My baby girl is 9 weeks old and breastfed. I need to get her to take a bottle for multiple reasons and I'm having trouble getting her to take it. I've tried several types of bottles & nipples. She seems to like the Playtex nurser with the drop-in baggies but she just plays with it and pushes the nipple out of her mouth with her tongue.
I am having minor surgery in April so she absolutely needs to take a bottle by then. I am pumping milk to save up and giving her breastmilk in the bottles - no formula.
She ate from bottles in the hospital and until about 2 weeks old because I had several problems nursing her at first and was told NOT to give her any bottles for at least 4 weeks once she started breastfeeding well. So, here I am struglling to do the reverse!
Ideas? Suggestions? Books??
I fed her only bottles for 24+ hours - she screamed her little head off at the sight of a bottle for a while but would eventually give in. My mother-in-law figured out she was more willing to take the bottle in an unfamiliar room and if I stood up. She still takes the beast too so I'm planning on giving her 2 bottles today & tomorrow and 1 per evening from then on so her daddy can feed her too.
She has figured out the technique so I think we'll be fine from now on as long as she gets "reminder bottles" on a regular basis.
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and moral support!
You could try putting some of the milk on the nipple and see if she might take it or have someone else give her the bottle.. If she "smells" you she may not take to it..I hope this helps..
I've breastfed my kids, and they never got a bottle, but have you tried getting her to switch in the middle of breast-feeding? While you're feeding her, have the bottle handy, and sortof trick her into it. Instead of using your finger to pop her off the breast, use the bottle,a nd immediately insert it. Or use the rooting reflex to your advantage. Tease her lips and chin and cheeks with it, and sortof make ehr fight for it. That was how we got our first to take a pacifier.
Did you try the "MAM" brand bottles/nipples?
Its really great and it is BPA free.
You can get it at www.amazon.com
This is the bottle my son would take... I really loved it too because NO air bubbles accumulates in the bottle as the baby drinks.
Also, the nipple if more natural looking...not all bulbous and round...
Good luck,
Susan
My thought is the same as Jenni's. We gave our son a bottle for the first time at 6 weeks - prior to me returning to work - he wanted nothing to do with them. We didn't get him to take a bottle until the day I had to go back to work, and the pediatrician recommended staying within an hour of home in case he refused the bottle.
He didn't - he just wouldn't take it from me.
Babies know your smell, and they'll often not take a bottle from you (or if you're in the house). I'd see if you can leave while someone else can try the bottle to see how that works. She may just be nipple confused right now.
She'll go through a lot developmentally before April, so I think you'll be fine. You can always call a lactation consultant to see if they have any recommendations or the La Leche League since you're wanting to use your own breast milk.
Good luck.
This worked for me when I transitioned from bottle to breast. Stop trying to introduce the bottle for about two weeks, but pick one song and sing it to her every time you feed. ONLY sing that song at feeding time and do it EVERY TIME. She will start to associate that song with feeding time. Then in a couple weeks, sing the song as you give her the bottle.
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