Baby Won't Take Bottle! - Vernon Hills,IL

I had the same problem with my now 6 month old. Back when he was 14 weeks, he refused the bogttle. I got some great advice here. Check out the responses. I think if you click on my name you can see them. Anyways, i tried different nipples and that didn't work. He actually hated the nipples so then I went back to the wide neck Dr. Brown bottles and he started taking the bottle again. Only problem is that now he drinks the milk but won't drink more than 3 oz. Not sure how to fix that problem. But try a wide neck nipple that looks more like the breast and warm the milk and my dr also adviced me to warm up the nipple so it's at body temp. Hope this helps and good luck!

S.,
My little guy was breastfed exclusively until I went back to work, too. The only bottle we tried that he likes is the "BreastFlow" by The Learning Curve. They sell it at Babies R Us and Target. It has a 2 nipple system that simulates natural let down because the baby has to work a little harder at sucking before the milk flows. Gabe would not take the Dr. Browns or any of the more popular brands - this was the only one he liked and now he has no problems with the bottle or nursing.
Good luck!
T.

S.,

Have you tried different bottles/nipples? They have wide-nipples that are supposed to be more like the breast. We never needed these with either son, but I've heard that they help the transition better.

Sometimes changing the bottle help. Since I breastfed my boys I had to use the wide nippled bottle. I used the Playtex drop in bottle and avent. They are more like the the breast!

S.:

I have posted on this before... I see this a lot in my practice. First is finding out WHY he won't take a bottle and then moving on to how to feed him when you are not there.

You are welcome to call me.

P., RLC, IBCLC, CST
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions
www.lactationsupportgroup.com

I agree with trying different nipples. You could also try to wash the nipples a few times or put a few drops of milk on the outside of the nipple. I don't know if you are doing this but hold the baby just like you would if you were breastfeeding, he is use to being close to you. I hope this helps. S.

I too had a baby that would not take my milk or anything else from a bottle. Not to scare you or anything but this went on for two years, she never took a bottle. And your doctor is right, he will not starve. I had to nurse before I went to work in the mornings, I would pump at work, then nurse as soon as I picked her up from the sitters. She was not always the happiest baby at the sitters, but she somehow survived. When she was old enough to eat solids it helped out alot, but as far as the bottle she never took it and now is a strong healthy will eat anything 11 year old girl.
I know it is hard, but know he will get what he needs when he nurses, just allow him to nurse enough when you pick him up and before you drop him off.