Hello! My 10 week old will not take a bottle of expressed breastmilk. We introduced the bottle at about 3 weeks and she took it fine for the first couple weeks. But now she won't take it at all. We were not very diligent about giving her a bottle 2-3 times a week, so I think she just isn't used to it. My husband has tried all sorts of things - different sized nipples, walking while feeding, laying her flat, etc. We have also tried after she has been sleeping for abour 5-6 hrs, thinking she would be really hungry then. Do we need to just give up?? I work part time, and can usually be with her, but we would really like for her to take a bottle so that I can be away without worrying abut it too much, and my husband likes to feed our babies as well.
Breastfeeding is going great, but just hoping she will take a bottle every once in awhile. Thanks for any help you have!
Like the other mommies have adviced, keep trying all the different bottles out there. She just might take on to one of them.
If she just plain refuses all bottles, you may consider cup feeding her. Medela has something called SoftFeeder, that might work for an occational feeding. Good luck!
My daughter just went through this with twins. They were both breast fed and she was going back to work part time and needed to give a bottle. They had taken one earlier on, like a few weeks old as one was in the hospital longer and only on bottle. Well, they wouldn't take a bottle and after much work one took the Avent bottle but the other baby refused it period. I finally got a Nuk bottle as they had the Nuk pacifier. He finally took it but it was so much work. Even starving he would refuse it. She now has a collection of every nipple out there I think. :-) Now they are 10 months old, on the Avent and Nuk and doing fine so just stick with it and sometimes it's better from one parent and sometimes the other and I give it when I have them so now all is fine. They started out with breast milk in the bottles but are now on formula so if you need to do this get started slowly now. If you wait too long it will be even harder to introduce the bottle.
Hi E.,
I would have to ask what kind of bottles your trying to get to take or if you have tried different ones? If not I would suggest trying some different bottles. There are some that the nipples are more like the breast like we use the MAM bottles they aren't easy to find but work really well. So just a suggestions.
T. Cogan
Work At Home United
Your Life, Your Dreams, Your Business!
Website: www.allgood4life.com
E-mail: ____@____.com
Phone: ###-###-####
"Nothing is difficult to those who have the will." --Dutch Poet's Society
E., my first child was excatly the same way. He hated the bottle and I never really found a bottle that he liked. He ended up figuring out how to drink through a straw so we got him the straw cups and just poured my breastmilk in. I was worried that my daughter, who is now 8 weeks old would be the same. I did lots of research and bought an Adiri bottle and a Breastflow bottle from Target. We tried the Breastflow first and she takes it with no problem. She still takes the breast when she's with me but when I'm away she likes the Breastflow bottle.
Hi E.,
My second was like that...he didn't want to take a bottle at all. We tried different bottles and different nipples and that seemed to help. Having me out of the house also helped. He would take one occassionally from daddy, but would always take them from his babysitter...guess it was a different enough environment where he knew he needed too. Good luck!
If you really want her to take the bottle, you need to leave the house for several hours just before she should be hungry, with you around she'll hold out for you. Then she'll get hungry enough to take it from your husband. Some people say if they're just not home the baby does much better, this was the way with my son, if I was in the house, he wasn't taking that bottle, so you may just want to use it when your gone (may want to test it first my going to the store or something and seeing if it's better). Good luck!!
Hi E.- I didn't start trying to introduce a bottle to my daughter until she was 10 weeks old- two weeks before I had to go back to work full time... She would not even take a sip when my husband tried to give her a bottle of expressed breast milk. It got down to the wire so I eventually decided I had to be the one to get her used to the bottle- even though the pediatrician and lactationist said that I could NOT be the one to give her a bottle! She did come around and is now ten months old... she is still not a bottle fan, but during the week has three per day while I am working. It usually takes her at least 30 minutes to drink only 4 to 4.5 ounces. :-(
I don't like to leave her with anyone but the babysitter or my mom or mother-in-law because I am still afraid that she's not going to drink! But I tend to worry about my girls a lot! Good luck to you!
I just saw these bottles at Target and they look awesome. They were designed specifically for breasted babies and are supposed to feel just like the breast to a baby.
They are called Adiri Natural Nurser. Look them up on Target.com. They are also in the store.
FYI- 2 of my 4 breastfed babies never would take a bottle or pacifier. It was hard sometimes but they just flat refused. I wish these bottles had been available at the time. I have a new one due in December and plan try them after a few months of nursing just to have a emergency plan in case I have to leave the house for any reason. Good luck.
Have you tried sqirting a little milk into her mouth so she will realize what it is? How about warming it a little by sticking the bottle in some warm water? Nuk nipples (made by gerber)?
If you have a fast flow of milk coming from your breast maybe she needs a faster flow nipple on her bottle. Good luck, I feel your pain, don't give up just yet.
I've read all your 'advise' up to this point. I would definately advise AGAINST trying any formula! All the different suggestions on nipples and leaving to let someone else feed - maybe they'll work, you can try until you feel you can't try any more but here is the reality of it.
If you are working 15 hours a week - she will not starve in that time frame. MAYBE she'll get hungry but if you have a bottle of breastmilk available, it can be offered if she seems hungry. She will either decide to take it or not. She will get used to whatever feeding arrangements she makes.
I am an inhome child care provider. I have had children who were breastfed and refused to take a bottle - the whole 9 hour day. Certainly, I offered it every time they acted like they needed it. Some take it, some no. Your milk and your child will adjust and compensate. No worries. Oh and they have ALL eventually taken a bottle, lol! You may desire for her to take a bottle and dad wants to help with feeding but there are other ways to help - seems this little one might rather him just soothe her longing for a breast :) Seriously, sometimes it's easier NOT to keep trying to force something.....I have my own personal collection of bottles/nipples too from my third child....they were meerly an ivestment that did not pay off with her. My 4 others - no problem taking a bottle, pacifier etc..not the middle child. It makes for peace to just relax and let them decide; I promise you can leave her without worry in the arms of a caring (breastfeeding supportive) provider! :) Happy nursing and congratulations!
