My 4 Month Old Won't Take a Bottle

You didn't specify what's in the bottle? Is it expressed breast milk? If it is breast milk I don't have any suggestions. But if it is formula I can tell you that when I switched my daughter to formula from breast milk she initially rejected the cans of liquid formula. My sister suggested switching to powdered formula (which is totally easy to make up) and my daughter had no more problems taking formula.

Someone else has to give him the bottle when he is hungry and you are not home.
It may take a while but eventually they learn because they have no choice.
It cannot be the breastfeeding mother giving it to him. It causes confusion and they know the breast is right there....
Keep at it!

Hi B.,
I would try to always have someone else try to feed him first. I would not wait until he's starving to try this out. When someone else is feeding him, it will be helpful if you are not around at all. Otherwise, he can smell you and/or can hear you and this might also cause him to refuse the bottle. Just keep trying the same bottle that worked for Dad prior. It'll be a lot more difficult for you to give him a bottle because again..he can smell you and/or feel you.
Good Luck!
M.

4 month olds are very smart and he cbviously knows the difference. Are you using breastmilk or formula in the bottle? When my son was the same age he would no longer take breastmilk from a bottle and preferred formula from dear old dad. I worked days and my husband nights so he swtched back and forth. I wanted only breastmilk for him but he thought differently. He is 10 now and only the honor roll in 4th grade and almost never sick. I don't think he formula harmed him in any way. I beleive he got the best of both worlds. :)

Hi B.,

I had that problem with my second child and my mom told me to dip the nipple of the bottle in sugar and water just a little to give that sweet taste. Just mix a little of water with sugar and dip it in a couple of times and hopefully after few days he will start to like the bottle. Take care

N.

I have a friend having same problem. Try a disposible nipple from hospital. You can ask few at hospital. They can be recycle even it says "use only once".

We used a cup for our baby. He wouldn't take the bottle, but after a while, he got used to the cup. Now he'll drink from anything - bottle, cup, sippy cup, straw, me, whatever! Just keep trying. He won't starve to death! Good luck and keep us posted as to what worked for you.

I breastfeed, and he takes a bottle as well. I use breastflow, by 1st years. It is a great bottle, it is made so the baby has to use the SAME sucking as he would for a breast. My son is almost 10months, and has never had a problem with these bottles. i highly reccommend them. Below is a link
http://www.target.com/First-Years-3-pk-Breastflow-Bottles...

Sounds like your son might be teething. The mother of two exclusively bottle fed children, I remember this coming to light around 4months.
If this seems to be your case you can read a little more about the options out there for easing some of the discomfort around teething. I found the teething tablets the most effective and longer lasting than the topical solutions available.

Good Luck!
S.

try a cup or sippy cup. Babies don't need to take teh bottle, they can begin drinking from a cup anytime they are ready. He may not be able to hold it well, but I have known babies that have begun as early as 3 months.

Good luck

Neither of my two children were fond of the bottle. The only thing my son would take was a playtex nurser with an Orthodontic nipple. The nipples are hard to find, but are great. They are shaped like a pacifier and the milk comes out the top instead of the tip - so it doesn't squirt straight back. I think it is more like breastfeeding. Babies will usually take the bottle if you keep with it and he probably won't go hungry if you take some time to yourself.

My daughter was the same way. I tried every bottle, every nipple and nothing worked. Finally at 9 months she started taking the bottle -- and then she didn't want me anymore. My advice is to keep trying a variety of bottles and nipples and don't give up, but don't stress about it either. At some point, she will take the bottle.

If your baby's doctor gave the ok for soilds. Have your husband try to feed him some rice cereal in the morning.

At 4 months my doctor told me to start cereal. Maybe it is time to start your little boy on cereal in the mornings. With that said, my doctor always said babies will eat when they are hungry. I wouldn't worry about him going hungry. When he gets hungry enough he will take that bottle if that is the only thing offered to him.

