how can I get my 7 month old daughter to take a bottle?

Question

Hi, I've been breast feeding my daughter for 7 months, and as much as I love spending all my time with her, I need a break! I've given her a sipy cup but that as a no go.Other family members have given her the bottle but she just crys!, and she is'nt big on baby food yet.

Answer 1

Try an Avent soft spout sippy cup without a valve.

Try a Rubbermaid "juice box" bottle that has a straw. You can give a little squeeze on these to squirt some milk into their mouth as they are learning to use it.

Try the milk at different temperatures. (I assume you're trying expressed breastmilk in the bottle?)

Make sure you aren't in the room when someone else offers her the bottle. She is smart and will hold out for you. Better yet, go take a walk around the neighborhood or run an errand for an hour or two and see what happens. (That way she doesn't hear you elsewhere in the house.)

As far as baby food goes, try offering her FRESH mashed bananas and also avocados. These are usually very popular solids with breastfed babie and are the first solids La Leche League recommends offering. Then maybe you could plan a solid meal while you are apart.

Check out the links below.

ETA:
Also, have the caregiver try different positions. Get up and walk around (maybe with her in a sling or front carrier) while trying to start the bottle.
Try sitting with her back against the caregiver's chest, facing out.
Try having the caregiver prop up his feet and laying her in his lap with her head at his knees, facing him.

Answer 2

believe it or not try a regular no lid cup, my daughter would not take a bottle either despite the "helpful" people that insisted that she would take it from them. Being the mom of two who resisteed weaning and one that selfweaned to early, trust me when I say it won't be long before she weans herself and you will miss it. But definitely get some you time. Pump that liquid gold leave the caregiver with the options of regular cup and bottle and trust that they will do the right thing----
And just food for thought honey, stressing over forcing the bottle on her is going to make it worse for YOU! It becomes a battle of wills, and cuts back on the joys of having a precious little one..
Good Luck

Answer 3

You *may* be able to get her to take one IF it has breastmilk in it, but probably not.

My 9 month old will not take breastmilk from anything but the breast. No matter how hungry he is.

However, if you go out for a few hours, she will not starve to death, even if she cries. I say that even though I can not bare to be apart from my son, but anyway, every one is different. But if you really need to go out, go out! Leave a bottle of pumped breastmilk, if she takes it, she takes it, if she doesn't she doesn't. Just don't be gone long.

Answer 4

Sounds like your daughter has a very strong will! You're just going to have to be patient and persistent.

Best of luck.

Answer 5

I had that problem too. I ended up having to just let her cry until she got so hungry she took the bottle. It sounds mean, but if she's hungry, she'll eat!