Help! My 10 week old daughter who has been almost exclusively breastfed is now refusing to take bottles. I have a full day job interview on Wednesday, and she has taken 2 bottles over the last 2 weeks with a lot of resistance. Over the last several weeks my husband has given her a bottle with expressed breast milk. She has taken 2 bottles in the last 3 weeks, but over the last few days has refused. She just cries and cries and won't even suck on the nipple. We've warmed the milk in the hopes she'd take it (unfortunately not). We have been using Born Free bottles (a gift) and before this tried changing the nipples from level 1 to 2. We also tried an Adiri bottle which was recommended by a local lactation specialist. She won't even try to suck on this bottle which is supposed to be a lot more like a natural breast. I don't want to buy a ton of other bottles and nipples but was wondering what kind of experience other moms have had & how they're gotten their little ones to eventually take a bottle. I won't be going back to work really until probably January, but the interview is next week. My only other option is that a family member brings her to me during the time I have asked to pump while interviewing. Others have told me if she is hungry enough, and I'm not around, she'll take the bottle. I feel awful. This will be the longest I have been away from her, and I know how hard she cries every time we attempt a bottle. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Thanks to all the moms for great advice! We stopped trying for a little bit and then did try the Playtex Nursers with the drop-ins. We ended up using the slow nipple (the one the bottle comes with) because all the places I went to were out of the faster latex nipple. We also warmed the nipple, warmed the milk, fed her at a different time of day when she was very calm (my husband too) and put a little sugar water on the nipple (my mom's suggestion). I also made sure I was nowhere in site so she couldn't smell me or see me. She has taken a bottle so far twice. My sister is arriving today and will be watching her while I have the interview so we're going to try another bottle this afternoon. Hopefully it'll go smoothly. Thanks again!
Try to put just a little honey on the nipple.
Just try it a few times. After she drinks from the bottle with the honey on it see if she does it without the honey.If not, just use less honey every couple of times.
Joanna, mother of three
Hi C.,
This happened to me to with my 4 month old son. I had post-partum depression that came on suddenly and was marked mainly by awful insomnia and the doctors felt it was an imperative to get my son to take formula so he could be weaned in case I didn't get better and had to be medicated (I did get better luckily so I was able to only partially wean him and now he gets both formula and breastmilk and is thriving) but boy did he scream his head off. On separate occasions he chose to go up to 7-8 hours without eating rather than take a bottle from anyone. So we decided to not try for a few days so he could get over the "trauma" of being denied the breast. Then one morning I just took my phone and went on a walk and my husband gave him a bottle of formula and he took it like it was no big deal and then within a week he would take them from anyone, including me. He was very picky about temperature at first but now couldn't care less. So I think the best thing to do it just take a day or two off from trying, then have your husband try again. My husband laid him on the boppy just like I do and stroked his head and looked into his eyes so he felt safe and that seemed to help.
If she is healthy weight she can go quite awhile without eating (ask your pediatrician how long he/she is ok with her going) and you just have to know that this is better for both of you in the long run if she is flexible and not feel bad. Do not feel bad! To be honest, once my son adjusted to the bottle he seemed to almost prefer it. And now that he takes both, we love having the flexibility! Good luck on the interview!
hey new mom-
the statement that she will eat when she is hungry is true- do not feel bad some babies are tempremental. this may sound silly but talk to her- and i have a question are you having some worries about what going back to work looks like to you? and when you nurse how do you feel when nursing-- are you worried, nervous, what do you talk about when you nurse? One thing I learned from being a parent and struggling with motherhood is babies can feel how you are feeling. you still have some time before you go back to work and i hope you rock your interview. talk to the doctor about her eating cereal. one last thing YOU CAN NOT BE THE ONE OFFERING THE BOTTLE- she can smell you and the person who offers the bottle give them a shirt you have worn - it smell like you- have them to put it on them and offer the baby and see how that works
good luck mom and do not worry it will work our the way it needs to
This has to be hard!!! Has Dad tried the bottle before she gets really hungry? I've heard of that working with others. You sure have tried everything else I would say! Just an FYI... If you ever need to supplement after going back to work, I used half bm and half goat milk. It worked wonderfully and is very gentle for babies belly. I'll pray for ya! Good luck:)
It sounds like you have gotten some great advice and I don't really have anything to add. I would consult your doctor before giving your 10 week old honey as it can cause botulism in babies (especially so young!). Some doctors (like mine) okay a little bit of Karo Corn Syrup, but again always ask your doctor before giving such a young baby anything but breast milk or formula. Good luck to you and your precious little one!