I have been in your shoes, and know how frustating this can be. My daughter is 5 months and I just returned to work. The best advice I can give you is to be consistent. 2 weeks before I went back to work, I started pumping, so that during the day, dad could feed her. I would nurse only in the morning and afternoons. I would also try and not be around while dad was nursing. She had a way of knowing I was there and could smell me...and refused the bottle. She is now taking the bottle much better..still has her days, but for the most part she is doing fine. She realized that if she did not eat from the bottle...it would be awhile before she would be nursed. They are so smart and intuitive, even at this young age. I would encourage you to start a routine now...so that when you go back to work you or just need a break to have your son in a routine. If you are not going back to work immediately, it might still be a good idea to try and bottle feed during the day. Good luck.

We've been having the same problem and tried 4 different bottles and nipples. I heard that you shouldn't put them in the nursing position because that leads to confusion. We've had a little success with sitting on the couch, feet on the coffee table, baby sitting up against knees. Hold the bottle with one hand and pat tummy with the other, rocking legs from side to side. Sounds like a bit much, but not only is she sucking on it enough to get a couple of ounces, she has started to hold the bottle herself. Good luck!

This may sound strange but try making it a little warmer, some like it hot!
-K.

alot of the books say to have someone else feed them. and if you are anywhere near by, they will not take it.. why not? :) much rather have it on tap and warm and snuggly. :) my last child didn't like bottles but when i was gone would take them for my husband. just keep trying. maybe the milk isn't warm enough? sometimes they just find out what they like and it takes a little more push to get them to give in. :) good luck and keep us all updated on how things turn out

I know this may sound bad to some, but if a baby is hungry enough, eventually, he will take a bottle. I was lucky enough that my son took his bottle right away, but my nephew was a different story. He would look at us like it was a joke! But at feeding times we were persistent with the bottle and when he was hungry enough, he took it. Now the problem is getting him off. I know as a mom you don't want your baby to go hungry and it's heartbreaking to hear them cry. But if they know eventually you'll give in and breastfeed, they hold out and refuse the bottle.

is it expressed breastmilk in the bottle or formula? if it's formula, he may just not like it. if it's expressed milk, then maybe he is on a bottle strike? Have you ever heard of a nursing strike? Maybe it's like that? Is that the only bottle he gets throughout the day? I wish I had more advice but I really don't. I'd try the messages boards on kellymom.com. They have boards that are really helpful and also a board totally devoted to pumping so there are probably lots of nursing moms whose baby gets bottles at that board that may have had this experience. HTH!

Just wanted to add that I read another post and totally agree that some babies get old enough and totally skip the bottle and there's nothing wrong with that - they can go right to a cup. And better IMO because it's not something that will require weaning later on if they get hooked to the bottle.
Also wanted to add that I don't think offering solids is the right answer. The current recommendation (and many peds are not on board yet!) is to wait on solids until six months old and I heard this is especially true with bf'ed babies who don't need extra stuff because they get everything they need from breastmilk. Kellymom.com has a great article on this you can search while you're on that site. LeLecheLeague also supports this new recommendation.

B.,

I work in the Children's industry and have come across this bottle time and time again, I only wish that I had known about it sooner! Copy and paste the link below (into your browser) to see/read about the Adiri bottle. It is formed like a breast to help the transition to a bottle to be a little easier (and to kind of "fool" the baby into thinking it is a breast!) Hopefully it will help your sleepless mornings! They are a little expensive, but to me almost any price is worth my precious sleep!

Link:
http://daddytypes.com/2007/09/19/adiri_breastshaped_bottl...

All The Best!!!
K.

Have you tried a sippy cup? Is he able to sit up yet? If so he might like sitting up and doing it him self. I would start out in the high chair or you can hold him and help him like it's a bottle. Does he eat any food yet? If so you might just use that when your gone so he won't get hungry. I hope this helps.

Its not the bottle. From what I hear, sometimes babies digestive system makes them spit up. In other cases, the baby can't tolerate the milk. Maybe you should try another formula. I live with a new mom and her baby does the same thing. She has gastoral problems. I hope this helps.

