|
|
| Have you tried different bottles? My daughter is BF and would only take the Playtex Nurser becasue she could fit her mouth on it like she was BF the others were too small of a nipple for her. If she is just getting use to having a bottle then make sure that you BF her a little first she will be more inclined to try the bottle if she is not starving when you give it to her. Good Luck!! |
| posted by Sacrame... on 05/05/2008 12:40 PM
|
|
|
|
|
| We started teaching our daughter about the bottle after just a few weeks. Although most of the time she is breastfed. When she does take a bottle it's usually from my husband, not me. So that might help, because if your baby sees and smells you, he/she understandably will want you! So maybe have someone else try it until your baby gets the hang of it. But keep trying, because babies are capable of learning skills like that. Just be stubborn and insist that he/she learns. Good luck! |
| posted by Jaclyn on 05/05/2008 12:41 PM
|
|
|
|
|
| I agree with Jaclyn. My husband, or his mother gives my son his bottle of breast milk, not me. If I am even in his sight, he will want to come to me (he's 10 months now). This is just one of those things you've got to keep trying over and over again. Good luck! |
| posted by Allison on 05/05/2008 03:31 PM
|
|
|
|
|
| My son took a bottle when he was 3-4 days old because we were having nursing problems, and he was hungry. Once our problems were solved with a lactation consultant, and he started to BF exclusively, he took a bottle maybe 2-3 times ever again (BF until he was about 14 months), and never from me. Only under duress when my M-I-L was watching him. I tried every bottle you can imagine, including one shaped like a breast. No dice. With my next one, I think I will let my husband feed he/she from a bottle at least once a day because sometimes they just won't take a bottle if they aren't used to it from the beginning. Also, if it happens this time around, I'm thinking of getting Adiri bottles, which again are supposed to be more "breast-like" to help with the baby taking the bottle. I would say keep trying... but sometimes it just won't happen. The only good thing is that my guy went easily to a cup because he never got used to drinking from a bottle. |
| posted by Meg on 05/05/2008 04:05 PM
|
|
|
|
|
| My daughter was the same. Definatley try different bottles, we litterally tried 6 or 7 different types of bottles with different nipples. The best one we found was NUK brand from target. They are shaped just like the pacifiers and similar to the nipple when the baby breastfeeds. Also make sure the flow is real slow, if they start to get too much they get uncomfortable and may feel like they are choking. I saw someone mention this already but when you feed the baby with the bottle make sure your hubby does it, the doctors told me that since you are holding the baby the same way with the bottle as when you breastfeed they smell the milk and would obviously rather have that so if they can't smell and feel YOU they will just adjust. Good luck and all I can say is hang in there, it took us until our daughter was about 4 months to get it down pat:) |
| posted by Cindy on 05/05/2008 05:28 PM
|
|
|
|
|
| Wow! Thanks everyone for the responses. I was warned by our Dr.that she might not take a bottle from me, so my husband has been trying, but so far... no dice. I have tried a number of different kinds of bottles and nipples but she won't even start the sucking process. She just gets cranky and then starts crying hysterically if we try for too long to get her to take the bottle. Where do you get Adiri bottles? I haven't seen those. She has also never really been interested in pacifiers - I wonder if there is a connection? I wonder how soon I can start trying to get her to drink from a cup?? |
| posted by Kim on 05/05/2008 07:06 PM
|
|
|
|
|
There is one other thing that I forgot to mention. Since my daughter did the same thing, they said to try and not feed her exactly when she is hungry wait a little while so she is really hungry and then she will just think...food! It sounds sorta mean but she will not starve to death if she doesn't eat right that minute. It is just kinda tricking her into it.
And you know don't get too down if you can not feed her on the bottle, sometimes I wish I still breastfed because I really enjoyed the little bonding time we had. Also when your baby starts getting older and on solids he/she will not need to eat as often so you won't always have to stop, pull it out and let her eat. It does get easier:) Oh and as for the sippy cup thing, my daughter started that at about 5 months. They have this "straw sippy cup" (at target as well)out and I read an article that kids pick up a little quicker on the straw than the sippy, she loves hers because she feels like a big girl drinking like mommy and daddy. |
| posted by Cindy on 05/05/2008 07:26 PM
|
|
|
|
|
| I went on www.adiri.com, and it looks like you can get a list of online stores that sell them (including Babies R Us's website) and also there is a way to search for retailers by state. I've never tried them, but the concept seems interesting. |
| posted by Meg on 05/05/2008 08:46 PM
|
|
|
|
|
| Also, while digging around online, I also stumbled across Breastflow bottles, which are also available at Babies R Us, and the reviews on there are really high. Can't recommend them myself, as I've never tried them, but if you check out some the reviews, that might be helpful too. |
| posted by Meg on 05/05/2008 08:49 PM
|
|
|
|
|
My baby refused the bottle around the same age. She was fine taking the bottle before but we only gave it to her sporadically so she all of a sudden forgot and refused the bottle. We were able to retrain her after repeating the same process every day. We didn't push her too much but kept trying every day. She now takes any bottle and loves it. Here are some things that helped. The key is to be persistent about pumping every day so that she continues to take one bottle a day. Then, she won't forget.
1. The Adiri bottle ended up being the one she took initially. It really is the most like a natural nipple. Once she took that bottle regularly, I switched to other bottles.
2. She refused to drink the bottle in our arms. She kept fidgeting but we were able to feed her the bottle in her bouncy or car seat. I think it was extra difficult to feed her when she fidgets in our arms and feels vulnerable about her position.
3. Try feeding the baby during the happiest time when he/she is not too hungry.
4. Before bottle feeding, dip the nipple into your breastmilk and put it in the baby's mouth like a pacifier so that he/she gets used to the texture etc.
Anyway, that's what worked for me. I think it took less than a week. Good luck! |
| posted by Donna on 05/05/2008 11:17 PM
|
|
|
|
|
| I had the same trouble around then. Once they hit 3 months, they are more aware of their surroundings and your baby is realizing bottle is really not the same or as good as you are. I tried every single type of bottle with different nipples, trying to get as soft a nipple as I could and one that matched as best one could. I couldn't find anything she would drink consistently. I ended up giving up. Then around 8 months old she took a friend's baby's bottle out of no where. She loved it. And guess what? It was the ONE bottle I did not want to try (Dr. Browns)! Go figure! Had I only known! Moral of the story...try different bottles and nipples and you might have to try more than once..but you're baby will eventually take one. Good luck! |
| posted by on 05/05/2008 11:23 PM
|
|
|
|
|
I tried gettin gmy daughter to take a bottle about the same age. She had a very hard time. she is currently 4 months, and still struggles with it. I have found that she did not like the slow flow nipples. Also, she will not take a bottle from me, nor will she take one from someone else if I am home. One of my Le Leche League leaders sent me a couple of tips to try:
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
|
| posted by Cypress on 05/06/2008 03:51 PM
|
|
|
|
