Nipple Confusion - Cuba,MO

I agree to keep it at it and that nipple confusion is a mislabeled issue...it really is laziness. It is much easier to do the bottle, less hassle. Go with the suggestions already made about a slow flow nipple (which it probably already is if you used the one that came with the bottle) and do upright bottle feeding.

I know a lot of people who went seamlessly between bottle and breast, so hang in there. He will do it if you keep trying.

I also wanted to add that "they" suggest you use syringe or cup instead of a bottle. If you are already back at work and wish to save your sanity, don't do it. I did it for weeks on end and it was awful, plain and simple. It is a mess, it is frustrating, overall it was a horrible experience. With my second child I refused all those techniques and just stuck with bottle or breast. Do what works for you, but those are tough, just sayin'!

1 mom found this helpful

It is not nipple confusion, it is just easier to get milk from the bottle and he is getting frustrated because he is having to work to eat. I would suggest Avent bottles for newborns they have a slow flow so he has to work to get the bottle too. DON'T give up or give in he may get frustrated but he will eat when he gets hungry enough. Also pumping does not always get everything that nursing does so your breasts might be a little hard, try pumping each breast just a little before feeding him. Good luck! You're doing a great job :)

1 mom found this helpful

He'll figure it out. Keep pumping so you will have bottles ready for when you are at work and keep nursing anytime you are with him. Sometimes it can take a few days for them to catch on to the cycle but he'll get it. I know you will worry at work all day tomorrow, but you have to do what you have to do.

There are other options besides the bottle that can be used tomorrow while you are at work. They can feed your baby via dropper or a cup. It's messier, but get the job done without the nipple confusion.

If you do decide to stick with the bottle then have them feed your baby in a more upright position instead of in the classic cradle hold. Make sure that the milk is in the nipple but that your baby has to suck the milk out and that it isn't just pour out.

Once you have your baby home strip him down to his diaper and take off your shirt. Spend as much time skin to skin as you can (a baby carrier like a ring sling or wrap is a GREAT way to achieve this). Allow your baby to have free access to the breast. Not just for food but also for comfort suckling. Not only will this keep your milk supply at it's best but it will also reinforce to your little one that nursing means he gets all the warm, loving mommy snuggles he needs. House work can wait at this point. Do the minimum that you need to in order to keep things running smoothly (put wash and dry a load of laundry but leave it to be folded later, use paper plates so there are few dishes to clean, etc.). Or better yet find someone that can come over and help with your household chores.

You can come back from this so try not to stress. A stressed mommy makes for a stressed baby and then no ones happy. If you need to, take a nursing vacation starting after work tomorrow. Tell your DH that he can handle arranging dinner and that you'll be spending your time in bed with your baby reestablishing your nursing relationship. Your son is still so young and switching back and forth is going to be a little difficult on him. Don't give up though and before you know it he'll have gotten used to his new routine and will be back to nursing like a champ!

Keep at it. Make sure the daycare provider writes down what time he took the bottle. Don't just sit down to nurse him at home because your breasts need the relief - make sure that it's time for him to eat and that he is hungry. I don't know how old he is, but if he's eating cereal or baby food, nurse him first.

You are doing what you need to do. Don't feel too bad. It is what it is. Just keep trying.

All my best,
D.

He'll figure it out - unless he's really little, it's more likely that he's just being lazy (as much as a baby can be "lazy") than confused.

Try pumping for about 2 minutes before you nurse him so that he doesn't have to wait for the let down period. WIth a bottle sucking provides instant results, with nursing, not so much. If you can get him to realize that nursing gets him the good stuff too, he'll stick with it.

And I know you're not ready to stop nursing, but imagine how terrible you'd feel if he wouldn't take a bottle and you were back at work and worried that he'd be hungry all day.

Good luck.

I babysat a grandson and my daughter pumped at work on schedule with his feedings and I used that milk everyday, no formula. We used the Avent bottles and it did take him a little to like them but he did fine for the whole time and I had him for 4 years. I would stick with it, don't give up and it is harder to get the milk out of the breast than a bottle. I hope you'll be able to stick with it and not stop breast feeding.

it could be laziness. It's easier to get the milk from a bottle than from the boob.

I understand your frustration! Definitely pump a couple of minutes before offering him the breast, so you know milk is down and ready for him. If he does get a bottle, make sure it's a SLOW flow nipple - make him WORK for that milk like he would from you! It's way easier to suck a plastic nipple than the real thing and get milk. Also be sure to feed him as soon as he starts showing signs of hunger so he's hungry but not frantic and starving.

Something else that helped me was using a syringe. My daughter and I had a rough start to our nursing career - she was a small baby and I have large nipples, so she would get frustrated and scream because we just weren't a good fit. I would use a little 3cc syringe with some of my pumped milk to squirt inside her cheek to encourage her to keep sucking. Sometimes her entire meal would be taken from the syringe, but as she got better at it she started nursing from the breast more often. Now she takes both bottle and breast with no problem. I think your son is just mad that it's taking so long to get fed...impatient little guy! Anyway, good luck!