Breastfed Baby won't take a bottle?

Question

I'm at my wits end.

My baby (Arthur) is only 10 weeks but I've started having to express some milk and leave a bottle for him as I've got to start doing a little work at a shop on our street to bring in some much needed cash (I only do two hours, three days a week). I leave a bottle with my other half to warm up and give him if he gets hungry when I'm out.

Trouble is he won't take the bottle! I've got Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles with a Newborn sized teat, but he doesn't seem to know what to do with a bottle teat and just gags and tries to spit it out.

I had to come home and feed him half way through my 2 hours work as OH rang me to say Arthur was screaming the house down and refusing the bottle. The owner of the shop says she's worried this is going to continue and I feel really awkward. I don't know what to do, any advice?!?!?

He also refuses to take a dummy (pacifier)!

Answer 1

What has daddy tried to get him to take the bottle?

First, he can try to make it very much like nursing. Hold baby in a similar position. Maybe even use your pajama shirt as a blanket to give baby your smell.

Try the milk different temps - cold, room temp, body temp. You could even pump right before you leave and leave that milk out without even refridgerating it if they'll use it in that short a time. (It can stand at room temp for several hours because of the good properties in human milk.)

Have him try some other positions if holding like you nurse doesn't work.

Lay baby in his lap with baby's back to his tummy so baby is facing out.

Have Dad prop his feet up on a stool or in a recliner or something. Lay baby on his legs with baby's head at Dad's knees so he is propped up facing Dad and offer the milk in that position.

Have Dad wear him in a sling or front carrier and walk around while he tries to get the bottle started.

Dad can also try feeding baby with a small cup (like comes on Pepto Bismol), spoon-feeding breastmilk, or using a medicine dropper or oral syringe. (Although those can be slow, it might work if Dad is patient.)

ETA:
Could you wear baby to work in a sling?

If baby REALLY needs you, could Dad visit at the shop for a quick nursing break instead of you going home?

Answer 2

I planned to breastfeed my son so I chose to register for the playtex drop-ins system because of the nipple shape. I actually wasn't able to breastfeed, but I love the bottles anyways. They are so easy to clean and it's very nice to only have to pack 1 bottle and then some liners, nipples and rings in the diaper bag. If you do chose to go with these bottles get the Original nurser sytem, not the Decorated one. The newer version is cute, but the caps leak, and if you use a bottle warmer it melts the new style bottles. Also, I actually bought 1 Dr. Brown bottle just to see if I would like it better because of all the hype. I found nothing special about them at all. They are a PAIN to clean (even with a dishwasher) because there are so many little parts with little holes and even assembling them to make a bottle is time consuming. Not to mention they leak BAD! But no matter what bottle you choose, you have to hope your baby will accept it. So before you go out and buy a ton of one kind of bottle, I suggest you buy just one bottle and make sure your baby likes it.

Answer 3

This must be very frustrating! First, try all different kinds of nipples. Only daddy should give the bottle when you are not there and when the baby isn't starving or really upset. Second, there are other ways to get breastmilk into a baby including spoon feeding, cup feeding, and syringe feeding.

Good luck!

Answer 4

You just have to break him - he wll resist but you will forever be a prisoner to his feedings so no better time than now. Best person to give him the bottle is anyone but you (so he doesn't smell your milk) and when you are not around and they should be very patient. My son finally took to the Playtex drop in natural shape ventaire with the laytex nipple and eventually switched over to silicone. Just try make him atke one bottle a day, then teo and then eventually he will be able to go back and forth. Keep stage 1 slow flow nipples on as they are most like breastfeeding. Don't give up!

Answer 5

I know that is hard on you but sometimes you just have to let the baby cry. It used to drive me crazy but I did it and it worked for me. My daughter didn't want to take a bottle and had to have me. It made it hard for me to leave and go to work. The only other thing that I can suggest is that you make sure to feed just before you leave and feed just as you get back. The baby really doesn't need to eat more often then that. IF the baby is absolutely hungry then he will take the bottle.

Answer 6

Babies get confused by the nipples. It's completely normal you have to keep trying. The bottle nipple seems like a foreign object in his mouth as well as the pacifier. Some babies are really persistent let someone else feed the baby without holding the baby too close like breastfeeding. Also don't try it when there really hungry or in your presence. When all else fails you just have to breastfeed exclusively.

Answer 7

Feed him before you leave, he should be fine.

Can't husband work in the shop for a couple of hours instead of you?

He will get used to the bottle if you persist, or rather if husband persists! From personal experience it is no good you trying to feed from bottle! However, if not, what about trying to give him the milk from a medicine syringe?

Good luck!

Answer 8

i hope this doesnt happen to me...

but i agree.. to try many different nipples.. and to also try feeding him b4 ur shift... bc he wont be hungry for another 2-3 hrs after that... and if he aint hungry and is screamin then daddy needs to learn some more baby skills..

try having daddy hold him while u breastfeed a lil
then have daddy come in the middle of the feed with a bottle,this might help bc he will already be held by daddy and then maybe the new nipple wont be so odd for him...

sry i cant think of n e thing else
hope i helped

Answer 9

To make this work I suggest that you personally bottle feed him a couple times in place of the breastfeeding. This way he can get the hang of it and feel comfortable and safe being feed this way. Eventually he will take the bottle. I have been there it just takes a while.I could be he is just having a bit of anxiety and missing his mommy.This happens and too will pass.Good Luck!

Answer 10

Try other nipples (teats). Try different shapes... it might take a bit to find one that works, but when he finds one that he's comfortable with, it should be OK. As long as you feed your baby before you leave, he should be alright for a couple hours.