My dear son has been breastfeeding like a champ, which has been wonderful as my daughter never quite got it and I despised my months of pumping. We gave him bottles on and off from 3-8 weeks, and he seemed to take them fine so we kind of stopped until last week, I enjoyed a few weeks off from pumping. Now I have to go back to work next week, and we've tried giving him a bottle every day this week and he will not drink from it! We've used Dr. Brown's, and now the Avent Natural system recommended by the lactation consultant. Tonight he actually gagged on the nipple and vomited the 1 ounce we got him to drink. I don't know what to do, it's hard enough that I will have to send him to daycare 4 days a week and really do NOT want to go back to work, but worrying about him starving and screaming all day is killing me. Does anyone have any other ideas for me to try?
we had that problem too and I tried all bottles. the best is playtex, drop in with a brown nipple. good luck
If he is thirsty enough he will drink. don't worry when you go back. :)
Hi B.!
My daughter NEVER took a bottle from me. She did fine with her Dad when I wasn't in the house, with her Aunt when I was gone and with daycare when I wasn't there. If I was anywhere around she would not take a bottle.... I think it was because she is smart and she knew that I made milk for her. So my advice is for you to get out of the house and let Dad or someone else feed him.
Good luck going back to work! It will be a tough week for you!
The same thing happened with my little boy, I nursed him until 6 months. You just have to find the nipple he likes. My son loved the nuby nipples. They seem softer and have little bumps on them that feel more like a human nipple/breast. That was the only nipple/bottle he would drink from.
I have them at babybungalow.com or babiesrus.com so you can check out what they look like and they're pretty inexpensive to give a try, only $4.99 for an 8oz three pack. I think I actually got mine from cvs or walgreens, it's been a while my son is three now.
B.,
Who is offering the bottle? If its you that may be the problem. He knows you are the real deal and would rather have that. Maybe have someone else try to feed him a bottle while you are in another room, if your around he knows it and most likely he would rather have you! Just a thought good luck.
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...
click the above link if you can or copy and paste it. I know a few people that have used these bottles and had a lot of luck with them. Good luck!!
B.,
The same happened to me with both my boys. For some reason, both would only use the Nuk nipple using the thinner style bottles. I had tried everything with them.
I agree with everyone else. Until your baby is ready, make sure you have someone else feed him the bottle. It helps if you are not in the room too.
Good luck!
The dreaded return to work: I feel your pain!
For my son, we used Advent, but I recall having to go down in the stages due to the fluid release. It seemed as though he was getting too much, but when we adjusted down a stage in nipples, he did better (and didn't feel like it was being forced down, I think?).
You may have to play with a brand that works for him (and you).
Just try to remain calm during feedings, as he will pick up the stress and concern and this too, can affect his feedings.
Good luck! ;)
You may have to try different bottles until you find one that he likes. I used the playtex nurser bottles with my son (with the drop-in liners) and never had any issues switching from breast to bottle. Also, I agree with a previous poster that if it's you trying to offer the bottle, he will most likely refuse each time. I always had to be gone, or at least in another room, in order to get my son to take a bottle.
Don't know what nipples you're using with those bottles (they're great bottles I used both kinds myself), but I'd recommend the NUK rubber nipples. They feel more like a breast in the mouth. It might get him interested. If he won't drink from a nipple, then try spoon feeding or a dropper, those methods are fine as well and he'll get nourished. I had a friend quit her job and start a home business because her son refused a bottle, too bad no one advised her on alternatives. :)
Best wishes.
I empathise. I had the same issues with my son. The biggest thing was making sure it was not 'mom' who gave him the bottle. If I tried he refused. It did take a while. I would also consider adjusting temperature of the bottle/ milk as well.. sometimes that can make a big difference. I cant recall which nipple he did best with but it seems like it was avent. I do know avent has several different 'flows' and which one I used made a difference as well. You can also have him try a 'typical' bottle style which is very different from the breast. That way it wont seem as if you are trying to 'trick' him. Sounds weird but I have had several of my mom clients say that the ones from the medela pack worked best.(old fashioned style). Best wishes. I'm sure after the first couple days everything will be going well.
