How to Introduce a Bottle to a Breastfeeding Baby?

Try a sippy cup, it worked for my daughter. Leave the house and let you husband give it to him. and if you do get it to work, give 'em one everyday just in case.

You have some good tips and since I am in the same boat with my 3rd, I can't really offer much advice - except, this, regarding the rice cereal, babies don't have to start with rice cereal - they can start with anything that is non-allergenic, I always start with apples - they seem to take to that much better than that yucky rice cereal (I always introduce grains once they're a little more used to solids.)

Try introducing him to a sippy cup or a straw. It may be a little too soon for him but one never knows what a child can do at what age...unless we try. :)

Hi there!

It sounds like you have a very smart little boy on your hands!

The first question that comes to mind is~ What are the reasons that you want him to take a bottle? Are you returning to work? Or do you just want him to use alternative feeding occasionally?

If you don't "need" him to take a bottle, then you may want to consider keeping him on the breast. At 5.5 months of age, you are looking at between 2 and 8 weeks before he starts to explore the world of solid food and sippy cups. Also the summer heat is upon us. Cold breast milk in a sippy cup might be refreshing for him this summer, and the novelty might be just what you need to interest him in something besides the breast.

I would just add that pacifiers are a substitute for a mother and NOT the other way around. As your baby grows, he will sometimes need you and your breasts more than you may have thought he would. As they begin to crawl and play more, they discover new frustrations and a few moments back in "his habitat" will always work to calm him. There are so many reasons why babies breastfeed besides just "to eat".
I recommend the book Let the Baby Drive: Navigating the Road of New Motherhood
by Lu Hanessian

If you are returning to work, then you will need some good strategies for your baby who knows what is best for him. There are some great suggestions in this article http://www.llli.org/NB/NBNovDec02p218.html

Enjoy your baby!

I had the same problem. I breast fed my youngest son until he was 13 months and he refused to take a bottle but when it came time to start weening him I knew I had to do something. I also found it was easier to get him to take the sippy cup rather than the bottle. What I did is slowly introduced the sippy cup with the soft sipper one feeding at a time. I started with his second morning feeding because I figured thats when he was hungry but not to hungry from just waking up. Then I would go in another room and have my husband or someone beside myself give him the sippy cup. If the baby sees mommy he knows the breast is there. If your husband isn't there in the morning then try the bottle or sippy cup at the feeding your husband or some one else beside yourself can introduce the bottle or sippy cup. After 10-15 minutes of trying to bottle feed I would then nurse. I still nursed first thing in the morning and before bed at night until he got the hang of the sippy cup through out the day. Then I quit nursing before bed and then once that was going well I quit nursing at night. This also gives your body time to adjust to not nursing as frequently so you won't become engorged. It took time and patience but it worked for me. Once he took the sippy cup at one feeding, I would move on with the same process at each feeding but once he takes the bottle or sippy cup it will be easier. I hope this helps =)
oh, also...the only type of bottle my son would take was the platex nurser with the funny shaped nipple(the one that is suppose to be the same shape as a mother's nipple while baby is nursing). The sippy cups I used were the Gerber stage 1 one cups with the soft sipper. Then after my son took those I moved on to the hard top sippy cups.

I am a mom who is still breastfeeding her 2 year old daughter (she never took a pacifier). I think breastfeeding is not just about food. It is about intimacy. A bottle or a pacifier just can't compare.
As mothers, we are our babies first real grounding with the world and other human beings...it should really not be surprising that they turn to us for comfort (pacifier) A LOT.
If you have read any studies on infant attachment, you should find it comforting that your son needs you so much, and finds substitutes (a pacifier is actually called a "dummy" in other English speaking countries) unacceptable.
But, I am sure you have reasonable motives for wanting to use a bottle. But you may have to search hard for some other demonstration of intimacy with your son that is equal to breastfeeding, in his eyes.
After little ones learn to walk, they tend to strike out on their own more...he might be more willing to carry around a bottle if it adds comfort for him, while he explores the house.
Good luck, if this a strong priority of yours. Be gentle and kind. Nature made us moms human pacifiers...(at least for a while). It is an incredibly important, awesome role and responsibility! Read up on infant attachment if you have any doubts.

