How to Get Breastfead Baby to Take Bottle and Pacifier

Both my breastfed babies refused the bottle at first. It's just something different. But when she realizes you are not an option, she WILL eat from the bottle when she's hungry enough. Don't worry!! No baby has ever starved him/herself to death!

I wouldn't push the nuk. I gave it to my first and not to my second. (Actually my 2nd REFUSED to take it no matter what we tried..LOL.)

I totally LOVED not having to take it away from him. It was a blessing (definitely in disguise at times). My pet peeve is when I see big kids walking around with nuks in their mouths so it was great not to have to battle to get that away from him.

Also, our 2nd REFUSED to take a bottle as well.... He was strictly breastfed till 9 months when he started food and eventually weaned at 18 months. He tood a sippy cup (NOT SPILL PROOF) wonderfully at a younger age than most though. Give that a try. It will take longer to feed her as you have to be careful not to dump the whole cup out on her but that may work.

Try dipping the pacifier in breastmilk and then giving it to her. But, at 2 months, she may not ever care for one.

For bottles, have you tried the Adiri Natural Nursers? The bottle and nipple are actually all one piece, and it is shaped like a breast. They just hit the market, and I wish they would have been around when I had my son.

I think the old adage of "they will drink when they are thirsty enough" is really true. Also, have you tried methods other than a bottle? How about a tiny cup, like the kind to dose medicine? Or an eye dropper?

J.,

First, not all children will take a paci. I have four and only one would take it. We also had trouble with taking a bottle. Keep trying different types of nipples until you find one she likes. I just saw the breast flow for the first time and think it is great! The platex is also very similar to the breast as well. Good luck!

were you in the room when they were trying to give her the bottle?!?!
babies will refuse the bottle when they know moms there because they prefer the origional
eating strikes are common with a switchover to bottle. just know that a baby may not eat much during this time of adjustment, but she will not starve herself. she will eat when shes hungry. however, it is best to have others try to give her the bottle, and do it when you are not around so she doesnt sense or smell you.
perhaps the bottle nipple is too hard for her or blocked or something? breastfed babies have a really nice strong sucking reflex, so it shouldnt matter, but maybe the nipple is either too hard or too easy ?
babies are also not very good at keeping the sucker in thier mouths. its just something they have to learn. some babies take right to it, and others just arent comfortable with it.
take it one step at a time. work on getting her on the bottle since thats the real immediate need for your return to work. (of course, you probably have researched your work to know whether or not you can work at home or anything like that...) work on the sucker when shes got the bottle down ok. it might be too much to expect her to get used to 2 things at once.
anyway
good luck.

I had the same issue and didn't know a baby could get nipple confused the other way around but she was. The introduction to the bottle should happen between 4-6 weeks of age. I tried everything you did and even left the house so my scent wasn't around.

I didn't fight with my child but would keep trying every so often before breastfeeding and never had luck.

I picked a bottle and nipple and sent it to daycare with her. I choose the Playtex Nurser with disposable bags.

The first day was difficult as she didn't take to the bottle but by next day she took to the bottle just fine. When the kid is hungry enough they'll figure things out.

Don't worry and just pick something and let the daycare person know that it might be a hard day or two. With persistence but not overly pushing the bottle the baby will take it. My first child liked the Dr. Brown's wide bottles.

I am not sure what bottles you have tried but the only bottles my picky little girl would take were the Breast Flow bottles I think they are by Parents Choice. I went through about 5-6 types before i tried those so i understand your frustration. You can find them at target or babysrus, they are a little pricey but they worked. Also my daughter won't drink frozen then thawed breastmilk, only fresh or refrigerated.
As for the pacifier she may just not take one, my oldest wanted nothing to do with it, but my other two loved them from day one.

good luck

Skip it! My kids would never take a pacifier or bottle and I nursed a long time. Try giving her a clean pinky, pad side up, to suck. Hubby's pinky may even be better since his hands are likely larger.

As for bottles, I gave up and used a little cup or a straw. I used the straw like a pipette (sp?) from 9th grade bio class. Just put your finger over the end of the straw, dip it into the milk, to pick up a mouthful, then put it in baby's mouth and release your finger from the end of the straw.

This will also prevent nipple confusion, and yes it is real.

Whenever you are available to your baby, nurse and express some for when you aren't there.

Good luck and enjoy your kids!
Happy New Year!
J.

My daughter took a bottle a few times before she was 2 months old and then refused it even if I was the one offering. It was not until she was 3-4 months that she finally did take the bottle. Since I stay home with her, she did not have a bottle all the time. She is now 11 months old and has had probably 1-2 bottles in the last 4 months. I would say not to force the issue and to keep trying. As for the pacifier, some babies don't like them. All 3 of my children had one for about the first month after they were born and then they did not want it (2 are thumb suckers). I figure that a pacifier is just something you will have to get rid of later on when your baby is that much more attached to it.

I know you wont want to hear this but your baby knows best. Of course she goes mad when chemical plastic is put in her mouth ... she knows what is best and what she needs.

A baby ideally needs to be fully breastfed for at least 6 months so trying to get her off at 2 months ...

She is little and dont forget she doesnt understand that you are trying to get back to work ...

Maybe try not to force keep introducing it and she will get used to it. Also just because you need her on to bottles does not mean that she will NEED a dummy. Lots of babies just have the bottle and dont use/need a dummy.

My seven month old daughter (fed strictly breast milk) has never taken a pacifier, and she doesn't pacify on me at all anymore. She did a little bit when falling asleep, but grew out of that by about 5 months.

Also, the bottle taking is a bit of a challenge. I kind of made it my boyfriend's responsibility to over come the challenge. It took a couple weeks, but the two of them worked together to figure it out. Now, she and her father are very close, and I think overcoming things like this together helped. Plus, he now tells me how to best give her a bottle.

I made sure I was out of the room. It actually took best when I was out of the house, completely. We didn't switch nipples too much. We tried maybe 2 or 3. She just eventually got used to it.

Good Luck!