My Daughter Won't Take a Bottle - Reading,PA

My twin daughters are fully breastfed in that they take breastmilk all the time. THey are almost 6 months. My ped. was very insistent ( she is breastfeeding friendly) that I try a bottle around 1 month she said that she has seen too many people wait and then it won't happen ( not easily). She also said that I had to consistently give them a bottle. She suggested at least once a day in order for them to take the bottle when I can't be there. She said others make the mistake of introducing a bottle, the baby takes it and then they don't give them another bottle for while when they try again the baby won't take it. I am thinking that if you stop trying then she might not take or it will just get harder. I have heard that babies also wait for what they prefer. One of my twins prefers the bottle and waits for the evening bottle and eats a lot then. The other one definately prefers the breast and she will only take a small amount from the bottle and wait until the next feeding.
I hope she can get it. I know it is really tough to not have that flexibility. I did babysit for a friend who exclusively breastfeed and then left me with a bottle of formula. Her son (3 months) drank and ounce and eventually cried himself to sleep hungry. She just fed him when she got back. He never did take a bottle just a sippy at 6 months.

Sorry to inform you but i have had friend in the past that had the same issue and relax and try again in a few weeks. or maybe she is not really hungery and just wants to pacifier for the time.
Good Luck!
this too shall pass and other hurdles will come.
Kel

I can't really help much except to suggest speaking to a WIC lactation consultant...when I delivered my daughter I tried to nurse her, but we were unable to succeed with it, but there was a very nice and friendly lactation consultant who came by the hospital and tried to help me. We had our most success with her help and I was not enrolled with WIC, but she didn't seem to mind that fact. Also if it is more similarity to the breast your daughter is looking for I have seen breastlike soft nipple and bottle in one sold through the One Step Ahead catalog or www.onestepahead.com. They are called 'Adiri Natural Nurser'. I know another lady spoke of them earlier, but I wasn't sure of their name till I looked them up. They seem to have 3 separate stages of 8 oz. dishwasher safe bottles. I hope this helps!

My son would only take the BreastFlow Bottles. They are only sold at Babies R Us. They look a little funny but he took to it right away! Good Luck

Hi E.,

How long have you gone away when you have left to try to give her a bottle? Babies are pretty smart and she knows if she waits, you will come back and she would much rather get her mothers milk directly from you. I would say don't worry about it. When you really have to go away, your baby will do fine - she will either take the bottle from your caregiver or she will wait until you get home. Another thing you can try is giving her a cup instead of a bottle - sometimes babies will take milk from a cup (your caregiver will have to hold it and help her) but she may like that better because it isn't trying to "imitate" nursing. Here is a link to BPA-free baby cups that are designed to be used with breastfeeding babies: http://www.mothersboutique.com/babycup.html

J.

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You may want to try a spoon or a syringe or a medicine dropper. Many lactation consults advocate these methods to avoid nipple confusion. Since she is so young a syringe or dropper should work well, allow the milk to drip slowly into the side of her mouth (aim at her cheek). Maybe try a different brand of nipple that has a different shape. There are so many options out there these days. There is one called (I think) Adiri (not avent) or something like that where the whole bottle's shape really looks like a breast. Good luck!

E.,

I haven't really had this problem because I breastfed my son 11 months (breastmilk in a bottle after this until on cow's milk and intermittent bottles throughout (with Dad) and my twins 15 breastfed exclusively except in a cup starting at 6 mo. Are you back at work or something that you can't nurse and want to go to a bottle? Want to sleep? Is it a family member that gives the bottle? Maybe it's something about the environment or she's not ready. I'd wait a couple weeks and try again. Have you asked your pediatrician or lactation consultant about this behavior? Just a thought...

I kinow it sounds carzy, but try a sippy cup. She is able to physically drink from one at birth. I'm not big into the nipple confusion theory, but it does happen with some people. All bottle nipples are (from a baies perspective) is a cold non supple substitute. Give the sippy a try, you may be pleasently suprised :)

When my cousin had her first son, he wouldn't take a bottle for her either. She is a teacher and had to go back to work at the end of the summer. He was born in May. However, she had a wedding to go to and wasn't taking him during the summer. She tried a bottle and tried all the advice (someone else give it to him, leave the room and/or the house). He wouldn't take it. Someone (I think her doctor) recommended trying a regular sippy cup (NOT the spill proof kind). It worked for her. You just have to do it carefully because they will get more fluid at once.

Anyhow, good luck and hope this helps.

I don't have a solution for you, but I can sympathise. The same exact thing happened with my daughter at around the same age. I tried different bottles, nipples, people, situations, and nothing worked. At 6 months, I was able to give her a take n toss sippy cup. That particular type of sippy seems to have the appropriate flow for beginners, it does not have a spill guard which means less effort is needed. I tried some other sippy cups that allow liquid to dribble out easily and that would make her choke. I realize this information does not help you right now, hopefully someone will offer a solution that works for you, but if not you can take heart that this is only temporary. Good luck.

I would highly recommend calling Le leche, as I had difficulties, and called for help, and they were VEry well informed, and had several great options and ideas to choose from.

http://www.beanmom.com/laleche/

I think Le Leche has a reputation that can be negative, however, I had NOTHING but a positive experience. I was truly struggling, and they asked me a series of questions in order to map out, "where I was", and gave me many options to choose from.

When I spoke to Dr.'s and Lactation consultants, I felt I only got a few ideas, but the ideas from Le Leche, were fantastic.

If you live in the Delaware/PA area, another option is Nursing Mothers. They were my rock from the Day I got home from the hospital as well!

http://www.nursingmoms.org/

They assigned a counselor to me, and they called me once a week to see how I was doing.

I called Le Leche because they support breast feeding 100%, whereas Nursing Mom's supports what ever you choose to do. Both are great!
Good luck!