him the bottle first then slowly let your husband try, your son will still "smell" you. Sometimes you can trick them into thinking that it's the real thing.
You could also try laying something that you had just worn, like a t-shirt or jammies and lay that across your husbands chest while he tries to feed.

Their is nothing wrong with how long you waited to try this, you are doing a great favor to your baby right now!!

It'll take some time, just keep on tryin, good luck:)

My first NEVER took a bottle. I had to change my work schedule because of it. We spent so much on nipples. I, unfortunately, think you've waited too long. We had the same problem. They freak you out about nipple confusion, but our (new) pediatrician says start a bottle at least once a week no older than 2 weeks. We did that with our second and haven't had any problems.

I've heard that the playtex latex nipple is the best for trying to get over not taking a bottle. It's worked for some friends. We didn't hear that until after it was too late for us to try it with our oldest.

Everyone' else's advice is great too (except trying cereal--don't do that). And, they're right, in that he won't starve. He'll eventually take the bottle when he's hungry enough. My husband couldn't handle it, and you probably don't want to run off your daycare provider, but make sure they know what's going on, and hopefully it won't be long until he takes it at daycare. The change in setting might help too.

Good luck!

my 7 week old refused the bottle at first & we introduced it around 4 weeks knowing i was heading back to work at 6 weeks.

anyway - she would *not* take the bottle from my husband at first, but would take it from me & my mom. i think it was something about the way he held her - it must have been too different from the way i hold her when i'm nursing her.

she sort of took the first bottle, but we tried a different bottle & she has taken to it much better. i think continuing to offer the bottle is key. maybe you could also try offering it at a different time of day? we started giving her a bottle at night, but she was much better with it in the morning. as we've given our daughter a bottle more & more she's gotten better with it. she definitely prefers her milk right from the tap though.

good luck!

I am not sure what brand you are using for the bottle but I have found out of three brands that NUK makes the best ones for my daughter. She has not had any problems with nipple confusion and does not pull off the bottle until full or needs to be burped. Even the passafire she prefers over the others I have found. They are reasonably priced too. They sell individual bottles at wal-mart so you can try just one for starters and see how it works. Good luck.

There is no right answer to this! The baby will drink from a bottle eventually when he is hungry enough. Don't worry about it! I struggled, tried everything, bought 6 types of nipples, worried, and my daughter would still not drink from a bottle. I had to leave her at daycare at 12 weeks and the wonderful women there said "don't worry!". My darling daughter was at daycare for 4 weeks before she gave in and drank from a bottle (she set a record according to the daycare!), but she was FINE! No problems after that.

Use a small medicine dropper filled with milk (breastmilk if you pump- I found using pumped milk helped my son transition; he wouldn't drink the formula at all at first, we had to mix it with breast milk a little at a time).

Anyway use the smaller dropper to drip a few drops of milk into his mouth while the bottle nipple is there if he is crying to help him realize there is milk in the bottle too. Once he realizes there is milk, he will likely get the hang of it.

try giving him some cereal

First of all, great job on breastfeeding! I have a 4 month old who is mostly breastfed, but I make sure to give at least one bottle a day to. I notice that she doesn't like to take the bottle from me. She does much better if Daddy gives it to her. You may have to leave the room to get your baby to take it. Sometimes babies need to be hungry to take the bottle and sometimes they need to be relaxed and a little bit full, so try giving it to him at different times. The bottle that has given me the most success (this is my third) is Avent, found at Target and Walgrens. It's the pump I liked the best, too.
Once you get it figured out, be sure to keep it up. My sister's baby is 9 months and will only take a bottle if it has juice. She spent several months only being able to be away from her baby for a few hours at a time.
Keep trying, I'm sure you will figure it out.

try dipping the nipple into some breastmilk so there is a taste of it out there for him first thing ....it will also smell like you!

make sure that you are using a proper nipple. a nipple can make baby "drown" if it lets down too much. it is drastically different.

another thing, if baby smells you he will prefer you. so try to leave the room (or even the house) for a little bit, have daddy try without a shirt on or anything. give it a little bit. maybe daddy will have to squeeze the nipple to get it to start, however, it shouldnt be necessary if baby is really hungry, not crying for some other reason

i would HIGHLY recommend checking out your local le leche league. www.llli.org. make sure to also check out towns around yours if your town doesnt have one. you should be able to meet other moms whove done what you are trying to do, and they may be able to help you a lot.

good luck and way to be persistent that you want to nurse! thats wonderful! congrats!

Try letting him watch you pump and put the milk in the bottle. It worked with my son he just seamed to get the connection that the milk went from breast to bottle. Good luck !!!!