Try Breastflow brand bottles. I went through the same thing w/my daughter. We tried about 6 different nipples. Keep trying and good luck!

Does he take a bottle from you?

I'm an energy healer. I know that babies don't have fully formed auras and chakras and that for some time they rely on their mothers own aura to protect them energetically.

I was surprised to feel the energy of a person who was about to die was so similar to one who had just been born. Their energy is not entirely anchored in the physical form. Of course when I thought about it, that made sense.

Often this is the reason for uncontrolled crying early on. They need to know they are safe. They are also highly intelligent in knowing how to get what they need. Perhaps he is feeling abandoned because your familiar aura is not near. Behaving in this way makes you spend more time with him, yes?

Just something to think about, hopefully it will be of some assistance.
Love, L.

I would first try giving a nipple that is as close to your nipple.I then would try to introduce food to your child. Oatmeal cearal is the one my daughter liked the best. She wanted nothing to do with rice. Good Luck and keep trying but your baby will not go hungry I promise.

Hello..
I feel you..I also breast fed..
I have 2 kids..an 8 year old son...did great with bottles..
My daughter..2 1/2...would have nothing to do with them.
At around 4 or sp months she was introduced to a sipy cup..Its new and exciting and she started also with slow sips from a cup...they can do more than we think..
i am now pregnant with my third..
Good Luck!!

Hi B., my name is P. and I am the mother of 5 boys. One of my boys stopped taking a bottle at 3 months. I had to use a sippy cup to get him to take the breast milk. You have to watch him carefully and just let about 1/4 of a teaspoon of milk come out at time. I started to supplement with rice cereal mixed with the breast milk at the same time. Sometimes when children reject the nipple of a bottle it is because they are having ear issues. Sucking is uncomfortable. My son is healthy and moved through that stage easily. Good luck!

Brianna,
You are in a tough situation. Believe it or not your baby can probably smell you if you are in the house. I would suggest that you actually leave the house for a bottle feeding or take him to someone else and go off for awhile. Sometimes daddy is not the one that can help with this unless your baby's daddy is very patient, understanding and preservering. It is just soo much easier to pass the baby back to you.
I have had twenty years experience working with infants as a childcare provider and have had many moms go back to work with nursing babies. One family in particular comes to mind. Three girls, all of them nursed, mommy pumped while she was at work and I would freeze the milk to use as needed.Two of the three girls refused to take a bottle for a couple of days and waited until mom came back to nurse (usually eight hours). I know this SOUNDS crazy but it does happen. Both babies became agreeable to the bottle in a couple of days.
I'm not sure, but I think that you are saying you "won't" be going back to work for awhile so what about just making sure you nurse him before you leave for a few hours? He won't starve. He may get a little cranky or upset but it won't be the end of the world. Just make sure that you are leaving him with a person you trust and that is willing to work with him possibly being unhappy for part of the time you are not there. Of course, you also have to be comfortable with the idea that he may fuss and be unhappy while you are gone. Remember these little angels only get smarter and more clever about getting what they want as the grow up! Chaulk it up to survival!?

Any chance that the bottle isn't warm enough? Of course, you don't want your husband to make it hot, but perhaps the bottle is too cold and the breastmilk feels uncomfortable when it hits his tummy at a colder temp. Even for adults, our digestion prefers warmer liquids.

He is being stubborn and if you give in then he will never take a bottle and you will be tied down for a long time! He will eventually get hungry enough that he will take the bottle if you just don't offer him the breast. I know it is hard, trust me I have 3 kids, but you must stick your ground for your own sanity! Best wishes, A.

B., first of all that is a beautiful name, but when all else fails try God, He is always waiting for a call from us because he Loves us so much He wants to help...and will I promise..I'am a grandmother of 7.. Love you and I will pray for you and your Son. Boys are like that, My son is 27 years old now, but when He was a baby and had finished his bottle and was full, I still had to walk the floor with him in order for him to go to sleep.