Our almost 7 week old baby has suddenly started refusing the bottle. She was both nursed as well as fed with pumped milk in a bottle since she was 2 weeks old (our doctor recommended this- ironically, I had been worried that we started the bottle too early but now we are having the reverse problem so the bottle feeding was only a few times a week when I had to be away.) Even as few as 3 or 4 days ago she had no problem with taking the bottle but now she pushes it away and refuses to suck. Has anyone had this situation? We use Born Free silicone nipples right now, and hope that maybe bottle/nipple preference is part of the problem. We also just changed residence over the weekend, so don't know if the culture shock is also a problem...the last time she took the bottle was a day ir two before moving.
I have read about older babies rejecting bottles but not this young! We have months to go before sippy cups so that isn't going to help right now.
My gut says that it might be a case of the nipple flow being too slow. Since she has matured almost too months, she might reject the bottle if it requires that she suck too hard. Try a medium flow nipple if you were using a slow flow. Keep in mind, as she gets a bit bigger (6 months-ish), you'll probably need to introduce a fast flow.
First, kudos to you for being committed to breastfeeding, and giving your baby pumped milk when you must be away. This investment into her physical and emotional health, as well as your own, will pay huge dividends throughout the rest of your lives.
So my question is, why do you feel it's necessary she take a bottle? You don't mention if you're working or must be away from her for extended periods of time. If that's the case, she will eventually eat when she's hungry, whatever the delivery method. If that's not the case, don't worry about it - just feed her at breast! That's the best way, anyway:-) She is showing how smart she is! She would rather be cuddled by her mom, getting the milk "straight from the tap" than from someone else from a bottle. Embrace that as the highest compliment from your daughter.
If you must be away for extended periods, you might want to try Breastflow bottles, by First Years. They have a double nipple: an inner nipple and an outer one, requiring babies to use both suction and compression to get milk. Also, whenever you give her a bottle, hold her in as vertical a position as possible, and hold the bottle in as horizontal position as possible, tipped just enough so that there's milk at the nipple tip. What you DON'T want to do is what most bottle-feeders do: hold the baby reclined in caregiver's arms, and hold bottle nearly vertically. Imagine how you might feel if you were required to drink like that, with milk being gravity-fed. Unpleasant, to say the least, no? Kind of like taking a drink from a fire hose.
Back to my primary point: enjoy every chance you get to breastfeed your baby. Trust me: this time will be history before you know it!
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First, kudos to you for being committed to breastfeeding, and giving your baby pumped milk when you must be away. This investment into her physical and emotional health, as well as your own, will pay huge dividends throughout the rest of your lives.
So my question is, why do you feel it's necessary she take a bottle? You don't mention if you're working or must be away from her for extended periods of time. If that's the case, she will eventually eat when she's hungry, whatever the delivery method. If that's not the case, don't worry about it - just feed her at breast! That's the best way, anyway:-) She is showing how smart she is! She would rather be cuddled by her mom, getting the milk "straight from the tap" than from someone else from a bottle. Embrace that as the highest compliment from your daughter.
If you must be away for extended periods, you might want to try Breastflow bottles, by First Years. They have a double nipple: an inner nipple and an outer one, requiring babies to use both suction and compression to get milk. Also, whenever you give her a bottle, hold her in as vertical a position as possible, and hold the bottle in as horizontal position as possible, tipped just enough so that there's milk at the nipple tip. What you DON'T want to do is what most bottle-feeders do: hold the baby reclined in caregiver's arms, and hold bottle nearly vertically. Imagine how you might feel if you were required to drink like that, with milk being gravity-fed. Unpleasant, to say the least, no? Kind of like taking a drink from a fire hose.
Back to my primary point: enjoy every chance you get to breastfeed your baby. Trust me: this time will be history before you know it!
My friend went through this same thing! She tried EVERY kind of nipple out there and nothing seemed to help. Unfortunately it was a phase that eventually passed, but the best advice is YOU should never be the one trying to give her the bottle. Dad, grandma, babysitter, whoever, just not you. Give her to someone and leave for a few hours, or the whole day if you can swing it. She may not eat the first couple of times, but eventually she will be hungry enough to take it. She will not starve, so don't worry, if she is really hungry she will take it. It's just a preference thing, she will get over it.
I want to add, that I recommend this method only if it imperative that she take a bottle right now for whatever reason. If you just want her to take a bottle for the sake of taking a bottle, then I agree more with the first answer, just give her the breast exclusively and don't worry about it. Re try the bottle later (in one or two months).
My cousin had this problem she put her milk in a little dixie cup and fed her baby this way. little sips. and ababy was finr until she got home.