There are 2 great classes that would help you today on breastfeeding, introducing bottles, weaning, etc.
http://www.bodymindandspiritabq.com

Other suggestions. Don't use formula when trying the bottle. Warm the milk gently to body temperature, which is what he's used to. Make sure the nipple has many tiny holes in it (poke some yourself with a pin, even) to more resemble milk coming from your nipple. Finally, consider a breast bottle, which might be more comfortable for him.
http://adiri.com/

I never used a pacifier with my kids and don't feel they're necessary to raising a child. There are cons. Honestly, your job right now IS to pacify your baby. Look at your four year old. He grew up so quickly and in a few months your baby will not need to nurse as much and not need a bottle at all. In the scheme of things, a few months isn't much at all! Good luck!

Good for you for nursing your baby! I'm on my third child, all three have been breastfed, and I know it's such an incredibly important time in our lives. It can be challenging, but it's so good for them.

You are very close to having him accept solids, maybe only a month away...if you can stick it out, there should be no need for that old bottle anyway. I have an 8-month old daughter who despises bottles, and acts very offended by it whenever we've tried it. When I have to leave her now, my husband just gives her some cereal or fruit and it tides her over until I get back.

I guess it's natural that they don't want the bottles. Your little boy has found something very natural and warm and soft, and he's biologically programmed to want to be close and completely bonded with you. Think of the difference between kissing a person and kissing a piece of rubber. It seems natural to me that babies would prefer skin and mommy's milk to rubber and formula or re-heated breastmilk. It's such an incredibly short time that he's this little (as I'm sure you know from your first one!) that I would say just don't worry about it too much, and enjoy it while it lasts.

Also, what is a pacifier except a plastic breast? You're not the human pacifier...it's the pacifier that's the substitute. Nursing is sometimes a baby's way of expressing a need for comfort and closeness. Those are valid needs, and two of only a few that babies have. At some point we adults decided it wasn't that important, but babies still know best. I have come around to accepting that it's short and sweet and great for them, and just kind of letting go.

Good luck with this! You are doing such a monumentally important thing for your precious little guy. I hope you feel really good about it!

Our daughter never took a pacifier, only sucked on our little fingers. Here's what Dr. Sears had to say to a woman who was struggling with going back to work and having to switch from breast to bottle.

"It can be difficult to get a baby to take a bottle after he is used to the breast. If mom needs to go back to work, then it becomes necessary to start using a bottle. If you know you eventually need to use a bottle, you should try to introduce it at about 1 month of age. There seems to be a "window of opportunity" and if you miss this, it can take a lot of work to get him to accept the bottle.

If you are having difficulty, stick with it. It may take several frustrating weeks, but he will learn eventually. One trick is to use the bottle as a game, not for primary feeding. Then after he gets used to the bottle, maybe he will use it more. My brother-in-law put his baby in a bouncy seat and rocked her back and forth, while watching a video. Then he would let her play with the bottle, suck on it a little, and slowly, over a few weeks, she learned to take full feedings from the bottle. "

Have a look at Dr. Sears website about starting solid foods & more bottlefeeding tips.
http://askdrsears.com/html/3/t032000.asp

STARTING SOLID FOODS
Topics you will find:
6 Reasons to Wait
WHEN? WHAT? AND HOW?

I'm so sorry. My (now 4 yr old) daughter was this way. I had her on a breast & bottle from about 2-4 wks old (cuz of a yeast infection). She was JUST fine with it & I went & thought it would be easier just to breastfeed solely. She NEVER went to a bottle after that, and she NEVER took a pacifier either. I totally felt like a human pacifier. I was told how good it was for us, but I just totally felt trapped by the feedings. We tried every bottle, nipple, dad, grandma, staying home, going out. All in all, nothing worked, but solids. When she was 5 months old, I started her on food. And even tho, she still breastfed, she was able to eat cereal & such instead of me - and I was able to get back some MINE time. So, altho, I can't offer any concrete advice, solids, sippy cups & time were my saving grace. And like another poster - you won't have to wean off the bottle. With solids, try banana or cereal mixed with applesauce. I mixed cereal with everything, but your son may respond better to another 1st food (or try different consistencies too - my children both liked the food thicker than suggested). Keep trying & don't despair.

Some babies just love their boobies! That's how my son is. Even if I got him to take a bottle, he still wanted to nurse to be close to me and would end up getting sick from eating too much. I am a stay-at-home mom, and I love nursing him, so I just gave up on the idea. Now that he's older, he will drink from a sippy cup (though I am still nursing him also), and eats finger foods/table foods. Hang in there!

