Refusing the Bottle!

I also have to give my recommendation to Avent bottles. We tried all of them while my son was breastfeeding, and this was the only one he took to well. Someone may have already mentioned this, but if he is playing with the bottle nipple, it could be that the flow is not strong enough and he is losing interest. You might want to switch to stage 1 nipples (or try a stage 2 even) if you haven't already. Good luck!

I had this problem with my friends daughter when i started watching her. He will eventually take the bottle you just have to keep trying, but meanwhile you can give the milk to him using a dropper or a spoon. Both those worked to get the milk in their little tummies. We use the aventt (spelling?) and also tried the t-shirt trick which worked as well. Good luck, with everything.

I had the same problem with my daughter when I had to go back to work. The only one she would (still) take is the Gerber NUK. It has a flat end on one side. She'll only take the NUK bottles and pacifiers. I have no idea why! I never had that problem with my oldest. They can sometimes be hard to find (not all places carry them for some reason), but they still make them. I just bought one the other day at Kroger. (Walmart, too). Good luck-I truly know how hard going back to work is (I just took my kiddos back to day-care from summer break today :( )

I used advent with my son when he did that and he did take it. Hope this helps

My son (now 3 1/2) had difficulty with a bottle when he first went to daycare. I had started with an avent bottle, which we practiced before going to daycare. He drank out of the bottle when we tried it. He had been exclusively breastfed as well. When he went to daycare, he refused the bottle. Talk about feeling guilty when going back to work! Anyhow, the doctor told me to try different nipples, and the playtex nurser with the natural latch nipple worked wonderfully. You have to use it with the disposable liners. I am a teacher too and just had a baby girl in early June. I am returning in 3 weeks as well, and will be starting to give my daughter a bottle this week. Wish me luck!!! )

One of mine did that. It took a week of trying different nipples. The only one he would take was Playtex nuk. I'm not sure it's even available anymore.

We use the playtex ventaire. Another thing we do when our little girl gets fussy about taking a bottle, we feed her as if she was nursing. We use the boppy and put her in the same position. Hope this helps... Another thing you might want to consider if possible is going to nurse over lunch. I do this with my little one and I think we both appreciate the time plus it makes for less pumping :).

My son refused a bottle. It didn't matter what type of nipple it had, he didn't like the feel of it. I was a SAHM, so while it was a bit frustrating that I could never leave my son until he was eating more solids, it wasn't a necessity.

Who's feeding him the bottles? Are you in the room or even in the house? He's not going to want what he deems as second best when the first best is nearby. Also, try an alternative to bottles. Soft spouted sippy cups. I've heard people say that warming the nipple has helped.

Also talk to his daycare. They might have experience with this type of thing and know how to deal with it.

If you have not tried Avent bottles, I would recommend them. It is what worked for us, with both our boys. I hope the transition goes well for you all! Adnrea

True...if he's hungry he will eat! Try avent bottles or Nuk nipples! Also...if you're still breastfeeding he more than likely will not take the bottle from you! I breastfed my last 2 kids and they did not take the bottle for me or when I was around! Good Luck and I hope that everything works out for you!

Hi Kimberely,

My son is 3 months old too, and he uses the Breast Flow bottle while at daycare. I know you said that you had tried this, but have you tried the stage 2 nipple? We first tried the stage 1 nipple and he did what your son did. He would get so frustrated because he had to suck so hard to get it out and his tummy was still empty. Or, here's another product I have run across when I was looking for bottles.
Check this out:
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...

One other thing, the daycare can get him to take in more milk at a time than I can. I can get about 3 to 4 ounces in him with the bottle, but they can get 5 to 6. Seems as though he knows I'm not around and will concede to eating better for them.

Maybe this might work for you. Good luck and congrats on your baby boy. They are the best!

