My breastfed baby does not know how to drink from a bottle or a sippy cup, anyone had the same problem?

Question

When my son was born, I wasn't able to breastfeed him right away so we gave him a bottle and he took it just fine. Then my milk came so I completely stopped the bottle and did not give him a soother either because I was told that baby might get nipple confusion. Then a month ago, ds was about 8 months, the doctor told me that I have to supplement with formula because my milk isn't good enough for him anymore and baby isn't gaining weight at all.
We've been trying to give him a bottle ever since (about a month now), but he still doesn't know how to suck on it, he just chews on the nipple so he never gets anything out then he gets frustrated and pushes it away. We've tried changing the nipple. We've tried a sippy cup but he does not know how to suck on it either, so finally we tried a regular cup and he just takes like a sip or 2 then he gets frustrated and pushes it away too. I have tried using breastmilk in them thinking that the problem might be the formula but, same thing happens.

Sorry I meant: the quantity of the breastmilk isn't good enough anymore because ds is a big boy. Also, she said that I am so tiny and if I continue to breastfeed alone that it would affect my health as well.

Answer 1

I am 5'1", 120 pounds -- a small frame, like you. My son is almost 15 months old, and he has been wearing a size 6 diaper since he was 5 months old. He was at 100th percentile for his weight (and 98th percentile for height) at his 9 month appointment and only just since his last checkup (1 yr) has he come down to the 90th percentile for weight (starting solids does seem to slow them down). The reason I mention these details is because MY SON IS STILL BREASTFEEDING. Happily so, I might add. He's never had a bottle and wouldn't know what to do with one if I gave it to him. He's never had a drop of formula, but will gladly drink juice from a sippy cup.

Your doctor is not supportive of breastfeeding, and you need to find a new one. If your son is not gaining weight, there could be another underlying problem. Even if you can't find anything, I wouldn't worry too much unless he actually LOSES weight. At 9 months of age, most babies are just learning to crawl. This is an extremely exciting accomplishment for babies; they finally get to move around! Can you imagine what it must be like to be stuck in one place all the time for NINE MONTHS, having to rely on other people to move you? And then suddenly, you can move yourself! Lots of babies slow down on the weight gain, or stop even, between about 9 and 12 months of age when they are learning to crawl and then to walk.

Stop sabotaging your milk supply and your enjoyable feeding times with your baby by pushing bottles and especially formula on him. Your breastmilk is far superior to any manmade substance. Check out the links below to learn more about what your doctor is trying to make you give your son. I also put up a great link from the Kellymom website about how to help your child gain more weight. Good luck!

Answer 2

Get a new doctor, this one sounds a bit old fashioned and kind of like an idiot. You can go to you OBGYN in the meantime and ask for "Reglan", it will increase you milk supply and is totally safe for the baby. You may also want to rent a pump from your local hospital and pump between feedings to increase your supply. Most likely your milk is fine though, babies stop gaining weight around that age for 2-3 months, sometimes more. My son stopped growing for 7 months and then grew 4 inches in 5 weeks. He was too distracted by people, toys, crawling; he wasn't interested, but he made up for it. You can't force the baby to nurse, but if he's losing interest just keep offering it constantly, especially in his sleep, and pump like crazy until he's interested again.

P.S.
Eat and drink more and especially drink more water. Maybe you're not taking in enough calories.

Answer 3

Firstly your son knows what he wants. Try giving him water in a sippy cup or diluted juice and I bet he will drink it. My son won't take breastmilk from anything but me unless I have been gone a long time and even then he barely drinks. This is normal.

Secondly GET A NEW DOCTOR THIS ONE IS NOT SUPPORTIVE OF BREASTFEEDING. If your son has stopped gaining weight there is a reason either a) he isn't getting enough milk because you are feeding him too many solids b) he isn't getting enough milk from poor breastfeeding management (latch problems caused by new teeth, too destracted to nurse, etc, etc) c) other serious medical problems that would cause a child not to gain regardless of breastmilk or formula quantities.

SERIOUSLY get a second opinion!

How to Know a Health Professional
is not Supportive of Breastfeeding
http://www.kellymom.com/newman/18MD_unsupportive.html

"#
S/he does not try to get you help if you are having trouble with breastfeeding. Most problems can be prevented or cured, and most of the time the answer to breastfeeding problems is not giving formula. Unfortunately, many health professionals, particularly physicians, and even more particularly pediatricians, do not know how to help. But there is help out there. Insist on getting it. “You don’t have to breastfeed to be a good mother”, is true, but not an answer to a breastfeeding problem"

Average Weight Gain for Breastfed Babies
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/growth/weight-gain.html

How might I increase baby's weight gain?
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/growth/weight-gain_increase.html

How do we get started with solids?
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-how.html

"Should solids replace breastmilk?

No. Solids during the first year are only meant to complement breastmilk, not take precedence over it or replace any breastfeedings. It is more of a way to add textures to the baby's diet, to allow the baby new experiences, and to help her develop hand/eye coordination through finger feeding. Your baby should still be allowed to nurse on demand, as your milk should be her primary source of nutrition until closer to the end of the first year. Continuing to allow on-demand feedings also better ensures your milk supply. "

6 - 7 months Offer solids once a day, at most. Many start out offering solids every few days or even less often.

7 - 9 months Watch baby's cues - this is particularly easy if baby nurses beforehand and most/all of the solids are offered to baby to self-feed. Increase solids gradually if baby is interested, with a maximum of 2 meals per day.
9 - 12 months Watch baby's cues - this is particularly easy if baby nurses beforehand and most/all of the solids are offered to baby to self-feed. Increase solids gradually if baby is interested. Aim for baby getting no more than 25% of her calories from solids by the age of 12 months (some babies eat less than this at 12 months and that's also normal).

(YES THAT SAYS A MAXIMUM OF 25% OF CALORIES FROM SOLIDS AT ONE YEAR!!! BREASTMILK IS THE MOST NUTRITION AND CALORIE DENSE FOOD THERE IS)

Answer 4

I agree... GET A SECOND OPINION.

Its normal for a breastfed baby to not understand what a bottle/sippy cup does. It took my son a good 3 months to figure out that hes supposed to drink the water that comes out of his sippy!

Are you still nursing on demand? Is he having a good number of wet diapers? Your milk can't just go bad, find another doctor.. or possibly see a lactation consultant.

Answer 5

What did he mean "your milk wasn't good enough anymore" Its always good. Maybe he meant you dont have enough milk supply. I would talk to a lactation consultant ASAP. I would still try to nurse and pump in between and keep offering the bottle. Give him formula or pumped breastmilk in a medicine dropper in the meantime so he will be getting it.

Answer 6

I would keep offering it to him, get a fast flow nipple on the bottles and cut back on his food so he will be really hungry. In the meantime, I would give him his milk through some type of syringe/medicine dropper. It will be slow but its very important he gets the 24 oz everyday
best of luck to you