Transition from Breast to Bottle Feeding Infant

I found with my little one that if I was in the room she would not take a bottle. My baby prefered to nurse than take the bottle so why would she settle for a bottle if I was near by, let alone trying to give her that bottle. Your friend shouldn't have a problem giving your baby a bottle, since you won't be there! Best of luck with the transition and going back to work.

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Hi K.,

My daughter almost 2 now (wow that went by fast) also would not take a bottle. It seemed like forever before she did but finally I found one that worked. Have you ever heard of the Soothie bottle? They have a nipple on them that is just like the Soothie pacifier the hospitals give out now. My daughter never took the pacifier but she did finally take this bottle and it was the only one she ever would use. So especially if your daughter has had a Soothie pacifier I would recommend giving it a try. Also I am not sure if you are using breast milk in the bottle or formula, but for the transition at least try breast milk if you are not already.
Hope this helps!
H.

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My baby wouldn't take breast milk from a bottle but did take formula, go figure! I guess she was smart enough to realize that the good stuff doesn't come out of a latex nipple :)

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We had the same problem - I think it is that we tried to introduce it too late. Try nipples that have a faster flow - even though they are marked by age of the baby go up a whole level (so probably try the 2s I think?). Also, what finally worked for us was that we just quit trying for a few days and then he just took it! Yah! I also tried feeding him from my breast for a minute or 2 and then switched to the bottle so he understood that they were both sources of the milk. Some books recommended having Dad walk around holding the baby with the baby facing away from him. Didn't work for us but doesn't hurt to try!
Best of luck.

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When I went to work, my ds wouldn't take a bottle either. Kids won't starve.

When you give her the bottle at home, DON'T be there. Leave the house about 1/2 hour prior to feeding time. Have Dad or someone else give the bottle. Come back about 1 hour after feeding time and see how it goes.

The first day my ds was at daycare, he didn't eat. However, that second day, he figured it out...FAST!!

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I went through this same thing with our son at about 12 weeks and I have to echo what someone else said - you just have to keep trying. She will take it evenually; babies do not let themselves starve, but I know it is very tough. I started having to leave the house when my husband was trying to give a bottle - it was too hard for me to be there. We did eventually get him to take the Nuk bottle (by gerber, available at Walmart) but whether it was the bottle or just the breaking of his stubborness I don't know. Another trick I have heard is to have the person giving the bottle wear or hold a shirt or something that smells like you. My husband would take off his shirt and hold the baby to his skin while giving the bottle and that seemed to help. Hang in there; you aren't doing anything wrong it is just a new thing for your little girl. She will learn to eat from the bottle. Someone told me to take it as a compliment because it means that your baby loves you, loves nursing and knows that a bottle just isn't the same as mommy.

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Hi K., my son was similar and the only nipples he would end up taking were these (you should be able to find them at the grocery store too, I can't remember which now, I think Walmart had them and Fred Meyers didn't):

Gerber Nuk Nipples Orthodontic Silicone Size1
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Nipples-Orthodontic-Silicone...

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Have you tried using a wider nipple bottle? When I had to give my son a bottle he preferred a wider nipple because it was more like the breast I guess.
I had it very easy with him I started giving him the bottle at a week old and he did just fine going from breast to bottle and back.

Good luck!

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I would try nursing for a minute or two and then switching to bottle like the last comment suggested--so the baby knows its the same thing. Also I agree you should try a nipple with faster flow--that made my baby happier.
I would try a Medela nipple, too. My daughter seemed to like those much better than other ones. I think sometimes you have to search around, too, for ones your particular baby will accept. I think my daughter preferred a softer nipple (probably because it's more like the breast than a rubbery one).
If not, I bet eventually your baby will learn to eat from the bottle or she won't be fed.... Sounds cruel, but when I had to be away my daughter realized it was going to be the bottle or nothing, and accepted the bottle when I wasn't around. Good luck!

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That is a stressful situation indeed. 10 weeks is a hard time as they are more aware and are quite good at deciding which they prefer. You aren't doing anything wrong, your baby just knows what she wants! First of all, celebrate the times your baby has taken milk from the bottle...even the tiniest amount. You're moving it the right direction and it's just a slow process for some babies.

I would recommend you keep trying, once a day. Don't force it. If it isn't working that day, just try again the next day. You don't want your baby to develop a strong aversion to the bottle by having it be really unpleasant every time it's introduced. It's usually best to do it at a set time of the day so it becomes routine. Pick a time that is your baby's personal best and when they are most interested in learning a new skill - usually in the morning. And make sure your baby isn't too hungry. If she's very hungry, she won't be able to concentrate on learning. If very hungry, you can try the breast for a few minutes, and then try switching to the bottle.

And, if you haven't tried introducing the bottle yourself, I would highly recommend that too. It is not true that the lactating mom can't introduce it and sometimes she is most successful at doing so because she has the most invested.

Some babies never do take to a bottle but can be fed out of a cup, off a spoon or from a sippy cup, so those are last resort options. But, it sounds like she may take a bottle as she has already a few times.

Good luck!

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i like the playtex drop in system.. its the only one my 6 month old would take besides the breast

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Hi K. - Honest, you just need to keep trying and not give up! I went through it with my now 2 year old at the time and it was awful! And I ened up having to leave him in daycare not really taking a bottle yet! He finally did but it was hard. All I can say is just dont give up trying. You are not doing anything wrong at all, the baby is not ready yet. It will work out and this too shall pass! Before you know it they are 2!

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As a person who babysat a breastfed newborn/baby, rest assured that your child will take the bottle. They will not starve themselves. Just make sure you are getting the slowest flow nipple you can and have someone other than you do the bottle. Make sure to not be around at all during that time, otherwise if she can hear you or smell you, she will want you. Even if she isn't taking the bottle great by the time you go back to work, don't fret much. hey figure it out pretty quick and most babysitters understand.

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K.-

So sorry to hear of your trouble with the bottle. It can be very upsetting for mom, dad, and baby. I went back to work part time when my son was 3 1/2 months old. I was practicing for weeks before I had to go to work. We had a terrible time getting him to take a bottle. The first day I went to work my mom said he hardly ate all day long. But each day after that got better and better. By day three he was fine with the change.

Like you I tried every kind of nipple. I even tried the Adiri bottle, but nothing seemed to be to his liking. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything to make the transition easier, but I know other moms will have some great advice for you.

By the way, you are not doing anything wrong! Your baby is just protesting because she wants to nurse. It will be ok, she will get the hang of it.

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