How can I bottle feed my breast fed baby?

Question

He is four monthsold, and we have been trying twice a day, 10am and 630pm with a bottle of either expressed or formula and he refuses to take either. We have tried different teats on different bottles, a trainer beaker and a cup to lap from but he gets so distressed!I am due back at work in three weeks and I am tearing my hair out-any suggestions would be greatfully accepted!!!!!

Answer 1

If you want help and 24hr support then ring little Angels the breast feeding support group Tel Michelle Atkin on 07746515903 or 01254-772929. This is a really good group of mums who support mums and even if you don't live in their locality they will help and advise. Good Luck.

Answer 2

I've been having the same problem with my 3 1/2 month old - I sympathise. If poss, try to get your mum/hubby to do it while you are out of sight. My mum can eventually persuade my lo to take a bottle with persistence and a firm finger under the chin. Once she has accepted the teat at the beginning of a feed, the whole lot goes down no probs! It has also been suggested to me to give her a bottle/trainer cup - whichever you will be using - to play with, its going to end up in her mouth at some point. After this you can put a little milk in for him, and encourage him through play. I can't vouch for this as yet, we're still using her magic cup as a toy!

Try contacting La Leche League, or the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, their details should be available through Google.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Have any one but you do it,The fact is your baby knows that you have the goods and is getting upset that you are not giving them up.It will be hard but you can't be in the room.I know this sounds harsh,and it will be hard for you to listen to your baby cry.But your baby will be more likely to take the bottle from some one else.It will also help if this person stays calm and reassuring for you child.They can feel your tension. Other than that all i can say is keep trying.I weened my 5 month old do to complications.it took several weeks of my husband giving him the bottle once or twice a day before he would even think of taking it from me.Good Luck hope this helps some.

Answer 4

Someone other than you should offer the bottle.
You should not be in the room.
They should offer when baby is in a good mood and not too tired or hungry....will be more willing to try something new this way.
At 4 mos, if you intend to continue breastfeeding after you return to work, I'd suggest offering expressed milk in a sippy cup or through a straw. (See link below for Rubbermaid straw bottle that I used.) With the straw, you can squeeze it a bit and squirt a bit into his mouth to help him get the hang of it.
Have caregiver try holding him in the same position you nurse in, holding him facing out, holding him facing caregiver, etc. Try having caregiver offer the milk while walking around with baby in a sling or front carrier.

Answer 5

I know it is very hard but stick at it. stay with brest milk in the botle to start with as the tast will be different with formula
basicaly he will take if there is nothing else but I know it is hard. I had 3 babys and each was different the third only took the bottle when I stoped breast feeding becouse the nipples were bleeding
but the second took it from the start. the first I do not rem,ember haveing truble switching. if other people feed the baby he will not smell your breasts

Answer 6

My nephew never drank from a bottle, he was breast fed for 13 months and never would take a bottle, so my sister had to give him juice and water from a sippy cup. Try a sippy cup and see what happens, also, don't wait unitl he is hungry to try, give him some when he isn't hungry so he can get the hang of it before it becomes an emergency!

Answer 7

Hi There, have you tried getting your partner (or a friend/relative if you havent one) to do it? (sorry if that sounds obvious) And make sure you are nowhere nearby so he cant see boobs and decide that would be better? I have heard of someone who started with a teaspoon but I didnt try that. I was lucky, my lad was always so hungry I think he would have drunk milk from the floor if he had to LOL! Good luck. I think its like anything with kids, if you are persistant and consistant eventually it works (im on the second week of getting my 2 1/2 year old to sleep in a bed and am finally seeing the light - and im bloody knackered!)

Answer 8

you could try in the afternoon when youre both chilled out and he's not too hungry or tired,i'm just trying to get my third baby from breast to bottle and having a few difficulties too,sometimes she will,others she wont but you can buy bottles that are like the breast,try vertbaudet.co.uk,they look like a boob and may make it easier for you,but dont worry about going back to work because if he's hungry enough he'll take the bottle and try to get someone else to give it to him so he cant smell your milk its hard to hear them cry but he will take it eventually,my second was like this and i just had to do it,its hard going but once he takes that bottle you'll want to dance!

Answer 9

I know you say you've tried different bottles and teats, but have you tried the Tommy Tippee 'Closer to Nature' ones ? They really are the strangest things I've ever seen. They actually look like nipples, not like teats at all.

Answer 10

I never had this problem personally as my girl adored getting the ocassional bottle and now loves her sippy cup, but here's a link giving tips for people in your situation. Hopefully something there helps.