3 Months Old Doesn't Take a Bottle

Updated on July 30, 2008
J.S. asks from San Jose, CA
7 answers

So, my daughter is almost 3 months old, and I have to go back to work in 2 weeks. My daugter is 100% breastfed and we would like to keep it this way. Up to about 2 months she had no problem drinking expressed breast milk from the bottle *we used the disposable bottles that we got from the hospital*. Then all of a sudden about 3 weeks ago she started refusing to take the bottle. If she's in a good mood, she moved the bottle nipple around her mouth with her tongue...if she's really hungry or fussy she won't let a bottle anywhere close to her mouth...So far we tried a couple of different bottles and nipples including Born Free, adiri, avent...we're going to try Playtex bottle tonight...But I would like to hear what worked for other moms.

Thank you,
-J.

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So What Happened?

Well, I've just finished second week of work. Our little girl took a bottle without any problems on the first day i left for work. Of course we spent a prior week letting her play with the bottle nipple by itself. The bottle she took was the original Born Free, that we started with. Thank you everyone for all the suggestions.

More Answers

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J.S.

answers from San Francisco on

try having someone else give her the bottle. Not you and don't be in the house at all when it happens. If she can see, hear or smell you she will want it straight from the tap. I personally don't buy in to the idea that it's a nipple issue. My son hated bottles although he will drink some water from them. I developed a UTI and was told I would not be able to breastfeed for 2 weeks and that he had to be on formula. I, too, bought every possible bottle and nipple style out there. It wasn't the bottle or the nipples, it was the nasty formula that he didn't like! Who can blame him though.

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B.S.

answers from Salinas on

She can take it straight from a sippy or with a straw! Not to worry, that means your babe is smart, and won't have any substitute but the breast..er, best!! :-)
Check out the Nuby, or another sippy or cup with a flip-up silicone straw.

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J.K.

answers from Fresno on

I too had to get my daughter to take the bottle for me to return to work and she would only take Playtex. The nipples are soft and cover the mouth like the breast. She will drink it if she is hungry enough. You might have tpo pump a few days and give her only the bottle. Hold her like when you are nursing but give her the bottle.

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E.M.

answers from Bakersfield on

If you are trying to give her the bottle she may not take it from you, or if you are in the room, both of my children would only take the bottle if I was not present. Also sometimes a baby will not take a bottle, if necessary you can use an eye dropper (very time consuming). You also might want to contact a lactation consultant. They might have some suggestions.

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L.M.

answers from Sacramento on

A close girlfriend of mine was in your same situation and was desperate for a solution. She began using a medicine dropper to feed her son her expressed milk. It was the only thing he would take other than the breast itself. I know in a daycare situation this might prove difficult, but if you are really desperate like she was this might help....??

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C.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi J., my son is nine months old now and is also breastfed. When I went back to work it was the hardest thing, i only work p/t 3 days a week but he would refuse to eat. I spent a ton of money on bottles. Then I tried sippy cups I had much better luck. As like yours my son would flip out at the sight of a bottle. But now he doesnt have a problem. I tried a few sippy cups but he seemed to like the brand nuby, it has a softer bigger nipple. I started this at about 4 months and now he has no problem with it. Good luck with your little lady
C...

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H.B.

answers from Detroit on

Just went through something similar with my 8 1/2 month old little boy. We tried EVERYTHING. Finally what worked for us was using an orthodonic nipple - Gerber NUK to be exact. Good luck! I know how frustrating it is....they really do have little minds of their own!

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