Baby Refusing Bottle

He may just be going through a stage. My little one also refused the bottle for a little while, though she rarely got one so maybe she just wasn't used to it. Then, when I tried again she took it just fine. As a previous poster said, he won't starve, but probably just adjust his schedule a bit. If he's been sleeping through the night he may start waking up again to make up for less daytime feeding (called reverse cycling) but if that's a problem for you, you could try giving him a last feed before you go to sleep so you hopefully won't be woken up. In any case, give the bottle a rest for a bit, then try it again and see what happens. Enjoy the opportunity to breastfeed while you're still with him full time!
Good luck!

My thought is to lay off for a few days, or maybe even the whole next week, relax as a family and then try again. I honestly think that if you are out of the house for a day or two and he starts getting hungry and the expressed milk is offered he will take it. I would keep a nipple with a bigger hole in it handy for when you try again. I know it's SO difficult, but try and relax and enjoy your son and trust that your husband can handle things and although it will be an adjustment and the first few days will be rough, it will work out. Your baby may be picking up on your stress and offering him security and peace is what you all need. Best of luck! D.

The only thing I can think of is to re-examine your diet... With the holidays and all are you eating/drinking anything new that might be turning him off? Good Luck!

did you try faster flow nipples?

I had a similar problem with my daughter. We did all sorts of experiments before I went back to work with little success. Once I did go back, we had a couple hard days where she wouldn't eat much, but then figured out that this was how we get food while Mommy's away and then she did fine. Strangely, for a month or so she did not like taking a bottle while being held. Her caregiver/dad would feed her from the bouncy seat. I never did give her any bottles myself (just the natural ones!). Good luck!

My thoughts on this is he is feeling your stress. He's taking it out on the bottles. Just ignore it and feed like normal. If he refuses the bottle wait a while and offer again. His feeding pattern might very well be changing too. Maybe he's waiting longer to feed or wanting more at a time. What i would suggest is wait until he demands the bottle to feed. That way you can find out when HE wants to eat. good luck

I would contact La leche League. They are the breastfeeding experts. Other alternatives to bottle feeding. You could try using a dropper or medicine syringe. It is more time consuming but it can be done. Both also avoid nipple confusion that sometimes comes with going from breast to bottle. Some kids will take less milk while mom is at work and then nurse more when you are home esp. if you co-sleep. Some babies will just latch on and nurse for the night and the two of you sleep through it and baby fills up on the good stuff.

This happened to my daughter at 3 months and it turned out that she had thrush - it was difficult to get her to feed at all. We would have to get droplets of milk into her mouth to get her to finally start feeding. Just a thought -

Hi A.,
I would agree with Rachel's post below, your baby can DEFINETLY pick up on your stress. When I was stressed my little guy would refuse the breast! Also, as Rachel said, he may be preparing to want more time between feedings. He will eat when he's hungry. Around 11 week's my guy started moving towards eating every 2 hours to every 3. Give it a try and see if he is changing and above all DON'T STRESS OUT! Good Luck!!

hi A., good for you for trying to get him used to the bottle beforehand (i was a pretty dumb first-time mother, my first night back to work was a nightmare for my poor husband as my baby was highly indignant at being offered that stupid unfamiliar bottle.) but please don't make yourself nutso over it. no baby will starve while nutrition is being offered him. the absolute worst case scenario is mine.....someone (and it won't be you!) will have a really miserable day<G>. but once the meltdown is over, your baby WILL take the bottle and will go between breast and bottle without fuss. it'll be fine. it really really will.
:) khairete
S.

Hi A..

I just wanted to tell you not to worry. Your child will not starve while you are at work. I know that is your biggest concern. You may see changes in his nursing pattern, but he will not starve. When I had to leave my son, he would drink maybe 2 ounces of expressed breast milk in 8 hours. In that time period, I would be able to pump upwards of 16 ounces of milk so he "should" have been hungrier. He was still content, but he knew his caregivers could not nurse him. When we got home, he would nurse every hour until bedtime to compensate. You have the added benefit of leaving your son in your husband's care. Enjoy the last bit of time off that you have with your son. You have done everything right. Merry Christmas.