I have a 8 month old son who is strictly breast fed with the occasional bottle when I have to go to work. About 1-2 a month for about 8 hours. He usually takes the bottle like a champ and never fusses with it. Today he decided he didn't want the bottle. My husband tried to give him a sippy cup but didn't want that either. Any suggestions on how to get him back to take a bottle. I only have to work twice a month but now feel bad that he wont have milk.
Hello...
Don't give up! If he's hungry enough, he will take it. He's old enough that he knows what he wants. So don't worry, it will be ok. My son was only 2 mo. and refused to take the bottle. My mother in-law finally got him to take it, and once he gave in all was ok.
I could use some advice there myself, I have a 4 month old who has taken a bottle of breastmilk once. He has refused formula and even breastmilk every other time. We have tried to have other people try to give it to him, because he just sobs when I try to give him a bottle , but he won't take it from anyone else either. Hopefully, someone has good advice for the both of us. I feel like I can't ever leave him because I wouldn't want someone to have to deal with him bawling or for him to be hungry and upset. Good luck!
When my son was 9 months old, he did the same thing. He would arch his back and refuse to take the bottle. I was a first time mom at the time so I was freaking out. I tried to put him straight to a sippy cup with formula in it and he still refused. I eventually figured out that he wanted whole milk out of a sippy cup. The pediatricians want babies on breast milk or formula until they are 1 but my son was done with his formula (refused every time!). Just to make myself feel better, I would add some formula to the milk. Then I eventually gave him just whole milk and a supplemental vitamin. That's what worked for us. Good luck!
What often works well in situations like this is a medicine dropper! This can help temporarily. Or your husband can hold a regular cup for him. I use glass or clear cups so I can see the infants face and make sure that they are getting the milk, but not getting flooded.
Hope this helps!
S. Stevens,
Certified Childbirth Educator & Doula
www.BlessedExpectations.com
My 4.5 month old daughter refused to take a bottle too. We finally found out she will take the Similac ready-to-feed bottle. I got one for free in one of the hospital bags - it's disposable so the latex nipple is much softer than most of the nipples and I think that makes it easier for breastfed babies to adjust to it. If you're pumping, you'd have to empty out the formula and refill the bottle. They're quite expensive, but will be a great option for you since you only need to use them so rarely. I think Babies R Us sells cases of them.
J.,
My daughter is now 11 months old and took only a bottle twice. She has pretty much always refused them. If she did take one - it would take about 20 minutes of her screaming to take it. I know it's frustrating. You could try different sippy cups. My daughter has been drinking strictly from a sippy since 5 months old. You could try warming the nipple - sometimes that would work with my son. Are you trying to give him breastmilk or formula? I never had any luck giving either of my kids formula. They refused. My son would take a bottle on once in awhile, but only a playtex ventaire. You might want to experiment with different bottles, but don't buy too many of one kind in case they don't work.
Good Luck
L.
My son refused a bottle too. We had luck with a straw style sippy cup used by older babies and toddlers. In the Nursing Mother’s Companion (by Kathleen Huggins, RN, MS) she suggests that parents try holding the baby facing outward while walking. That never worked for us, but every baby is different – can’t hurt!
Why get him back on the bottle? My daughter was off the bottle at 6 months and drank breast milk out of her sippy. The earlier they can be off the bottle the better!! Keep on trying the sippy cup - maybe different types until he finds a spout he likes.
K. - Speech Therapist
I have a baby in my daycare who is breast fed and we found that he would only take the bottle if he wanted it. I found that giving it to him sometimes when he is just dosing off works wonders or 1 hour after he is asleep. My mom saw me doing this and she told me that was what she had to do to get my sister, in her forties now, to take her bottle years ago. Don't stress your baby will not starve she will learn that is he doesn't take the bottle he will go hungry. oh well. Children will not let themselves go hungry for long. be patient.
I had the same issue with my daughter, from birth she refused a bottle. At about 7-8 months old she started taking the sippy cup with water (but no breast milk or formula) Since I barely worked , her pedi sayed it was okay. So while I am gone my hubby just feeds her yogurt with her meal and she gets an extra snack to help fill her up, then I bf would bf as soon I got home. I think one day here and there it is not going to make a huge difference as long as he is still gaining weight approriatley, I believe it is way harder on us as moms then it is on our children. Sometimes I think we give ourselves a harder time then we need to. I knew I felt guilty a lot about not being there to bf her when ever she wanted it. Good luck.
My daughter was the same way. She would arch her back and scream and throw the bottle. It got to the point where it was really stressful for both my husband and me. We finally realized she was objecting to being held while given the bottle and would take it fine if she was laying on the bed, couch or in her bumbo seat. Go figure. Maybe she associated being held with nursing? It only took about $200 worth of trying all different types of bottles, and none of them worked. I would also try just letting him play with bottles, and don't wait till he's really hungry to try the bottle. Hope that helps, good luck!!
