My baby who once refused the bottle until we worked with him to take it because I had to go back to work at 3 months old now prefers the bottle over me. I am very down about this because if I didn't have to work I wouldn't have this problem. He fusses and pulls away at the breast when I offer it to him even though he is hungry. I give him a bottle and he chugs it! A lot of times I don't give him the bottle and eventually he will nurse if he is really hungry but he would rather have the bottle. With my first son he nursed all the time hungry or not! Not this son :( Any suggestions??
Sounds like my boys. Bottle went down easier. My second boy, though, would have starved than to go back off the bottle. So I found it was way easier to keep a happy baby who wasn't crying all the time and (yes!) losing weight, than to force him to take the bottle away. So I pumped and he started gaining weight again.
Stop giving in and giving him the bottle. You said it yourself - he'll eventually nurse. So, whenever he's with you do not give him the option of a bottle. He'll figure it out pretty soon.
Very simple suggestions... only give bottles when you are not physically near your son for more than 4 hours. Anything less than that you only offer the breast.
The bottle has a constant drip, instant gratification... the breast takes effort and concentration. Do not give up breastfeeding for bottles. He will work things out with you, just be patient and consistent.
The bottle gives him instant gratification, he needs to work for the milk at the breast. A breastfed baby should associate breast only with mom, mom should never give a bottle - if he needs your milk in a bottle for any reason, someone else should give it without you being present. If you want him to nurse, do not offer him any bottles. To entice him back to the breast, pump a bit just before you put him to the breast, so that you have letdown before he goes to the breast and can get the milk right away. If he knows he can get the instant gratification of the bottle, he'll fuss til you give it to him. Don't do that if you want him at the breast,
My son did this too around 4 months, and I wanted to nurse for a much longer period of time. I did not have to work this time around, so I was able to pump frequently around the clock so he could get breastmilk. I did have to supplement, though, as needed.
Is it possible to pump at work? At night? In the morning? Any little bit of breastmilk that my son could get was worth it. However, I wouldn't stress too much over it. I, too, have 2 little ones and it was challenging and exhausting to pump so much, but it was worth it to me. If it is important to you, I would give it a try!
Best of luck to you!
Bottle feeding is far easier for baby. And if he is chugging it down then it's really easy-too easy-for him. And then you get a lazy baby who would prefer an easy bottle feed.
Don't let anyone make you think this is the end of your breastfeeding relationship! Babies are in a constant state of flux. Nothing is static and if you work with him, he will continue to take the breast!
Put him to breast often while you are with him and often. No bottles if you are with him. And try using the Playtex nursers with the latex (brown) slow flow nipple When he needs a bottle while you are at work. That will mimic breastfeeding more than regular bottles. The nipple is very soft like mom and he will have to work to get milk just like breastfeeding.
Not all babies get nipple confusion. Lucky you that your son developed it! I'd work with him to keep him at the breast as much as possible. He's young enough to learn to adapt and you've seen him give in and nurse at times. The more you give the bottle, the more he is rewarded for holding out. The bottle is less work for him so, being human and a guy(lol), he'll try to get by with the easy way. Keep reminding yourself that this is a long range plan and will be well worth the work you put into it now. Good for you for not taking this at face value and giving up - many moms would. You are a very special mom to want the nursing experience and to have the patience to bring it about. You can do it, L.! You might check out www.llli.org for their Resources. You might consider attending a LLL mtg. There are some in your area and probably an evening meeting if you need that. Good luck!
Perhaps he's decided for now, but it isn't a done deal. You can get him back to the breast. He isn't rejecting YOU. He has just learned that it is easier to drink from the bottle, it actually takes a bit of effort at the breast.
A couple things to try, don't wait until he is starving to put him to the breast, get him early so he will be more amenable. Offer when he is sleepy. Don't fight him on it, if he really won't take the breast and is upset, forcing the issue will be counter productive, he will then start to associate the breast with angst and start off on the defensive next time. You can manually express milk until it lets down so when you put him to the breast he will get instant gratification as he does with the bottle. Another thing is breast compression, that may help once he is there so he will stay for the whole feed. If he stops swallowing and shows signs of losing interest, squeeze the breast (hold breast back toward body with hand in C and use firm pressure) this opens the ducts and moderates the flow so he will get more and stay there until the next let down, then you let go and he is happy bc the milk is flowing fully again. If you google breast compression you may find a better description. Another thing that can help is to do skin to skin with him as that will make him more comfy with the area again. You can do it when he is not nursing so he regains a wonderful association with that area. At this age, he may prefer to have a tshirt on to being all skin. You could also call your local La Leche League leader or other breastfeeding organization, they may have some tips.
It's alot of work for baby to get milk at the breast....WAY easier flowing from a bottle. All little ones are different. Nurse him as often as you can.
The bottle is way easier to suck than the breast. I know it stinks but he's decided for you.
Switch which bottles you use. Buy the BreastFlow bottles. They mimic the slower flow of the breast, and require baby to work for milk as with the breast. Regular bottles encourage overeating, because baby can eat so fast that by the time their brain registers that they're full, they've over eaten. The BreastFlow bottle prevents that, as well.
Also, do not offer a bottle when you are available. And never be the one to give him a bottle, for any reason. IF he will not take the breast, remove yourself from the room and have someone else feed him a bottle.
Contact the La Lache League in your area. They'll be able to help lots!
Ditto on the instant gratification responses. He doesn't have to work as hard to get milk from the bottle, as he does from your breast. Unfortunately I don't have any suggestions for you to get him back to preferring your breast over the bottle. But think of it this way - you can pump and feed him your breastmilk in the bottle, and this frees you up to do other things that you might not have been able to do previously because you were stuck sitting somewhere breasting your baby. Plus others could feed him so you could get a much deserved break every now and then! :) Good luck!
I'd say so (suggestions).
Two options: just feed him however he wants (the important thing is he's being fed and you've had the chance to nurse and give those nutrients) or force feed. That won't do any good. It'll stress you both out.
He can't starve, right? So I'd accept that your kids are just different, feed your sweetie with a bottle now and see if maybe he will go back. You can always pump and that's like at least meeting half way.