Dear K.:
My name is D.. I am a mother of two boys ages 9 and 5 and a litter girl almost two. I breastfeed them all and I can tell you that every child is different. Dont't keep on weasting your money baying so many bottles. I know the feeling of being first time mom and when that day of dropping them at the Daycare arrives. It is true, the wont die, they wont starve, they will eat. He might crys one day or two but he will drink from them if you are not there. But, if you want to try something, one of my kids just refussed the bottle completely so when it was time I did the same and try it all and the only thing that worked out was warming the milk (wich I thougth at the time was very hot) and finally we got it. I hope you the best. And thanks for being a teacher. Good look with all your kids.
D..

Hi there!
First let me say hello! I'm a teacher, and live in Chesapeake as well!

As for refusing the bottle, I know it sounds crazy, but have you thought about trying one of those transition sippy cups? Mine was older than yours when he refused the bottle, more like six months, I think, but I use the Gerber kind and he still loves it.

Most of the time they do something like this, it's more of an issue with their motor skills than their desire. Your baby of course possesses the motor skills to suck from the bottle, but prefers the breast, which is an entirely different way of eating. He may just be having trouble with the transition, remembering what to do when a piece of plastic is put in his mouth rather than his mommy!

I totally agree that "he'll eat if he's hungry" isn't the way to address the situation. Unfortunately our little ones just aren't programmed that way! Sometimes they just need a little help!

If the sippy cup doesn't work, I'd just keep trying different avenues until you find one that works. Maybe a cup with a straw, though I'd use a small one so you don't flood him!! :) We have those new Nuby cups with the funky tops, but I can't get anything out of them and neither can my son! I always try the cup before giving it to him, just to see if I can make it work. Often they can when we can't, of course, but I figure if it's that hard, is it worth it??

Good luck!
I'm going back to work in fall also, and can't figure out how to get my son to sleep without nursing! I am having a talk with my babysitter today to see what she might suggest. He eats fine without me, he just doesn't sleep!!

B.

NUK. I swear by NUK. They are weird shaped and textured but my son went best with that one from me. I also agree with the "if he's hungry he'll eat". He's probably just exploring his world too.

Been there done that!!! Have you tried the different types of nipples--latex or silicone. The texture is different. My youngest did prefer the latex over the silicone nipple. My oldest was not to picky except for the shape. He preferred the latex by Playtex. Don't give just yet. Just keep playing around with the different shapes and types. Maybe try going a little longer in between feedings so he is definitely hungry. It won't be too long before he will be starting the intro to baby food.

I am a stay at home mom with 2 boys--oldest will be 4 in November and youngest is 2 1/2. I have been married for 6 years to a wonderful husband that is in the Navy.

I hope this helps out some.

Hi, K.!
I am also a teacher and a first-time mom. The same thing happened to me with my son. I found that the solution for us was the nipple. We had to get only the big round nurser-type nipples. My son liked those the best because they pressed up against his face like the breast does. We also made the switch from the slow 0-3 month speed to the medium/fast 3-6 month speed. Now he doesn't reject the bottle anymore. Hope that helps!

something i was told would help is if the person feeding the bottle lays a shirt that smells like you on them. this is supposed to remind the baby of you and let them feed more easily from a bottle. i know how you feel about not wanting him to feel like he is starving!! good luck going back to school!!! (i'm a teacher too and not quite ready!)

I had a similar problem...now I swear by Avent bottles, I used the standard ones with the non-newborn nipple. My son took it no problem. It's suppose to be most like the breast and the slighly old nipple allows for more flow, like your brest. Good luck!!

my son was exclusively breastfed and it was so hard to get him to take anything from the bottle when i needed to be gone. i was so worried about it cuz i had to start pumping when i went back to work too. we just had to make it happen. when he realizes that that's the way he's going to get fed, then he'll eat. sooner or later he'll accept the change. my son would then take from both bottle and me after a while. but it was difficult at first. they don't like that change very much. but it'll happen and it'll be ok. just give it a try and be persistent and consistent.