I would not force him to take a bottle unless you have to go to work. He will be much better off nursing anyway. Neither of my boys would take a pacifier either and it is a lot easier to break a habit that has never started to begin with :-) If you want to introduce sippy cups at 6 months of age, I would do that, but start with the soft spout ones. I used the Magic Cup and it worked really well. I just would not force him to use a bottle as then you will also have to break him of it at a year old anyhow. He is probably just not ready for the rice cereal yet as well. I would give it a month or so and try again. remember to make it really this almost liquid and spoon feed it when you try it again. I also mixed mine with breast milk that was pumped and both my sons started it around 6 months old. He will do things as he is ready to do them, don't force things or he will get frustrated and so will you.

WOw! I too was a human pacifier!! My son did not want to stop nursing, until my Doctor said I had to, cuz I was losing too much weight. It was so hard! I lucked out because my husband was going to visit his mom and dad and just took our son with him. They were gone a week (in which time I thought my breasts were going to explode! lol) When they came back, I told my son that the milky had all gone away while he was gone. He seemed to understand. I never gave him a bottle. He went straight to a sippy cup. Are you trying to stop breast feeding? or just minimize the pacifier effect? You may need to just let him nurse, then in between offer him choices of cereal, etc. I know that I was at my whits end whith my son. It was a comfort thing to him more than a nutritional thing at the end there. You may have to get some help for a while and have someone play with him or be with him after feedings so that he gets comfortable with someone else. Maybe they could get him started on cereal or a bottle/cup easier than you, cuz you are the pacifier.
Not sure any of this can help. Good luck though. I know it is difficult to stop them sometimes.

You needed to introduce at 6 to 8 weeks or he probably will never take it. I made the same mistake with my first one. However, you can give him a sippy cup at his age which in some ways is better since you won't have to wean him offf a bottle. I gave my kids cups at 4 months and it worked great. Good luck!

Our baby never did want to take a bottle, so we decided not to force the issue. The good thing is that there are tons of benefits to exclusive breastfeeding - your period takes longer to come back, your milk supply lasts longer, etc. And breastfeeding is a nice excuse to take a break and read a book, LOL!!! I just learned to enjoy it!

My youngest daughter who is now 6 did this. She was a 4 pounder at birth and would not take the bottle even then. They were frustrated, but were glad that thankfully she would nurse, although they were concerned with her caloric intake. I gave up altogether on the bottle thing and went straight to sippy cups. When she was 5 months old she loved to try and grab our cups, so I got her one of her own and when she went to grab my cup I would give her her own with water in it at first and then breast milk. Maybe you have been given a blessing of never having to have the bottle and if your baby can hold toys then he can hold a sippy cup too. Good luck.

I feel your pain!! You describe what months 4, 5 and 6 were like with my daugther who is now 8 months!!

There was an article in last months Parenting Magazine about babies who won't take pacifiers. Here is the technique they suggested. Put the pacifier in the babies mouth and after a few seconds before they spit it out, try to pull it out. By pulling it out, it stimulates the babies suckling instinct (like when you try to take them off your breast) and they fight against you. Continue doing this and they will learn that suckling a pacifier can be comforting and will usually take it.

My daughter is now taking a bottle and I ended up just weaning her and using a frozen supply of breast milk. It took about 1 month of struggling and her screaming to get her to take the bottle. I found she would take it better if I wasn't holding her at first and she was in a bouncy chair or her car carrier seat. Finally, she got it and now loves it! She took a pacifier at around 5 months after months and months of trying. She still hates solid food so I don't know how to help on that one!! Try miking some fruit in his cereal and see that helps, or making it with juice instead of breastmilk.

Good Luck!

My daughter wouldn't take a bottle either. When trying the bottle, she would get so upset that I decided it was not worth it. I gave up trying for several months. Now she is 9 months old and will take a sippy cup (of breastmilk) from my husband when I'm not home. You might try waiting a bit and trying the cup. The advantage - you won't have to wean him from a bottle! Good luck!

This information is from one of my Le Leche Legue leaders. My daughter is now 4 months, and we started to introduce the bottle to her at about 2 1/2 months. It took a little while for her to get the hang of it. We found that she did not like the slow flow nipples, and at first she wouldn't take the bottle if I was home. Hope some of the suggestions help.

