REFUSAL To Take Bottle

Wish I had some advice for you. I just wanted to let you know I know how you feel. My first 2 kids were like this. I tried every bottle under the sun and never found one that worked. I just resigned myself to the fact that I was all that would work. My 3rd decided that the bottles they give you in the hospital (LIttle 4 oz. clear bottles) would work well enough for him. Like other mamas say. He should be able to go 3 hrs. or so between feedings (unless he's like my oldest son- but thats another story) so if he can, feed him and then leave for up to 3 hrs. or however long he can go.

YES!!! My first baby would switch back and forth just fine, but I kept her on a schedule getting 3 -4 bottles a day because I went back to work. I stayed home with my second two and neither one of them would take a bottle. They would simply hold out until I got back, but it was no picnic for anyone. I bought tons of bottles looking for that one magic bottle and never found it. As little babies they would take the occasional bottle now and then, but then got smart and just wanted to nurse. I wish I had a magic trick for you, I was always looking for one on this issue. My advice is that if you really want your baby to take the bottle I would put them on a daily schedule with a few bottles a day. For me the occasional bottle was not enough to get them used to it once they realized they had a choice! Also, have you tried the Tomee Tipee bottle? They got really good reviews, though they didn't start selling them in the US until my youngest was going on the cup. Good luck!

For us it was what was in the bottle. We tried breastmilk in ten different bottles and she wouldn't tak any of them. But formula she would. No idea why, just smart enough to know that the good stuff only comes from mama? I didn't want to give her formula but figured if that was all he would take while I was gone then so be it!

Same thing happened to me. My little girl refused to take any bottle after a couple times that we gave it a try. Lets just say we tried everything and nothing worked, and I ended up breast feeding her up to 15 months. After that she took to a sippy cup really easy. All I can say is you need to make a decision, stick to bottles or breast feeding or you might just get really frustrated. Good luck.

Oh mama....welcome to my world.

My now 7 month old son took bottles with no problem and then stopped.

We tried EVERYTHING. Other people offering them when I was gone. Every nipple, feeding tubes attached to fingers, special needs feeders, a spoon, etc.

You can google for a ton of advice. My friend went through the same thing and she just tried tried tried tried tried. She was finally the one, after a month, to get her son at 5 months to take a bottle. She sat him facing out in her lap, sang songs, and rocked him.

For me, nothing has worked and I work part time. So, my dad drives the baby back and forth to nurse. Talk about needing a break and feeling overwhelmed!!!

I would just try different bottles for a while, have someone else try to feed your son every day. The good news is that even if he refuses, you are getting closer to introducing a sippy cup. That's what we have done and he will take it.....not great, but he's learning.

I know I've heard from people that there are some babies who won't take a bottle.

Some people may post on here to just let him get hungry enough to take it. but the problem with that is that they can get so hysterical, they won't eat. Think about when you are really upset, trying to calm down and swallow? You can't.

We thought about it....could we wear my son down enough to get him to eat...eventually yeah, we could, but that's not how I parent.

So, keep trying and even if your son won't take a bottle, in just a few weeks, your son will be able to easily go 3 hours between feedings which means you can feed him and then go to dinner knowing that he may cry and fuss, but he's probably not hungry, his needs are met and you can take a break!

I hope for your sake he takes a bottle...this has been rough for me! I don't get a break really ever.

Have you tried the Playtex Nurser bottle? This worked when my son had the same problem.

my 3rd son refused the bottle (he's pretty strong-willed). however, he would drink anything from a sippy cup.

I'm in the same boat. My 4 month old will not take a bottle. She's gone 8 hours in the daytime without taking a bottle and then finally eating when I got home. I saw the other poster below said to try formula. That was my next step. I was thinking maybe she had an issue with my breast milk being thawed (funny taste to it?) or it being from a different source. Right now we are sticking with the Playtex drop in bottle system. That's the one she's taken the most so we're not going to keep switching it up on her. Good luck!

Before 3 months sucking is a reflex and baby has to do it, but after 3 months it comes under baby's voluntary control and then he can decide whether or not he wants to take a bottle. As others have said, mom needs to be completely out of the house and not available. Some babies want the bottle experience to be as close to mom as possible, so have the caregiver lay a nightgown or other garment mom has worn close to her body on the caregiver's shoulder and dip the bottle nipple in the warm breastmilk and cuddle the baby close to the caregiver. Other babies, however, will only take a bottle if it's as different as possible. These babies will accept the bottle better if they are sitting in a bouncy seat or sitting on the caregiver's lap looking out away from the caregiver. Good luck!
K. R. , IBCLC

Try leaving the room or the house and letting your husband try. She may just not want to take it while she knows you the preferred food source are around (babies can smell you from 20 feet away). For a while I just had to take baby with everywhere. Putting her in the Ergo carrier where she could nurse and fall asleep while I walked around somewhere helped with feelings of being overwhelmed and boxed in.

you need to leave the house and have someone else feed your son. He can smell your milk so he'd rather get it straight from you. Go with a wide mouth bottle as well (Dr. Browns has a great one). Also, the temp of the milk in the bottle may be a little different than the temp of your milk.

But, for me, it took several bottles from others before either kid was willing to take it from me.

Good luck.

I wish I knew the magic trick! My 6.5 month old is now refusing bottles as well. He used to take the occasional bottle (even from me), but now he won't. Even if I'm not home, he would rather go hungry and scream his head off than take a bottle. It is very overwhelming, since he still eats every 2-3 hours. I'll be watching this for any suggestions. I have a ton of breastmilk in the freezer that I don't know what to do with, since he refuses the bottle.