We've been fortunate that ours has adapted pretty well between bottle and breast and have just been able to use the medela ones mostly. I would suggest trying to feed her at least once a day (maybe in the morning or when she's the MOST hungry) from the bottle until she is able to transition well. If she's used to being fed on cue (like mine) this will be less stressful than waiting for her to cry out of hunger... bad idea! If you are still breastfeeding a lot at night, you may have dad try to get up with her once or twice and see if he can sooth or comfort her back to sleep and she'll be more hungry when she wakes up. Some babies will take a bottle better from mom, some better from dad or another caregiver. The bottom line is that (just like everything else with babies) it's all trail and error. I hope some of these suggestions will work for you! :-D
I wish I had some advice for you. My daughter is 6 months and refuses the bottle. My doctor told me to leave out the room and let my husband feed her. She takes it after a long fight.
C.,
I was in the same boat when my daughter was about 12 weeks old. I agree with the mom that said to give it a rest for a day or two. I had something coming up that i needed my baby to take a bottle and was really frustrated when she wouldn't and I think she sensed my nervousness and hesitation. Babies are much more intuitive than they get credit for. After a day or so of not trying, approach the bottle as casually as you do when you normally feed her. If she resists, give up and stay positive. Try again at each feeding, but don't get into a battle. As far as the brand of bottle, I did have to go through a few before she decided on one--I tried Dr browns, playtex drop ins, and plain old evenflo glass bottles, but she decided on Avent. If you can't get her to take a bottle before your interview, don't worry--she will not starve to death, hate you forever, or be damaged by excessive crying in a few hours. Your sitter may never come back though--ha ha! The medicine dropper may work. I don't know what kind of job you are interviewing for, but I would really try not to have your baby brought to the interview to nurse--unfortunately, our society is not accepting of that behavior and will likely cost you a job. Good luck--you and baby WILL get through this hurdle!
My son had a little trouble taking a bottle when I went back to work. He was 2 months old at the time. The best advice I can give you is to let someone else give her the bottle while you are out of sight. Also, I know my husband would sometimes try to give him a bottle and he would just scream and become hysterical. He would just wait a while until he calmed down and then try again. I am a nurse and work 12 hour shifts, so I was gone for a long time, but he would always eventually eat. He never refused to eat all day. Eventually she will get used to it. Good luck.
i feel your pain.. i went thru the same thing..first thing.. go out and buy the Playtex Nurser with the Latex Nipple. it is the bottle that has the liner. all of my friends who have had the same problem have been saved by this bottle. i bought so many different ones too and i promise this will work but it will take some time.. my son didnt eat well for about 2-3 weeks and i work full time out of the house. your daughter will NOT starve.. if it is possible have someone else start feeding her bottles when u arent around. it is going to take a bit until she takes it but dont give up. that is the worst thing. my son for a few days would wait all day until i got home to nurse.. how did he know- he was only 12 weeks old. then after a few days he was fine..
the bottle is so easy to use and it is probably one of the least expensive bottle systems out there. buy the Latex nipples- rapid -- NOT the silicone. after about 1-2 they rec throwing out the nipples b/c they dont hold up as long. they are BPA free too.
i promise with a little work.. it will happen. my son is almost 7 months and takes the bottle and still nurses like a champ..
good luck.. stay strong and dont worry.. she'll be fine!
Thankfully our boys never had problem with that but many of my friends did. You just need to try every day at least one bottle and she will get used to it. For the day of the interview if she absolutly refuses it , whoever is watching her can try medicine dropper(some of my friends had to resort to one)
