5 1/2 Month Old Now Refuses Bottle

Hi H.

I feel your frustration my now 3 yr. old hated the bottle and I had to drive home on my lunch hour b/c she would not take the bottle she would go 5hrs without eating. She finally took the sippy cup after many weeks of struggling with the bottle. My 7 month old has never taken a bottle. I am staying home this time around so it is not such an issue this time around. What is it with these kids just loving the breast? My doctor said it is a nurturing/bonding thing for the little ones. I really do not know what to say but you are not alone many families have gone through this. Just keep trying the bottle. Patience is the key! She will sense your stress. Can you nurse her on your lunch hour?

Hi As a Mom and speech pathologist, I would recommend dipping the nipple in the breast milk and rubbing it on her lips. This will allow her to get a taste and to get her prepared for feedings. You may also try giving her some oral stimulation with the use of an infadent (they are those toothbrushes you put on your finger. It will help alert her mouth and may feel good on her gums if she is teething. I would definitely have others feed her with the bottle other than yourself and perhaps pump rather than breastfeed since she is refusing. What is her feeding schedule like? How many hours apart is she eating and how much each feeding? Just something to think about in case she is full. Just a few suggestions. Hope these help.

When my daughter was that age, she did the same thing. The pediatrician recommended dipping it into a tiny bit of Karo syrup...did this s few times and she was back drinking her bottle.

Could be ear infection too. I have worked in the childcare field for 15 years now and I would say 9 times out of 10 when a baby refused their bottle they had ear infection. My son is 9 months old and that's how i know with him. I hope this helps
H.

I have had the same problem but only my son was older. He was about a year old when he started refusing the bottle. I started giving him a sippy cup and he would drink some, but I still can't really get him to drink regular milk. I have tried flavoring it and that doesn't even really do it. Daycare made me angry because they suggested weaning him,, but I don't intend to wean him I want him to self wean. I would just keep trying and don't let it worry you too much. Just nurse your baby every chance you get, she will eat when she's hungry and she's not going to starve to death. Good luck!!

She could have an earache, since bottles are harder to take with one. See your doctor, same symptoms as teething, ie runny nose, fever.

If, in fact, your baby is teething, her gums may be really painful, and maybe the breast is less irritating than the nipple. Have you tried infant's Tylenol, or Motrin, or something like baby Orajel? Some moms have the luxury of having a family member available to bring baby to work so baby can nurse on mom's lunchtime. If the medication doesn't soothe her gums, or a cold teething ring, or a cool clean wrung-out washcloth- you may have to seek medical advice. All the best, and I'm glad you're breastfeeding her!!!