The following list provides some suggestions on coaxing your baby to take a bottle.

*Try offering the bottle before the baby is likely to be too hungry, before her usual nursing time, as she may be more cooperative then about trying something new.
*Hold the baby lovingly while giving the bottle.
*Wrap the baby in some of the mother's clothing that has her smell on it (a blouse or nightgown, for example) while offering the bottle.
*Instead of pushing the bottle nipple into the baby's mouth, try laying it near her mouth and allow her to pull it in herself, or tickle the baby's mouth with the bottle nipple, as many mothers do with the breast, and wait until she opens wide to give it.
*Try running warm water over the bottle nipple to bring it up to body temperature, like the breast, or -if the baby is teething- try cooling it in the refrigerator, as this may be soothing to gums.
*Try different types of bottle nipples to find a shape, a substance, (rubber or silicone), and a hole size the baby will accept. Some babies prefer a larger or smaller nipple or hole or different nipple types and shapes, such as a preemie nipple, which is softer than regular nipple, or an orthodontic nipple. Look for a nipple that is wide at the base, so that the baby’s mouth opens wide to take the nipple.

*Try different feeding positions. Some babies will take a bottle better in the nursing position; other like to sit propped against the caregiver's raised legs (like sitting in an infant seat); still others prefer not to look at the caregiver and will take a bottle better if they are facing out, with their back against the caregiver's chest.
*Try to feed the baby while moving rhythmically-rocking, walking or swaying from side to side-because this may be calming to her.
*Keep trying, but remember that baby can be fed the mother's milk using other feeding methods, such as cup, spoon, or eyedropper, if the baby continues to refuse the bottle.

Here is a link to a question and answer session on the topic: When Baby Refuses a Bottle.

http://www.llli.org/NB/NBSeptOct94p152.html

I have a few tips for you. Don't try to give him a bottle when he is really hungry. Try like in between meals or feed him a little and then try giving him a bottle. Also, you just have to keep trying a few times every day for several days in a row. Just keep trying and eventually he will take it! Good job and good luck.

Are you giving the bottle to him? You smell like breast milk and he is more likely to take the bottle if you are not around. I remember accidentally "training" my daughter not to take a bottle and feeling so stressed about it around 4-5 months. My mother-in-law could get her to take it when no one else could. It just took persistence. Eventually she did it.

The lactation consultant recommended tipping small amounts of milk into the baby's mouth or even feeding breast milk with a syringe in a real pinch. Keep at it. it will take time to get used to it again. Good luck! It will work out, but take time.

P.

My second daughter never would take a bottle or a pacifier, and we tried everything! Your baby is old enough that you could try giving him some juice (watered down 50%, and no more than 4 ounces per day total). He might take to that better than breastmilk or formula until he is used to the bottle. At least that would give you something to feed him so you could go out once in a while. Good luck!

Try using the "BreastFlow" bottle by First Years. You can buy it at Babies R Us. It helped my sister's little guy figure out how to finally latch on to her because it is the bottle that is most like the breast. It flows most like the breast and it feels like a breast too. Good Luck and congrats on breastfeeding. I am a lactation consultant so if you need any more help let me know.
R.

Hi

My first daughter was that way also. She never, not even once took a bottle or a pacifier and she was hungry all the time. When she was 10 months I got really sick, my fever spiked up to 105.3 and I was admitted to the hospital for 10 days. At that point my parents were forced to wean her and she took the bottle finally. By the time I got out of the hospital my milk supply was gone due to the sickness and so my daughter stayed on the bottle and by the time she was 1 1/2 she quit taking that all together as well and went on a cup. I feel what you are going through, good luck and God bless.

I woud say to not try to worry about eintroducing the bottle yet if you're a stay at home mom and are with him most of the time.I know it is tiring but he sounds like he gets great comfort from his momma which is where he shoud be finding it from.I know you feel like the human pacifier but try to embrace it as they're only young for so long!!

Both of my daughters refused bottles and passifiers. When I introduced the sippy cup it was at about 6 months of age and only with water. However, I continued to nurse until they were about 1. This made it easier in the transition from nursing to weaned. They already knew how to use a sippy cup by that point. It takes a few weeks to get the hang of the sippy cup but they work great, start with a soft tipped cup. I like the gerber brand with two handles. Makes it easier to get the spout to their mouth.

Good Luck.