Breastfed Baby Refuses to Nurse on Weekends

Hi Erica, I'm a lot older than you are...LOL. But many moons ago, my oldest daughter did the same thing to me. Basically, she's getting her tummy filled quicker drinking a bottle. It's slower to breast feed. She's voted, and it's the bottle she wants. I would pump for awhile and give her your breast milk. Don't look at this as a failure. It's not. Your baby wants her tummy filled fast. I'm a mom of six. Most of my kids wanted to drink a bottle once it was introduced to them. Good luck....it's hard when it's your first child, but you'll be fine and so will your baby!! Promise!

I don't know what to say other than she is getting use to the bottle. Most babies like bottle feeding better because it is easier. Babies can be tricky and every single one of them is completely different. Consistancy is key with most situations concerning children and nobody likes routine better than a baby.

If you have been pumping for her bottles at daycare she may not be use to the faster milk flow the pump has created. If she chokes up a lot while nursing try a lighter pump speed or just keep trying until she is able to get use to the milk flow.

I had the opposite problem which lead me to nursing 19 months with my last daughter. But when I had to give her a bottle, I would let the milk drip in her mouth until she took it. She hated the bottle but she would eventually take it once she got a good taste of the milk.

Also, when my milk would come down, I would have to wait a few mins until it stopped so that I wouldn't gag her. She eventually got the hang of it and would pull away on her own. Sometimes I wouldn't even realize it, and when I looked down she would be showered in milk smileing at me.

Hope this helps-A.

there is a "bottle" called the "BreastBottle Nurser" I found mine on ebay. They are about $12 but they are great-I got mine because my daughter would NOT take a bottle at all. However, while she knew it was not mom, she still had the soft comfort and mommy milk. The "bottle" is not a hard bottle, but is basically shaped like a breast, same "type" of nipple as mom as it is all one piece. the only hard part is at the base, where you hold it. I would get one, if its in the budget,and send it to daycare and have them use it also. That may help her with transitioning back and forth...Does she nurse during the week at all? It may not be doable, but I agree with the lady that sd maybe you could break away if she is close enough and try to go nurse once during the day, if at all possible....Good luck...It is hard especially when you want to nurse and our little ones have minds of their own!

Well Mom, she goes and gets bottles five days a week and then c ome the weekend, she's like what's up with this? Where is my bottle? You can't expect her to know why she can't have it. I suggest you use a breat pump, so she gets your breast milk at least, let her have it in a bottle since that is what she's use to

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Hi E., I am no expert for sure.. but here are a couple ideas, some babys ween themselves, it seems early but every baby is different. If you drink on the weekends, the baby may not want to breastfeed.

I went through the same thing with DS#2. Because he would get easily frustrated with the lower flow I just gave in. I wanted that bonding but upsetting my child just to have it my way will destroyed that bond. Believe me it can happen. I was sore and handing the baby the baby off to be bottle fed was just easier while I pumped. Then he never learned that I could meet his needs either breast or bottle.

Perhaps she suffering from nipple confusion. There is something you might try, change her bottle configuration to be more like your breast. use silicone instead of lates and a wider nursing bottle with a slower or faster flow to match your own. Pop in at day care occasionally to feed her so she begins to hope to see you for that special time.

Hmmmm, it sounds like she's developed a preference for the bottle. It actually takes less work to drink from a bottle than it does to nurse. Nursing at the breast requires more muscle action and coordination than bottle feeding. The milk just comes out of a bottle easier than the breast. That's one of the many reasons why doctor's encourage mother's to breastfeed- it's better for their facial motor development.
Honestly though, I don't know what you can do to encourage her to eat more at the breast. The truth is, she's being bottle fed most of the day, for the most part of the week,so that's what she's become accustomed to. Plus, it's easier and takes less work.
Just continue to nurse as often as she will. She may be nursing less often than you'd like, but it's better than not at all!
Good luck!

I was told that if you just don't give in then she will get hungry and will eat when she is hungry enough... I have to tell you though from my experience...routine is better...so I think that you should just give her the bottle during what would be daycare hours on the weekend... and if you do get her on the breast...things could just reverse and then she won't eat for the daycare provider..consider yourself blessed that she keeps a routine... I know that you want her to breast feed... but sometimes it is easier to keep sanity if you just do what works best for the baby..and not whats best for you... if you are pumping she is still getting what she needs...just not directly from the breast...so you are still doing things in her best interest.

I am going through the exact same thing with my 2 month old baby. That's actually why I logged on to this website today - to find help with this question. I DO NOT want to stop breastfeeding my baby. My doctor and lactation consultant tell me that my baby's not wanting to breastfeed at this young age is likely not that she prefers the bottle, but that she may have an ear infection that is not bothered when she is propped up at the bottle, or that the breast may stimulate some GI issues. They told me not to plan to quit breastfeeding her because it is rare that a baby as young as ours will reject the breast - rather, they should be rejecting the bottle.

Many have told me about the whole "easier to eat from the bottle" thing, but milk is literally running out her mouth as she fusses at me. She's not working hard at the breast!

I am feeling frustrated and concerned and even a little sad. I've worked really hard to be able to nurse her to this point and don't want to give up breastfeeding if that's really not what she's demanding.

Hi E.,

My second baby did the same. He would take the bottle or sippy cup at the daycare (although he didn't take much during the day). Then he would nurse like crazy when I got home and then through the night. On the weekends, he kept that schedule and I didn't give him a bottle during the day. Eventually my milk supply adjusted to that schedule and everthing is fine. As long as she's getting the proper amount of feedings in a 24 hour period, check with your lactation consultant. I always felt as long as he was growing and was proportionate according the the doctor, that he was getting the appropriate nutrients. Hope this helps and don't worry too much :)