Introducing a Bottle - Lake Orion, MI

If the reason you'd like to introduce a bottle is to go out with you son, you probably can schedule that around breastfeeding, right?

I would say hold off on the bottle if you can.

Instead of a bottle, use a small cup and give her sips, or use a spoon. she may be more willing that way. EBF babies have no nipple confusion, they know exactly which one they want, mom! so if dad can work on feeding her with say, a dixie cup , or at her age maybe even a sippy cup, or a sppon, she might be more interested. Good luck!! I know it's hard. Does she have a particular nap time frame? It might be better to try to sneak out then.

I'd try several different types of nipples. The ones my daughter liked the best were the NUK rubber (not silicone) nipples.

Another thing is trying to mimic breastfeeding as much as possible, trying some skin to skin contact and positioning her like you would when breastfeeding.

Some babies don't want to feed from a bottle at all. I had a friend who had to quit her job and start working from home so her son wouldn't starve, he REFUSED to eat from a bottle while at daycare. I think this is highly unusual and probably he was needing more time with his Mommy then he was getting in daycare, but it does happen sometime.

I'd also advise you to be careful as some babies start to like the bottle more than nursing and will quit nursing, so be sure the nipple you choose has a very slow flow.

At 6 weeks old my breastfed baby was 10 oz. less then her birth weight. We still don't know what the problem was exactly, but we did not live in an area of the country that had many lactation specialists (we shared ours with 6 counties, so got to see her once a week) and were put in a position of supplementing with formula. It took too long to get any breastfeeding help and by 8 weeks she was refusing to take the breast at all. I wish I'd tried other methods of giving her expressed milk and formula other than a bottle as I think it would've helped us continue breastfeeding. You can teach them, even this young, to drink from a shot glass size cup, use an eye dropper/syringe or even spoon it into their mouths.

Best wishes, I hope you find something that works for all of you. :)

Do it now.. dont wait...

My kids were breastfed but got at least one bottle a week from dad or nanny or someone..

If you wait too long she will not take abottle..

keep trying either have dad do it or you do it..

but you need to be able to leave the baby and have her eat while you are gone.

M.,

My little girl started to take the bottle at the saMe time. At first, she wasn't feeling it. So, we did the same thing that we did when she didn't want to nurse in the beginning, sugar water. We put a little sugar water on the nipple the first few times and we were ready to go. I was still nursing, but daddy would give her a bottle even when I was sitting there ( I of course would be pumping). This way she knew that daddy could feed her too. We never had another problem. So try a little sugar water on the nipple.

M.,

I had the same issue with my little boy when I returned to work at 12 weeks. Three weeks before I was scheduled to return to work I would put him to sleep in his carseat and then when he started to stir I would sneak up behind him and pop a breast expressed bottle in his mouth. He, of course, would start to nurse without any protest (after a few tries.)

He went on to daycare successfully but I was never able to give him a bottle (he knew I had the goods.) I had to be out of the room before he would take a bottle from anyone. Start now and don't give up as it will happen. :)

please go to www.llli.org to find a laleche league support in your area. women who belong to lll are very knowledgeable and are eager to help out with breastf. issues.

good luck
J.

There are alot of different bottles and nipples out there. I know some bfing moms who had good success with Adiri Natural Nursers. The shape is more like the breast.

Also, as suggested have dad give the bottle when you're not around. Babies are SMART! If she sees you or smells you, then she knows the real deal is CLOSE! ;-) Baby will not starve herself. Remember that. Infants are basic needs fulfillers. Unless there is something seriously medically wrong, baby WILL EAT when she is hungry. But she has to know there is NO other option out there for her at that particular time.

I never really got the hang of the pumping and storing thing. Early on it was ok because I was so engorged....and I did give my daughter a bottle occassionally and she took it no problem. But after the engorgment subsided, I didn't keep up with the pumping. So, my daughter just turned a year and I'm trying to figure out how to pump enough so we can go out to my cousins wedding in 2 months! So...keep at it!

Hi M.,
It's interesting that she took to the bottle the first 4-5 times and then suddenly wanted nothing to do with it.
Hummmmmmm, maybe it's the nipples on the bottle. Maybe play around with different types. Maybe she is just getting older and better at telling the difference between mom and the rubber nipple on a bottle. She is obviously a very observant and smart little girl.
Best wishes,
M.

Hi M.

I did not have a problem with trasitioning my son, but my friend did with her daughter. She would NOT take it is my friend was in the room. She would leave the room and have her husband give her the bottle. This wasn't permanant, but just until she got used to it because if my friend was there the bab y wanted to nurse, not use the bottle! Her daughter was also VERY [icky about the bottle being warm enough. THey would sometimes have to warm it in the middle of ther feeding becuase it wasn't warm enough for her by half way through.

IF you are having trouble, try different nipples, too. latex, silicone, different shapes or brands. Some babies respond better to some than others.

Good luck!!

Would you consider feeding her out of a small, flexible cup?
http://store.llli.org/public/profile/314

These 2 oz cups help prevent nipple confusion for a breastfed baby. Since there is no other nipple, there's nothing to be confused about! I recently fed a 4 week old baby with one while her mom was at the dentist, and she did wonderfully!

Check out Dr. Sears page for more info:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T026000.asp

My daughter felt the same way. I then tried my moms advice and got the playtex nursers w/ the rubber not silicone nipple. I suggest the 4 oz do to size and comfort of holding. The nipple is so similar to a real nipple I think they don't notice it is a bottle.

Hope it helps and great idea for a special day for your son.

Make sure you are not in the room when your husband is feeding her. Infants can smell you and will refuse a bottle if you are nearby. Try going out by yourself even if it is to the store and have him feed her then.

I'd definetely second that you shouldn't give her a bottle.. have your husband when your baby thinks you're gone. I never gave my son a bottle... he's now 1 1/2 and drinks from a cup or sippe.

If a bottle doesn't work.. you can also try a syringe or cup feeding. I'd also second contacting or going to a LLL group for more info.

All meetings are started with a do what works for you... and there is a lot of support and friendship that I've found through LLL.

I breast fed all 3 of mine and gave them 1 bottle every day with formula...They never got confused and others could feed them! I gave mine the avent bottle. My daughter was a little pickier! She would FINALLY take the Nuk nipple.

Have you tried having your husband lay one of your shirts on top of his? Sometimes it works because the baby smells you as she's feeding and is more relaxed.