I have a three month old and just returned to work part time. She will not accept a bottle at all which of course is a really difficult situation. I have tried several bottles and am using the Mam ones now which have a shorter flat nipple so she doesn't gag. Does anyone have any suggestions on what we can try. She screams the entire time until I return which isn't going to work. I had similar problems with my first daughter and I never solved it until she was 18 months old and finally took a sippy cup- I just can't wait that long again! I have tried breast milk and formula in the bottles. Any suggestions appreciated!
Hi M.
My son and I had the same issue. What my sitter used to do was hold him in the same position that I held him when I breastfeed him then she stuck the bottle in his mouth. It was a bit akward at first and did take a few weeks to smooth out but it worked eventualy. My husband also put on my robe and held him the same way and that transition was a bit smoother.
Good luck
Hope you find a solution that works for you
K.
Have you tried to give her a bottle? Maybe it is the person she is not used to. Wish I had more help!
M.
SAHM and WAHM and loving it!
For my son and I, the only way to transition him from breast to bottle, was to feed him from me, then slip the bottle into his mouth. It might take a little going back and forth, but once he realized he could get the same thing from the bottle, he seemed to do just fine. One issue we had was if he was with me, it would take him longer to take the bottle. Whereas if his father was feeding him, or aunt, someone other than me, he took the bottle immediately. It's tough going back to work and worrying about if they're eating or not. It takes awhile, but eventually they'll get it. My suggestion, is for some feedings where you would normally be home to nurse, try giving the bottle anyhow, at least for some of the feeding.
i understand your pain! i'm still breastfeeding my 1 year old. he won't take a sippie or bottle either. for the last week, i've been cup feeding him. remove 1 feeding and use cup. do this for 5 days. remove 1 more feeding and use cup. do this for 5 days. keep this process going and when you get her down to only night feedings she might be more willing to quit. some babies just love nursing and they want mommy all of the time. i stopped fighting it and just allowed my son to sleep with me. they're only little for so long! try this website www.shoppapoose.com ask for carol she's wonderful and has helped me with all of my breastfeeding issues. good luck! :)
Here's the links to a couple of earlier posts about this same topic:
How to make a two month old drink from a bottle
http://www.mamasource.com/request/4279250929640800257
and
http://www.mamasource.com/request/4569520767087149057
This was my advice: Try this tip from the La Leche book on nursing: Stand and hold the baby upright facing out away from you. Hold the bottle up for her to drink from and walk around while feeding her.
Worked for us after 2 months of trying other ideas. We used Dr. Brown's bottles. Our breastfed daughter took bottles fine from weeks 4-8, then zero bottles for two months of trying. I had tried so many tips - this one worked. She let me & others feed her this way too.
Good luck!
Hi there!
My girls did the same thing....17 months for both girls -no bottle EVER!!!!!!It was crazy!!!Hang in there-you just have to hang in there! It really is so very consuming and I completely feel for you!Just don't listen to all the people who say it's "you" that would drive me crazy!
It'll work!
When you nurse her, do you sing or talk to her? I have had friends that tape recorded their voices either talking or singing and had the caregiver play that while trying to feed them a bottle with breast milk. It worked. Good luck, I know its stressful !!
Try the special needs feeder by Medela. It is an expensive bottle - $28! But it works.
It was originally made for babies with Cleft palate, but it is also now used for babies who will not take bottles.
It has a long nipple they can draw into the back of the throat -just like breastfeeding, AND they can completely control the flow - just like breastfeeding.
I tried five bottles with my DD and this was the ONLY one she would take. At about 6 mos of age we transitioned to reguakr bottles.
Good luck!
I don't know if my tricks will work for you - but I had the same exact problem with my second child. I actually had to take an extra month of maternity leave to try to solve it. This is what I did. First - I bought nipples that are shaped the most like my own body. That may or may not be the Mam ones you have. There are even bottles out there that look like a breast. Those didn't work for me, but shop around looking for the right shape to mimic YOUR body. Second, I would put Lansinoh (lanolin "creme" for breastfeeding - you can find it in the baby section usually) on my breast and on the bottles. So that first initial taste and sensation would be the same - whether breast or bottle. I would start out breastfeeding, and as she was getting groggy and tired, I'd do the quick "bait and switch" - I'd super fast pull my breast out and shove the bottle in. At first, if she stirred and noticed - which she always did, I quickly switched back. Back and forth, as she got more tired, she usually left the bottle in longer. Each day we got a little better. Maybe only 2 seconds the first day - maybe only 15 seconds by the end of the week - maybe 1 minute by 3 weeks later. It wasn't easy - but we did eventually get there. GOOD LUCK !!!!!
Sugar on the nipple. My grandmother told me to do that. You only need ot do it once. Works like a charm.
my daughter is nursing and we use platex with drop ins. the only kind she will use. good luck
