Won't Take a Bottle - Tinley Park,IL

My kids wouldn't take a bottle either. It's actually a very common problem. (It's why almost every other country in the industrialized world allows women to have a year of maternity leave and why kids in our country are sick with things like asthma & diabetes.)
We had to rack up debt to do it, but I ended up not going back to work until my daughter was 12 months, and even then, I made sure I could come home on my lunch hour to nurse. Maybe your friend's babysitter can bring the baby to her work to nurse, or she can go home to the nurse twice a day? I found my mid-day nursing sessions to be relaxing & a great way to bond with my daughter even though I went back to work part time.
If your friend can't work this out, maybe the baby can be spoon fed her milk? In a few months, the baby can some solids & whole-milk yogurt to tide her over.

The baby will take the bottle eventually, they won't let themselves starve. When they want to eat, it will happen.

They may only want the breast, but they will come around. My cousin had the same problem...but after the baby realizes the only way she's going to eat is from the bottle, they will eat.

Keep up with it, no more breast and keep up with the bottle. Remember they start to test us and find their own way even at 4 months old.

JB:

I actually see and consult for this a lot in my practice... the first issue is why is she not taking the bottle. then we can move forward.

P., RLC, IBCLC, CST
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions
www.breastfeedingandparentingsolutions.com

It sounds like she's a breastfed baby, is that correct? This was the case with my daughter except I stay home with her. After doing a lot of research and talking to other moms, many babies will do 1 of 3 things 1)drink from breast and bottle with no problem 2) drink from breast only 3) drink from bottle only. I've talked to some moms and they said their baby will just cry all day and not eat waiting for mom to come home. :-( My daughter never would take a bottle but we have had success with a sippy cup but she's older.

She may need to try several different nipples. The baby may have a preference for silicone or rubber. Or the actual shape. There are a couple out there that are said to be more like the shape of mother's breast (Adiri Natural Nurser or the Second Nature Nurser). Also, ask her pedi for any advice. Good luck!

My son was the same way. Many breastfed babies have this issue, so it's pretty common. Hopefully your friend will find some comfort in that. Anyway....

My son eventually took a bottle from his daycare worker. Sometimes you need to put a little milk on the babies lips to get them interested in the bottle. I know it is totally awful to think they are starving, but they WILL eventually drink from the bottle (my son is living proof). Tell your friend not to be surprised if her baby "reverse cycles". That's where they don't eat much during the day, but want to nurse all night. Babies are not stupid.....and many of them will wait for "mom" for their meals :-)

With my son, the bottle issue was really only the first week or so, and then on Mondays (when I was back at work). You don't say if the baby is getting expressed breastmilk or formula in the bottle, which may be a part of the problem. I've heard that Carnations "Good Start" tastes most like breastmilk, although I cannot vouch for that since my son always had expressed breastmilk.

Hope that helps. Good luck to your friend!