J.
I used breastflow by the first years with both of my kids and they both went back to bottle and breast great. the only place i have been able to find the bottles is at baby r us
they are a double nipple bottle and they feel more like the breast, i really like them. hope it works T.
Oh no. Returning to work is stressful enough without these issues. With my 3 month old, I have noticed that the temperature makes a big difference. He will take breast milk or formula from a any bottle if it is warm. If I try giving him breastmilk or ready-to-feed formula that is room temp, he will gag, choke, and act like I am torturing him. If I warm it up the struggle ends.
If that is not the issue, my first son seemed to prefer the latex nipples over the harder, silicone ones. The Playtex drop-ins worked well for my first son. They are wide like the Avent bottles, but you can choose from the latex nipples or silicone nipples.
I wish you luck!
The exact same thing happened with my second daughter (she just turned one). She was taking them like a champ, we took a break, and suddenly she refused to take them. Bottom line, I talked with daycare and they told me not to worry. I had the Playtex nurser that worked so wonderfully with my first, so I took all the nipples that match those (I think there are at least three) to daycare with my pumped milk. They were great at trying all of them, and within a week, she was doing just fine again with the clear nipple that my first daughter liked as well. Her main teacher had been in the infant room for 5 years with 16 kids at a time, and she did say that she has had two kids that refused to take a bottle at all. It was rough for them the first week, but after that, they just compensated when mom was with them. They turned out just fine. Don't beat yourself up about going back to work. I think my kids are better for going to daycare. They are both wonderfully well adjusted.
I breastfed both my sons and went back to work. I was never able to get either one to accept a bottle from me but they would from my mother who was their daycare provider. I was fortunate to live close enough to her house so I would go home at noon and feed them and continued to nurse at home in the evening as well. I think when you leave him and are not there he will take the bottle from the daycare provider. He won't starve he just needs to learn that his nourishment comes from the bottle. I have worked since the time my boys were 4 months old (they are 18 and 20 now) and they have always been at the top of their class and have been very well adjusted. Believe me, been there done that and I know it's harder on you than it is on them.
My best to you,
S.
I'm sorry you have to go back to work and leave your babies at daycare! Uggghh...I remember that all to well, sniff, sniff....
My first son did the same thing with bottles (never took a bottle from me either!) but within 3-4 days with my daycare, he was using a bottle when he was hungry enough, and eventually didn't mind it. I won't say he ever loved the bottle, which made transitioning to a sippy a dream!
Best wishes to you -
from another B. S with 2 small children (2 1/2 yrs and 10 months - both boys!) :)
Hi B.,
The wonderful thing is, you don't have to go back to work, I've got great news for ya!
Do 2 things:
1. check out
and call them, and get their book about living on 1 income, it's by Larry Burket.
2. Call Dave Ramsey, 888-825-5225, and talk with him about your desire to stay at home with your babies. You don't have to go back to work, for sure!
This is doable, and thousands are doing it, daily.
H.
The only bottle that my little boy would take was "The First Years Breastflow Bottle" This has a double nipple system that simulates let down. They are fairly expensive but were so worth it for me, since it took until he was 8 mos old to find one that worked. I could only find them at Babies r us. I know that they are available with their online store too, but I don't know where else.
First, you need to try and have someone else give him the bottle. If you are offering it, he KNOWS you have the 'goods' and will refuse the bottle.
Second, have you looked at the Adiri Natural Nurser. It is a bit pricey, but many people have had very good luck with it. It was designed to mimick the shape of the breast.
Third, try putting a little milk on the nipple so he gets a little taste and knows what it is.
You will probably have to try different bottles until you get a flow and feel that he is comfortable with.
I'm wondering how long you stopped offering the bottle. It could take some time for him to accept it again.
