Bottle Feeding Problems

Updated on July 19, 2011
T.M. asks from Sun Prairie, WI
11 answers

Any suggestions - My 6 month old is a very picky bottle feeder, he prefers me to feed him (breast feeding) and it has only gotten worse. Friday at daycare he only ate 1 ounce in 8 hours and today he didn't eat anything in 8 hours (it usually ends up being 12 hours total from the time I feed him before daycare & the time I get him home to feed him) he does eat cereal around noon & baby food around 6, but he still needs his milk. Daycare does have 3 different types/brands of bottles to try.

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J.G.

answers from Springfield on

You could always try a sippy cup. I know it seems a bit early, but it really might work. Nuby has a soft nipple like spout that some babies like. My kids actually did best with Gerber or Playtex. At first I had to remove the little piece in the spout so that the milk flowed freely. They just needed to know that that's where the milk came out. Once they got the hang of it I put the piece back in.

Anyway, I know of a couple of moms whose babies wouldn't take a bottle, and they had success with the sippy cup. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

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M.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

My daughter did the same thing. She would scream if she saw a bottle. I ended up giving her sippy cups at the table during feedings with breast milk in it. She was much better about it that way since she was not in a position where she expected to nurse but got a bottle instead. The high chair was about food and the cup was ok to her. Neutral territory I guess.... Either way, it worked for us and the nanny. Good luck!

3 moms found this helpful

M.M.

answers from Tampa on

My daughter refused to be bottle fed too - even if it was breastmilk. She made up for it once I got her from daycare tho... as will your son. Why force a bottle on him when it's obviously not what he wants? Just make sure you nurse him before dropping him off, go in on your lunch break if feasible to nurse him (I did this for 3 months) and breastfeed as much as he needs once home together and overnight.

Forcing it will not make him anymore likely to accept a yucky alternative.

2 moms found this helpful

M..

answers from Detroit on

This is just a shot in the dark, and this is what I came up with in my little head. But, I was using Medela bottles and my baby does not like them! The nipples are big, and my nipples are not big. I switched to Dr. Browns bottles, the nipples are smaller and our bottle problems went away. The Dr. Browns bottle even fit on my Medela breastpump. Yay!

Anyhoo, I vote Dr. Browns if you havent tried them already. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.T.

answers from Victoria on

i would be so mad. at least he is getting some cereal. that is entirely too long to go with out. have you reported it to the head of the daycare?

as far as switching from breast to bottle can you try to give him the bottle at home also? i hate to suggest only pumping and just bottle feed as it dwindles your supply. best of luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.P.

answers from New York on

Can you feed him right before you leave the daycare and as soon as you get there to pick him up? Can you pump and they can mix your milk into his cereal? Can you leave work and go feed him at the daycare? Hopefully he will come around but in my experience, those that only want the breast are pretty insistant.

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D.H.

answers from Columbus on

I have cared for a couple of babies that were pretty insistent that they have only the breast. I ended up having to hold them in a breast feeding position and angle the bottle in. It would only work for a little while each time but at least they were getting some milk. A lot of moms I've talked to swear by the breastflow bottles or the mam either one. I can't speak to them personally because my daughter hasn't arrived yet! :) Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

My daughter was like this and our pediatrician suggested me giving her a bottle at home now and then, with breast milk mixed with formula at first, then formula alone so she would be used to bottles when they were necessary.

He also didn't want me giving her cereal or baby food at 6 months because she would eat rather than drink a bottle, and needed to be hungry to take a bottle when needed, or get dehydrated. Breast milk and/or formula are more important than solids to their development at this age.

J.G.

answers from Dallas on

Have you tried Breastflow bottles made by The first years. It is more like the breast they have to put pressure and suck, it has a double nipple, the inside one is more firm.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/The-First-Years-Breastflow-Bott...
Anyway, I have breastfed all 4 of my kids, they would all take the playtex drop in bottles fine, except for my last child, he loves these bottles! I hope you find something cause this situation doesn't sound good at all.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

They need to try and feed him... even if that means with a medicine dropper.

I think they are NOT trying hard enough.

Is he drinking anything else?
What if he gets dehydrated?
Will they know or know what to do????

Is he teething?

Going that long, is not good.
And he needs to be fed (his milk) on-demand. Are they doing that???

The "MAM" brand bottles are good and BPA free.
From Amazon.
My breastfed Son liked that.
I did too.
It is not commonly found in stores here, but is common in Europe.

I once babysat a baby like that. That same age.
I fed her, by a medicine dropper no matter how long it took.
Her parents said, that prior to 6 months old she had to go the the ER twice, for dehydration.
She had feeding issues.
And the Mom did not produce much milk.
They would send her to my home, with ONLY 2 ounces of breastmilk.
Not your case though.

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J.H.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hi,

When switching my daughter from breast to bottle the bottles that seam to work the best were playtex ventair wides... they are shaped more like the breast wich makes for an easier transition!

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