3 Month Old Won't Take a Bottle - Los Angeles,CA

Does she have a swing? My first daughter would only take a bottle if she was swinging. Kind of a hassle, but hey, whatever works, right?
Good luck!

Hi M.,

We went through something similar with my DD when she was 3-4 months. She was having trouble BFing (kind of like a strike that lasted for 6 weeks!) and at the same time quit taking a bottle. Looking back, I think it was probably teething pain. Anyway, we were trying to get going with bottles because I was having surgery and wouldn't be able to BF for 2-3 feedings. Well, the day before surgery, she finally took one ounce, but that was all. On surgery day, she cried for 2-3 hours when my husband tried to give her a bottle, slept for 3 hours out of pure exhaustion, and upon waking, couldn't get enough milk from the bottle! That was pretty much the end of the nursing and bottle strike (except for a few more tough feedings). People kept telling me that when she got hungry she would eat...and I guess it was true!

When she did finally take the bottle, my husband laid her on his lap (with her head on his knees and feet towards his stomach) and let her help hold it. that was the trick. After awhile, it didn't matter how he held her. Keep trying different nipples (although when DD finally took one, it was our original that she'd used pre-strike...so now we have a bunch of others, too!) to see if that helps.

I totally remember that feeling of frustration, feeling that you'll never be able to leave for ANYTHING. She'll catch on soon, and if she doesn't, it won't be long before she can start trying a cup, and maybe she'll prefer that! ;) BTW, my DD went easily between BFing and bottles from that point on, and I am just finally finishing the weaning process at almost 17 months. You can do it, mama!!

R.

Hi M., glad that you are continuing breastfeeding! You didn't mention if you are giving her breastmilk or formula in the bottle, but I will assume it's pumped milk. baby not taking a bottle is a common thing. Mine did for a little while and then I tried formula once and it was over! My first would rather cry for 4 hours and fall asleep exhausted (while I was taking a college course) than take a bottle. So keep trying and experimenting with other bottles, but if all else fails, then try to think outside the box- remember your question is "how can I get milk into the baby?" So pretty soon you could start with a sippy cup or even try spoon feeding it, try putting milk into a straw and carefully drain into her mouth (I know not very efficent). You can mix it up with cereal or other food too (once at least 4 months). Hope this helps, good luck!

Perhaps you could try different kinds and shapes of nipples until you find one she'll take. I remember watching a reality show where a couple adopted a baby. When they adopted him, whoever handed him over also gave them a bottle to feed him on the way home. When they got home and tried to use newer bottles they had bought in advance, the baby refused. They finally thought to use the bottle that he'd come home with and he drank it right up. They had to keep using the one bottle over and over until they could find similar nipples!

Also, my son refused a bottle (and almost all nursing, too) for a week when his first teeth were coming in. Any chance she's an early teether?

M. L.

What type of nipple do the bottles have? Give her one that is shaped more like the nipple on your breasts. Give her the milk that is expressed from your breasts, not formula. Do not give her the bottle just when you are going somehwere but at times when you are going to feed her, and she thinks she will get the breast without actually giving it to her, give her the bottle. Don't give her the bottle if she is really hungry, or fretting. I would give her a bottle daily. This would get her use to the idea. Don't give up! Take care, God bless.

E.

I tried everything with my son, including that Adiri bottle which is supposed to be like the breast. He refused everything. Finally, I tried the Born Free training cup. It has a soft spout/nipple and for whatever reason he drank out of that one just fine!
It could be that she just won't take a bottle nipple. Good luck! :)

I usually suggest that whom ever is giving baby a bottle, have baby facing out - baby's back to caregivers chest - have caregiver stand and gentle rock and sway baby when offering the bottle. Sometimes with exclusively BF babies they get irritated when held in the BF'g position (cradle) and are not offered the breast. Offer bottle when baby is not really hungry, try to anticipate her needs and offer breast as she's waking or a few minutes before she starts showing hunger cues. When all else fails, she can drink out of a soft medicine cup or spoon - messy and takes a long time, but she she'll get milk. Feel free to contact me privately if you would like more info. (I'm the lactation consultant for the City of Los Angeles and deal with LOTS of moms, bottles and babies). Good luck!

Hi, My son would never take a bottle. When I went back to work he was 5 months old and the day care provider had to give him his breastmilk in a sippy cup. I got the advent ones that have a very soft spout. He became very good at drinking out of a cup. Three months might be still to young but it might be worth a shot. Good Luck
Tina

miss M.~
have you tried different nipples for the bottles, my daughter would only take "NUK" nipples. they are curved with a flat tip that is more like a mothers nipple. I purchased mine at TARGET. Now my daughter is 10 months old and will experiment with other nipples. My lacation consultant suggested using a pacifier with lily first, it was also the NUK style and the transition was easy.Good luck to you and your support team!

This happened to us too when my daughter-in-law went back to work. My grandson was 3 months old. He refused to eat and cried incessantly. We tried a lot of different bottles and finally found one he would accept...but...he developed a pretty good case of separation anxiety from his mother from it and she ended up quitting/staying home for a while. The income from the job just wasn't worth it for what our precious little grandson went through. If you can stay home and feed him yourself for a while longer, that would be wonderful.

I notice that you are a teacher and if you are looking to reenter the field, a lot teachers are being laid off due to budget cuts, the competition for jobs is fierce. I sat on a hiring/interview panel last week for a special ed teacher, (which there usually are shortages for), and we had 260 applicants for that one position. Just something to think about.

Good luck w/ that. I was in the same boat and mine never took one and trust me, we TRIED!