Trouble Transitioning from Breast to the bottle..Help!

Updated on February 09, 2008
C.P. asks from Round Rock, TX
8 answers

I have just returned back to work and am having trouble getting my baby to transition from the breast to the bottle. I have tried literally all the nipples out there and found one that she will take, but she will only feed once on the bottle and then refuses to eat anymore from it. I am pumping so that she still gets breast milk and haven't even tried formula yet since I'm having such trouble getting her to take the bottle. Any ideas about how to get her to take the bottle would be great!

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R.L.

answers from Houston on

I don't knwo if you have tried the Playtex nursers but they were the only bottle my son would use when I wasn't nursing. The only problem with those is you have to eventually wean them off that bottel onto another bottel and then transtion to the sippy cup. (But it's a small price to pay for the benefits of breastfeeding.)

Also the playtex nursers allow the baby to drink semi upright and not take in a lot of air. It also could be that she is taking in too much air and feeling a false sense of fullness.

Don't worry she will not starve, when she is hungry she will take a bottle!

Good luck!

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S.A.

answers from Houston on

I don't think there is a magic answer. I had the same problem with my daughter, who in all of the 15 months I breastfed her would NEVER take a bottle from me, no matter what I did. I was worried she would starve when I went back to work, but she was fine. I had to buy the playtex nurser drop-in version. I would pump and send breastmilk to the sitter with her. She drank from them fine at the sitter, but would never take them from me. I also used Avent bottle with her. Good luck.

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M.F.

answers from Houston on

First of all, don't give up, you can do it! It will get better, I promise.
When I went back to work, my nanny used the Dr. Browns bottles. It was the only one that my son would take. Some people say the nipple is most like a human nipple. Who knows?!?

This did not happen to me, but I've also heard of some babies that just don't want to take the bottle. They usually increase their nursings when you're home, most frequently at night, and are able to make do with one or two bottles max during the day. Some kids don't like to make the transition.

Whatever you choose to do, I would encourage you to keep pumping and trying during the day. Eventually your little one will get the hang of it. They're much smarter than we give them credit for and know way more than we think. Keep up the great work!

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C.A.

answers from Houston on

both mine did better on avent than the hospital nipples.

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K.N.

answers from Dallas on

My little one only took to the Gerber nipples. I know for sure they have them at Tom Thumb. Hard to find at Wal-Marts and Targets. Try them...because that one was the ONLY one that helped!

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M.D.

answers from Dallas on

I had a similar issue when I returned to work when my daughter was 5 months old. She refused her bottles at day care for the first 2 days. I was still breastfeeding her at night and early in the morning and pumping during the day while at work. My little one just had to get used to her caregivers and her new environment. Now she takes the bottle without a problem - although when I took her back to daycare after being with me at home for a week over the Christmas holidays, she refused again! The next day was better, though. Good luck!

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L.S.

answers from Dallas on

I'm not clear from your post if you have given up nursing all together in favor of bottles, or if her care givers during the day are having trouble giving her the bottles. If it's the former, I can see why. She probably would be confused and upset that you won't nurse her. If it's that you cannot give her a bottle, then have someone else do this if possible. Best case I'd suggest nursing her when she's home and then pumping for day care. She will become accustomed to her care givers giving her the bottle.

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K.K.

answers from Dallas on

When my lil' one did this I found that having her face me instead of me holding her up close made the difference. I would either rest her head on my knee or put her in her bouncy or car seat facing me....then anyone could give her the bottle.

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