8 weeks old baby does not want to breastfeed?

Question

My 8 weeks old son does not want to breastfeed anymore! He has been breasteeding since birth, but we started giving him one bottle feeding at night when he was about 2 weeksw old. For the past week with some feedings he has refused taking the breast, but takes a bottle. I am going back to work and will be pumping, but after work I'd like to breastfeed him. Any suggrstions how to make him breastfeed again?
Everybody tells me to just stopeed breastfeeding altogether and just give him a bottle, but I'd like to continue sharing this bond with him.

Answer 1

Is an 8 week old ready to breastfeed....I don't think it's possible

Answer 2

Sounds like she's doing great. A baby gains an average of about 2 pounds a month (after losing weight at first, and getting back to birthweight at around 2 weeks), so if she was 8 lb 12 at 4 weeks, (one pound over birthweight) you would expect her to be around 11 pounds at 2 months -- though she may well have gained a bit more, or a bit less. Some healthy babies gain VERY rapidly at first, averaging 4-5 pounds a month for the first few months. That's completely normal, and doesn't mean she's eating too much. I never used a schedule with my daughter (and schedules aren't usually recommended). Feed her when she's hungry, let her take as much as she wants, as often as she wants, and trust her to gain at the rate she is supposed to. In your situation, I would definitely NOT start 'skipping feedings.' 3-4 hours is already a pretty long stretch for a breastfed baby, and you wouldn't want to cut back any further. An 8 week old baby should probably be eating 8-10 times a day. Since she's already (if I'm counting correctly) eating only 7 times, that's on the low end.

Answer 3

Keep up the breastfeeding. Don't listen to those that say the baby prefers the bottle over you. My children were both in daycare and I had to pump and give them a bottle. I used the playtex nurser because it is more like the breast. I remember my first son did exactly what yours did. I found that if I relaxed and was in a quiet room with him I could gently get him to latch and nurse. It is amazing how a baby can pick up on things such as your tension and frustration. If you are upset or taking his rejection personally it will make the baby upset as well. Keep confident and realize that babies do want the breast and that it is only natural. You baby is frustrated with the different choice he has been offered. But through time and patience the baby should learn how to easily accept both. The key is persistence. If you have to give him the bottle let someone else besides you give it to him. Therefore, he will learn that if you have him he nurses and when other people care for him he takes the bottle. Just keep trying and don't give up. All you baby needs is help and direction from you.

Answer 4

I believe your son has nipple confusion/preference. My son had the same problem when I returned to work and since i didn't know where to turn for help, my supply ended up dwindling. I tried to take herbs, pump more, and bring him to the breast, but since I was without guidance or support, I had to give up after a month and a half of trying. It was heart breaking.
Try to do this. It worked for me a few times. Give your son a bottle, but in a nursing position. Quickly take the bottle away from his mouth and insert your nipple. He should be able to latch on quickly and learn to nurse almost immediately.

You could try a nipple shield, but that might lead to a dependence on it and affect your baby's sucking reflex.

Just keep offering your baby the breast, especially when he's sleepy. They seem to nurse better when they're half asleep.

Also, what type of bottles are you using? Always use a slow flow nipple, and get the wide mouth bottles, which will make the baby open up his mouth wide like when he nurses.

Get in contact with a La Leche League leader (www.llli.org) or contact a lactation consultant for more help. A great support system is what will keep you motivated.

P.S: I don't think you took a risk in offering the bottle. I think that breastfeeding is a very difficult thing to do, esp. for tired, working mothers. Also, many doctors (OB/GYN) aren't that helpful. It was only after I had my struggles that I learned what to do and what not to do. It was unfortunate that I couldn't have learned it beforehand, but I'm glad I managed to nurse while I could. You are doing your best, and by asking for help, you're being a great mother.

Answer 5

if you want to keep breastfeeding you can. When he was introuduced to the bottle at 2 weeks old he learned 2 very impressionable things...1) that the bottle flows faster and not even need to do any work as it will have a continuous dripping when tipped up. 2) he also learned that he can get his fill of food faster b.c of the quickier flow so that leaves more time to do other things.

Personally if you wanna still nurse than I would do that, when you are home bring him to breast as often as he is asking for food, do not offer bottles at all unless it is done by someone else b/c you are not available. If need be offer the breast when he is sleepy, he will be less aware of what he is getting and will be more likely to accept it... Breast milk is perfect for a baby and formula the next best substitute. The way a babe sucks from a breast and the way they suck from a rubber nipple are different, so he is getting confused as to the nipples and this is common. If you are not going back to work for a few weeks or even a month, i would not offer a bottle at all during that time.

I nursed my daughter for almost 4 years, and its hard work, its not easy, but it does have its advantages. You get to sit and take a break from things and cuddle with your baby, you get to starte into his eyes and even though he can't talk yet I bet he tells you all sorts of things through his eyes. I don't agree with the advice of letting him get over hungry, a babe that is over hungry is much harder to nurse, as they are almost frantic for that feed, which leads to his frustration and yours.

Answer 6

I would suggest stop giving him bottles. Babies prefer bottles as they are easier to eat from. When he's hungry and the bottle isn't an option for him, he will take the breast.

Once you go back to work and have to use bottles, buy the avent or playtex nurser ones. They require more work to get milk out and will not make bottles so preferable to the breast.

If that is too stressfull for him and you, just know that it really doesn't matter how he gets your breastmilk, just as long as he gets it. Good Luck!!

Answer 7

I can say from experience that once your baby has learned how to take a bottle and learned they he prefers it, the only way to go back to nursing is 100%. And since you can't offer that, you'll probably have to go 100% to the bottle. I'm sorry it isn't what you want to hear, but the bottle is easier for babies and they learn to prefer it.
I worked all day and pumped all day, and when I got home I just wanted to nurse, but he wanted the bottle. It took me a couple weeks to feel ok with this and not so sad, but eventually I focused on the positives and that includes daddy does night feedings!
Good luck!

Answer 8

This is why many people will advise you NOT to give a newborn a bottle if you're intending to breast feed, atleast not until theyre 6-8 weeks old (because from this point they can do both without so much nipple confusion, or refusal.)

Its a risk you took, and now this is the result.

You can get him a different nipple that is harder to use, more like the breast, so he has to work harder for his meal, like he would at the breast. It might lessen the difference and allow him to realize that both are fine.

However, its quite the battle. Contact your lactation specialist at the hospital you delivered at, they are wonderfully helpful.

Answer 9

I heard that once the kids get used to the bottle, they don't bother with breastfeeding anymore because the bottle is a lot less work for them to obtain the milk. You can still bond with your baby by holding him and feeding him.

Answer 10

You need a lactation consultant. Call the hospital where you delivered and ask to speak with the lactation consultant. It is free or very inexpensive. If you have WIC, you should be able to see an LC through the WIC office.

You can get through this. Keep it up--you'll be glad you did!

Answer 11

i think that when hes hungry , just relax and put him on your breast, don't rush eventually he will start at it again, but if you start him on breast fead make sure that if you are in a rush to leave some in the ref pumped because if you give him the other milk hell get hooked, i guess is the taste, or maybe he gets impatient trying to suck....