Need help bottlefeeding?

Question

I breastfeed and can not get my daughter to drink from a bottle. She gags or pushes the bottle out with her tongue. My breast are not always available and sometimes I have to use a bottle. Any advise on the easiest way to convert from my nipple to a bottle nipple?

Ive tried the smaller nipples. Not having any luck. Lactation consultant said it is because the bottle sucking motion is opposite of breastfeeding. I cant get her to suck the right way w/o gagging her.

Answer 1

You didn't say how old she is or what you've tried. Here are a few ideas...

First of all, be sure it is pumped milk in the bottle. No point in trying to get her to take the bottle *and* a new taste at the same time if she's having trouble.

Try different bottles and different nipples. There's no way to know which one your baby will like; different babies have different favorites.

Have someone other than you offer the bottle while you are *out* of the house. Babies are smart; she'll know if you're just hiding in another room. But stay nearby because if it doesn't work, she'll need you.

Try when baby is hungry, but not ravenous. Either feed her on one breast first, or time it for 30-60 minutes before she is likely to want to ask to nurse.

Hold her *differently* from a nursing position. Try propping her sitting up with her back up against the adult's stomach, or sitting in a baby seat. Also, make it in a different room or chair from where she usually nurses.

Don't force it. Tickle her lips with the bottle nipple, and let her take it willingly.

Try warming up the nipple to body temperature.

If nothing else works, try cup feeding instead of bottles. If she is less than 3 months old, this is usually pretty easy; above that age, you have to work with her a little more because she may bat at the cup and spill it. To cup feed a young baby, fill a cup about halfway with pumped milk. Hold her on your lap in a semi-sitting position. Place the cup on her lower lip, then tilt it upwards so that the milk just touches her upper lip. Let her slurp it up on her own. Cup feeding is used in many hospitals with newborns.

Answer 2

My son had some issues with this, breast was his favorite (as with most babies!) and he balked at taking some bottle nipples. Try different nipples, make sure you try both wide and standard versions. Just b/c the nipple says it's like the breast doesn't mean he'll like it, either, unlike lots of breastfed babies, my son wouldn't take a wide nipple/bottle. He like the standard (older) versions. Also, make sure the bottle nipple suits his mouth. Just as in breastfeeding, baby shouldn't just take in the top nipple part of the nipple, his lips should come right up to and touch the collar of the bottle. There shouldn't be any loud noises when she drinks (if you can get her to!) And start with a lower flow nipple than you think you might need, as they have to work harder to get milk out of the breast than the bottle, and if it comes out too fast at her she may not like it.

One the most important things about offering a bottle to her may be that someone BESIDES you needs to do it. If you (and your breast, :) ) are near her and she smells your scent, she's going to expect to be nursed, whereas she knows darn well daddy (or grandma, etc.) isn't going to do that, and may take the bottle from them instead.

You didn't say how old she is, if she's past 5 months or so, you also might try giving it to her from a cup, either just a regular cup and slowly pour it into her mouth, or a sippy cup with a soft spout (NUBY makes a good one)

Answer 3

The key seems to be letting someone else feed the baby the bottle the first couple of times youtry and make the switch. When the baby is hungry, pass them off and leave the room. As long as the babe can hear, see or smell you, they will want the breast over the bottle. Bottles are actually much easier to feed from too so after the first few times, they usually remember this and will go for the bottle no matter who is holding them. Make sure your milk supply is good before attempting this as well. Dont know if this will work for you or not, but I had success with it after a few times. Good luck!

Answer 4

I am not sure what type of bottle you are using, but I used the Advent bottles at first because they said they were most like the breast. I soon disagreed. They felt too stiff and silicone like. I went to the store and found that the softest nipple was the cheap Platex bottles with the brownish nipples. My son had no problem taking it after that because I think it felt ore realistic to him. I also saved a lot of money not having to buy the expensive bottles and nipples!! Best of Luck!!

Answer 5

I think Playtex bottles with the bags, are the next thing to a mothers breast. Try the Playtex. Don't let baby get use to the same nipple. Switch out the nipples. Playtex has newborn / stage 1 nipples in clear and tan/brown.

Answer 6

my brestfed babies were never good with a bottle either.
If you aren't going to need to use a bottle very often then try the leaky sippy cups. ("the first years" makes a good sippy cup "take and toss". Good for exppressing into and then capping and freezing or chilling for later)

If you are going to need to use bottles for while you are away at work, then see how she does when daddy or grandma or even the mother nextdoor. You might even need to go take a walk around the block to really convince her to even try with someone else, but they all seems to get the hang of it.

also if you can afford it, try several different brands of bottles. Sometimes breastfed babies will take to a nipple that is very unlike mom's breast and others take to something that mimicks's the breast. Just depends on the baby.

Honestly she won't starve. Babies can go a few hours without if need be (my first born did - very picky girl!), they just make up for it later.

Answer 7

Have someone else give her the bottle. When you try to give her the bottle she will know that the real thing is close and she will refuse the bottle. Also look for bottle nipples that are closer to the real thing. They also have new bottles out called "Soothies" that are shaped like the blue/green pacifiers like they give out at the hospitals.

Answer 8

Have you checked the nipple on the bottle for the number or size of the holes? The formula may be coming out too fast.

Answer 9

i have a 3 month old and had to stop cuz my hormones were effecting her. and had horrible time spent lots of money on bottles same thing your daughter is doing. found soothie nipples and worked great but every baby is different just hang in there and good luck

Answer 10

I have had the same problem with my 6 month old. I have made myself always available to her. I would much rather have her only use my breast, than only use a bottle. Good Luck!