I have a 5 week old and we just started working with her on taking a bottle. She is fighting this....any suggestions on getting her to take the bottle. She starts out fine and then after several seconds she starts to refuse it......
In response to some questions....I'm working with my daughter to take a bottle because I go back to work in three weeks. I am pumping breastmilk to accumulate milk and to get her use to the bottle, since daycare will only have that option.
So I first tried to see if I wasn't heating the bottle up enough so I tried giving baby girl a bottle at room temperature...apparently that was not the problem. Then I tried two different types of nipples....that was also not the problem. When my husband got home I had him try..it took a few minutes for her to calm down but in the end he was able to get her to take it! So I guess I will pump and have him feed her a few times and then I will try to give her a bottle myself. Thank you all for your advice!
You will probably need to try different kinds of bottles to find one she will take. After breast feeding for 4 weeks my son took the Playtex drop in bottles well, but nothing else. Good luck!
it could be several things from the nipple shape, flow, or temperature of the milk.
I'm assuming that you are breastfeeding since you are starting bottles at 5 weeks. Why do you need her to take a bottle? her taking a bottle can reduce your supply if you aren't pumping while or soon after she's taken a bottle.
I'd just continue to nurse her as long as you can, its so much more than just food.
mimijumi is just like the breast. Make sure someone else gives it to her, not you. Most breastfed babies will not take a bottle if mom is near.
Have you tried the Playtex brand there wonderful and the shape is great to!!
I would keep trying I wouldn't force it cause she is only 5 weeks and with time it want bother her what she takes or it shouldn't but don't give up.
Take care and God Bless!!
First of all, don't feel like you need to justify to ANY of us why you're going to a bottle.
Babies can get easily confused because they know your scent, your heartbeat, the feel of your nipple. They run completely on instincts for a few more months.
I'd suggest many different kinds bottles until you find the one your baby prefers. We didn't give our son a bottle until 6 weeks, and it was tough until someone recommended having someone other than Mommy give the bottle, preferably when you're gone so they can't sense you there.
It will be a lot easier as time goes by - your baby will tell you which nipple and which bottle they prefer, and they should be able to go back and forth once they get adjusted to each if you're also going to continue nursing.
The best advice my pediatrician gave us for the first week back was to stay within an hour of home (I was travelling in sales) just in case the bottle didn't go over as well. Hopefully that's not an issue.
Good luck!
It takes some babies a little longer to switch over. Trying different bottles and nipples is an excellent suggestion. The other is to make sure someone else is giving your baby the bottle. Try not to worry because she will take it eventually.
I had problems with my children nursing and taking a bottle, I had to teach one to suck and he had to take a bottle until after 10 weeks when I finally taught him to nurse. I have heard of the nipple confusion stuff, but I think a lot of it has to do with the mother and their attitude, so don't listen!
I think YOU are doing everything right and it sounds like she might have a palette issue and the nipple might be too big. You can try finger feeding, which is when you tape a small tube to the bottom of your finger and feed her that way. I had to use that with my child who couldn't suck.
There are some fabulous and some strange looking bottles out there now. Try a few different ones, your daughter is extremely lucky to have a mother like you. Good luck and don't forget to smile when you are frustrated. :)
It could be changing the bottle (Dr Brown's worked for both my boys). Other thoughts:
I'm not sure if you've tried this but: have someone else give her the bottle, and you leave the house. If she knows you're there (she can smell you!), she is much less likely to take the bottle. And, she'll cry, which will be too painful for you, and you'll give in. Make sure she's not overly hungry, have her face slightly away not inward (so that she's not in "nursing" position), you may want to put a little breast milk on the outside of the nipple so she's clear on what she will be getting from it, and have patience with her! She had to learn to nurse, so now she needs to learn the bottle. You may also want to check the size of the nipple. Do you have a fast flow or a slow flow? If you have a fast letdown, she may be disappointed with the slow flow of the nipple - consider using a size 2 and you can always switch back to size 1 if it's too fast for her.
That's all I can think of right now, good luck!
You can try the Breastflow bottle which is very similar to a breast, but I would also recommend that you step out of the house while your husband feeds her. If she can smell you, she will be confused as to why she isn't getting you. Also, don't wait until she is starving to do it.
Dear K.,
Congrats on your baby and your breastfeeding! I did the same with my first kid and I even went to the Pediatrician to ask him as I was worried he was going to starve! The Dr. told me, "Don't worry, he wont starve himself!" And he didn't! He took the bottles (with the milk I pumped) great at daycare and nursed from me at home. I had 6 kids that I nursed and the only one that took the bottle with no problems from me, was my last one because since the first week or so I would give him one bottle of my milk once or twice a week. All the others would not take the bottle from me. The bottles with the bags worked best as the daycare could thaw the milk and then slide it in a bottle. Some of my kids preferred different bottles though. Big nipples were never their favorites! So don't stress, enjoy your last three weeks at home with her, and try a few bottles, preferably with your husband or someone else doing it while you are not around... babies know mommy is best! :-) Best wishes and God bless!
Hi K.,
I'm sure you have your reasons for bottle feeding and I'm sorry some advice you've received was to "hang in there" and "stick it out" with the breast.
My son was formula fed and I tried ALL kinds of bottles and the ones that worked best for him was the basic Gerber bottles and nipples. Keep it consistent and she'll get it! Good luck!
It took some time for my daughter to take the bottle. We also had to try several different types of bottles & nipples. The funny thing is that I tried all of the expensive bottles first and the only one she would take was the old fashioned Playtex nurser with the rubber nipple. Also, it may be easier for someone else to feed her if you are not in the same room.
Have you tried a different brand of bottle and nipple? Is the milk the right temperature?
PERSISTENCE! My baby girl is 6wks and we're experiencing the same thing. Keep it up eventually...
Just wanted to second the idea that it's no one's business when or why you choose to use a bottle for your child. Changing nipple shapes might help, as will having someone else give the bottle. Pumping at work isn't easy, I did it for almost 6 months, so good luck!!
Is it because you are giving her the bottle? She may feel the breast where she has always gotten her food source from which is why she is refusing. Have someone other than yourself give her the bottle. Also, you may have to leave the room/house because she may sense that you are still around and she prefers you over the bottle. Babies are smart and are very sensitive. Good luck!
K.,
I know you've received lots of suggestions on what kind of bottles to try, but I've loved Born Free..
I exclusively breastfed my little girl for the first 5 weeks before trying the bottle as well. I'm still nursing her and also pumping and giving bottles and she is 5 months now. Just keep trying! You can do it!
I agree, too...for first feedings with the bottle let someone else try to give it to her without you being in the room.
