My Son Won't Eat from a Bottle...

Hi S.,
My friend had a bugger of a time getting her breastfed son to take any kind of a bottle until she found this one. Here is her reply to another mom about this subject:

I have the best bottle ever!! I got it from One Step Ahead the brand name is Adiri. The other brands claim to be like the breast, no way, compared to this. It looks and feels just like one and my baby loves it. It costs about $13, but is worth every penny. My baby would not latch onto anything until this bottle.

C.

I completly understand. My daughter did the same thing when she was 3 months old and I went back to work. In fact, my husband I joke that we spent at least $100 on different bottles trying to find one she would take. I remember ordering this bottle that looks/feels like a breast at midnight one night and had it expressed shipped--because I was so desperate. I also met with at least 4 lactation consultants and read every book and website trying to find help. Well--no luck.

But be encouraged--my little one would hold out until I got home but it only lasted 3 weeks. One day she woke up and decided to cooperate and she has been a great bottle eater ever since. We ended up using the Avent but I do not think it was the type of bottle--I think it was her finally giving in. It is difficult but just give it time. My baby is a little over a year now and we have begun the weaning process. Breastfeeding is probabaly one of the best things you can do for your little one--good luck and let us know when he takes the bottle!

My friend is a lactation nurse and she told me if that was to happen to me to try a couple things.
Changing bottles: she mentioned Avent and those are what I have used before and with good results.
The other thing was to put some liquid glucose (sugar) on the end of the nipple. Just a tiny amount to get him started and use to the change.
These are just things I have heard, I wish you luck!!!

My daughter was the exact same way. We tried every bottle out there, she wouldn't have any of it. I too went back to work and she would not eat all day and then gorge herself at night with me. The books I read said that we might have to wait out a "hunger strike" on her part, but I wasn't willing to do that when I was there. However, when she was 4 months I had to leave town and could not take her with me and so my husband essentially had to wait out the hunger strike on his own. She went 24 hours without eating and then took the bottle. Now she eats like a champ! So as mean and sad as it sounds, if you really want him to take it, you might have to be willing to make him.

Try using a different bottle!! I have heard Avent is the closest thing to the breast and my daughter used it great while I was nursing her (filled with breast milk). Too bad they didn't have Avent 11 yrs ago when my son was nursing--he was just like your little guy. No bottle--only breast. But I have also heard wonderful things about Dr. Brown's bottles, found at Babies R Us. Just try different ones while you are at home with him. Some don't want bottles from their mom who nurses them--they want what they are used to--so maybe your hubby could give it a try if he doesn't take it from you. Hope this helps!!

Two things...
My lil' one only took Playtex Nursers....

She also would only take it if she was not up close to my body or anyone else's for that matter. I had to feed her either on my lap facing me (one leg crossed with my ankle on my other knee--her head on my knee) or in her bouncy or car seat. I think she thought if she was up close she wanted to breastfeed...even with daddy. That was the trick we found.

Hi S. - this might sound crazy, but have you tried a sippy cup? My first daughter also would not take a bottle so we gave her a sippy cup at what I seem to remember was 4 months. We used the type that you don't need to suck to get out, it just pours out. We used a tupperware cup that had handles on both sides. She picked up on it so quickly that I never bothered with bottles for my next two kids. It was so nice not to deal with bottles, so give it a try. All you need to do is give him breast milk in the cup, holding it for him until he can hold it himself and being careful of how much comes out so that he can learn to swallow.

I hope this helps - keep us posted!

E.
www.thegreatproduct.com/richerlife

Hi I breastfed my son for 6 weeks. He transitioned okay to the bottle. My lactating consultant gave me some tips. She said have someone other than you feed him with a bottle to introduce him. Also when feeding him put a blanket over your breast b/c he can smell your milk and fuss for it. I thought she was crazy but I did both and it worked great.