My baby won't drink a bottle?

Question

I'm about to start college Jan.22nd and my 4 month old won't drink a bottle i breast feed him and i just started giving him baby food and he loves that but he won't drink from his bottle, he does sometimes which seems like luck but for the most part he won't drink from his bottle and i wanna go back to work...i don't know what to do.

Answer 1

this is going to sound weird but I put a Playtex nurser nipple over mine and my daughter nursed this way, she still had the closeness of breast feeding but was getting used to a different "nipple" at the same time! It worked for me! Hope it will work for you

Answer 2

Are you feeding the breast milk in the bottle? Sometimes it is hard to switch to formula, they don't always like the taste right away. Or sometimes just a different bottle/nipple might work. My sisters baby would not do a bottle until she got that one shaped the most like a breast. I am pretty sure it is a playtex nurser. The only other thing I heard is that if they don't get a good flow, they don't want to work too hard to get milk, so maybe a bigger nipple hole?

Answer 3

my son just wouldn't try to drink from a bottle till about 9 months - they can tell the difference. In Australia we have a group called Tresillian nurses who apparently will help with this sort of transition if you are desperate - I don't know about the States. Alternatively you could approach the college to discuss the arrangements - But with babies you can't force this and i know it's hard when you need money but you might have to negotiate deferring your study for a semester - make sure you don't feel resentful of your child cos they are only babies for a very short time it just seems difficult when you are in the middle of it all. Be patient - good luck

Answer 4

I had the same problem when mine was 3 months old and I went back to work. She NEVER drank from a bottle. She only wanted the breast. So I had my husband give her a bowl of just a little rice cereal and formula or breast milk in it and spoon fed her. I figured if she's hungry enough she'll eat it. It wasnt easy for either of them, lol. When I came home from work she would attack me....This went on for a few months. By then she started drinking from a sippy cup.

Answer 5

Well there's something you can try. First try and find nipples that resemble a real nipple. You can usually find those at any retail store. While you breast feeding break him off carefully and try sliding the bottle in. It takes a while for the baby to take so you have to be patient. Just keep trying every couple of minutes while your breastfeeding. I can't gurauntee this will work but it helped me out.

Answer 6

I have the same problem. My 6 month old will now accept water with her meals, either from a training beaker - look for one for 9 or 12 months plus so that it is slow but free flowing, those darn valves don't let them get the idea that they need to suck - or a doidy cup (http://www.babyzoop.co.uk/doidy.htm is a UK site, but I suspect you could find it elsewhere). This might be harder work in the short term, but mine took to it ok, although its messy.

Make sure you offer water frequently now you are also giving (semi) solids, both because he needs the extra fluids, and to give him plenty of opportunity to get used to whatever method looks promising!

Next step is trying formula in these!

Good luck, I hope it all works out for you...

Answer 7

4 months isn't to young for baby food, i started giving both of my kids baby food around that time also, i agree, why dont you ask the dr on how to make the transition from breast to bottle.

Answer 8

Starting college with a four month old? are you seeing the Forrest but missing the trees so to speak? Sorry I don't have the answer you want to hear, but it's not time for college it's time for baby, maybe college for you a bit later.

Answer 9

He's too young for baby food.

Try different nipples on the bottle.

Answer 10

ask your babys doctor how to encourage him to take a bottle.