My 8 Month Old Won't Take a Bottle

I suggest skipping the bottle and going straight to a sippy cup if you can, because otherwise she has to learn how to take a bottle, and then a couple months later learn how to drink out of a sippy cup. My daughter used the sippy cups as teethers as well for awhile, even though she wasn't nursing. I ended up substituting one bottle a day and then gradually increasing them until she was totally off bottles. The Take and Go disposable sippy cups work well for us, because they are hard and she doesn't like to chew on them as much. I got this tip from my neighbor who had the same problem with her little boy who was nursing. The other nice thing about these is that they are really inexpensive- only about $2.50 for 5 sippy cups, and they can go in the dishwasher, so they are reusable. The other ones my daughter really likes now are the Nuby sippy cups (about $1.60-2.60 at Walmart). They have the softer nipple-like mouthpiece, and they now have ones that have handles and a cover, which is nice when you have to bring it with you. I also found if I helped her hold it up, she was more likely to drink out of it, and I could take it away if she was chewing on it too much. It took us about 2 months to wean her from bottle to sippy cup, but now she takes it without any problems. If you've already tried these without any luck, one final type to try is the one with the straw in them (Nuby Insulated Flip-It). She could still chew on it, but I don't think she would get the same kind of satisfaction from it. It may also be a bit harder for her to figure out, but $3.50 per cup may go a long way towards your sanity! Just keep trying, she'll get it eventually. =)

Here's a trick my doctor told me when my kids were little. First try finding a bottle that has a nipple shaped top. That way it doesn't seem like a transition. I think Walmart still carries them. Then right before you give her the bottle take your breast squeeze some milk and rub it with your breast around the nipple of the bottle. Sounds weird I know but there are 2 things your baby is useto when feeding, the shape of your nipple and your scent. And if you are giving him formula in the bottle instead of your breastmilk it will also help her to drink it if the initial taste is still of breastmilk. Hope that helps you. gl! =)

Here is a few tips...

DO NOT feed her a bottle yourself if at all possible. She doesn't want a bottle from you, she wants you sort-a-speak, so try to have someone else feed her a bottle. After she starts taking a bottle from others she will learn to take it from you. If you are raising your daughter on your own and won't have any help w/ this then don't worry it's not the end of the world but it does help!

Next, whoever is feeding her a bottle should really cuddle her a lot. I find that when I am feeding a child that is still breastfeeding or is slowly switching over it is best to cuddle them a lot. I also find that if I have them partially turned towards me (almost on their side but not quiet)and then stick the bottle in their mouth they tend to drink better.

Next, it could be the nipple on the bottle or the type of bottle that you are using. Some kids are very fussy with which bottle they will drink from.... so try different ones.

Finally, as a last resort you could try putting a small amount of sugar water on the nipple. Something about this trick really works. I know it sounds weird and unhealthy but just use a small amount of suger mixed w/ water. Simply dip the nipple into the mixture and then put it on the bottle and try it. I personally have never tried this because the first three seemed to work well for me but I know that this trick works for many others!

Hope that helps!

We're in the same boat w/ my 10 month old son, so I am just watching for the different responses! He used to take a bottle every once in a while if my mom or husband walked with him in a sling or rocked him, cuddled close, with motion. But now he's not even having that anymore. What we are currently doing is that I'll nurse him right before leaving, still leave some expressed milk just in case he'll take it from a cup (even just a regular cup, not a sippy or bottle), and then my husband or my mother (whoever's in charge of the baby) feeds solids *if* he acts hungry and won't drink the expressed milk. If solids, then they mix it well w/ breastmilk so that he's still getting the good mama milk along with the solids. And when I get home, we usually nurse (but if he's asleep, I'll pump if needed).

I hope other moms can suggest some good tricks to use! Regardless, though, you definitely don't have to wean her completely - you can figure out an alternative to breastmilk in a bottle. It might not be your ideal, but it will work enough so that you can get out and have some time to recharge with your friends or your husband. That's super important, too, to recharge your batteries! :)

Please update your request if you do find something that works.

None of my kids took a bottle very well. Once they were eating solid foods, whoever was watching them could hold them off until I got home. Maybe using a cup without a lid would at least get some breastmilk into her if you are gone a longer time.

If she is 8 months old she should be ok for a hours w/out nursing, gradually work up to a longer time out each time, and see does all right, if she is thirsty enough she will drink, but it needs to be from soemone other than you to try it to work better. Also, maybe have the babysitter feed her baby food, she won't need to drink as much.

I know it's tough, both of my children refused bottles. I think you have to introduce them to babies when they are younger and then keep it up, otherwise, it's really hard. If I were you, I would just stick to the sippy cup. Try one with a soft top. Just let your baby chew on it a while and give it to her everyday at the same time (when you'd ultimately like to take out a breastfeeding time) All babies have to learn how to use sippy cups, it just takes a little time. She'll figure it out soon. Also, if she's eight months old she should be on solid food now so that should hold her for a little while anyway. Once she learns the sippy cup, it will be easier to cut out breastfeeding times when she's one and you can give her milk and gradually wean her. Good luck!