I am breastfeeding her exclusively, but every once in a while it would be nice if she would take a bottle. (She is six weeks old.) Every time I try (or anyone else tries) to give her one, she gags on the milk because she refuses to take it. Can anyone help? Thanks!!
2007-11-05 08:20:02 · 9 answers · asked by Kelly T 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Sorry, I forgot to mention--I have tried to give her both breast milk and formula from a bottle...she won't take either.
2007-11-05 08:26:58 · update #1
I keep adding details because I keep thinking of new things after your comments!! First of all, I am not complaining!! I had to pump and give her a bottle for the first two weeks, and it was miserable--I am so grateful that I am able to breastfeed her now. I know what a pain pumping is and it is not something I want to go back to on a regular basis. What I mean is that it would be nice not to have to find somewhere to nurse her if we are out somewhere and she gets hungry...that type of thing. But like I said, I wouldn't trade nursing her for anything...thanks to all of you:)
2007-11-05 08:53:47 · update #2
I understand. I breastfeed my 8 month old. But occassionally I don't feel like it (sore nipples or whatever) and I give her a bottle of formula once every two months maybe.
I find that wide neck bottles work best for her. She seems to like the Dr. Brown's bottles the most with a #1 nipple. I tried a #2 now that she is 8 months old, but she doesn't seem to like it. Sometimes she seems to not understand how to drink from the bottle, so I squeeze the nipple so that milk goes into her mouth and that triggers her to suck. I hate pumping milk, so we use Enfamil A+ or Enfapro A+ (this one has calcium for older babies).
We tried 4 different bottles before we found one that she likes to use. Keep trying!
2007-11-06 08:41:49 · answer #1 · answered by Alberta Mama 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Toddlers ate my brain. I would also be worried about nipple confusion. You are actually lucky that your baby won't take the bottle! There are many moms, just like you, who want to take a break and have someone else feed the baby a bottle. Once the baby sees how easily milk comes out, it can be a downward spiral from there. Also, your breasts need the stimulus from the suckling for appropriate milk production. If you were to give the baby a bottle, you would need to pump during the time baby's taking a bottle so your body knows that it still has to produce milk. And believe me, pumping is a lot harder than breastfeeding most of the time, plus the million and one parts you have to wash.
Now, if you want to make breastfeeding easier and still have a hand or two free, try a sling or wrap. You can lay baby in there, pop out a breast and nurse in the wrap or sling, and still get stuff done. It's pretty convenient.
If it's absolutely necessary for someone else to feed the baby while you're gone, there are other methods besides bottlefeeding. I have included a link below that has a vast amount of information on how to feed an infant without a bottle, thus not putting your supply in danger.
Also, there's no doubt why baby doesn't want formula. It tastes nasty compared to the sweetness of milk. I wouldn't want to drink it either if I'm getting something much better!
Best of luck to you and I hope you find a solution that benefits the both of you!
2007-11-05 16:46:08 · answer #2 · answered by Equuskia 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My son is now 7 months old and has NEVER taken a bottle!! We have tried!! He is my fourth child in 5 years, all were breastfed from 9-11 months old, he is the most difficult. I think he would starve if I did not feed him!! I nurse him, then go grocery shopping alone (my ONLY time alone ever!), my husband gives him his jars of food or cereal, I come home less than 2 hours later and he literally will scream his eyeballs out until I nurse him again! We tried cups, he just plays with them too, bottle... I think it is a sign that you and your daughter are well bonded!! My other children would at least take a cup by 6 months, and occasional bottles, like 1 a week before that. He is such an angel though, my last we think, so I guess I will enjoy it while it lasts. Keep having someone else try when you are not around at least, once a week. It will get easier on you once you introduce cereal in a few more months, best wishes to you!!
2007-11-05 16:39:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are giving your daughter formula from the bottle, she may never want to drink it. My son, who was also exclusively breastfed refuses to drink formula. (I don't blame him too much because it does smell and taste a lot different from breast milk which is very sweet.)
On the other hand, If you are giving your daughter pumped milk, she may not drink the milk if she can see you or you are in the same room. Baby's always prefer the warmth of snuggling up to their mom's breast. So, your daughter may just know what she wants, and is holding out for the real thing. Try having the baby's father (or other caregiver) give the baby the bottle instead.
Another tip is to try giving the baby the bottle while you are carrying her around. Some babies will eat better if they are on the move. Sometimes, when my husband was babysitting, he would wear our baby in a sling and give him the bottle that way.
Also, she may be having problems switching between the two types of nipples. The suckling action that is done at the breast is very different than the suckling action needed to get milk out of a bottle. Try using a bottle that resembles the shape of the breast as much as possible. A brand that I recommend are Avent bottles.
For other good tips, check out this article: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t025000.asp
2007-11-05 17:15:44 · answer #4 · answered by kitty_cathy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My daughter refused to take any kind of milk, even mine, from a bottle. But she would accept juice from a bottle. So I decided to try her on whole-milk yogurt when she was about six months old, and she took that from the bottle fine. When I had to leave her at feeding time after that, I'd mix a little yogurt with my expressed milk, and she took it eagerly.
2007-11-06 12:42:49 · answer #5 · answered by Maple 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Feeding the baby is the ONLY thing that ONLY YOU can do. Why not just give her the breast until she is old enough for a cup?
My kids NEVER took a bottle, but they both started practicing with cups at 4-6 months.
2007-11-05 16:30:34 · answer #6 · answered by Terrible Threes 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Are you trying to give her formula? My daughter would only take breast milk, and it had to be warm.
You may need to leave her with someone, and come back about thirty minutes after she should have eaten. Maybe she needs to be really hungry and have you nowhere around.
2007-11-05 16:25:15 · answer #7 · answered by Jennifer 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, make sure it is warm, or as close to body temperature as possible. And is the nipple flow too fast? Some babies simply do not like an artificial nipple, and will only take the breast.
2007-11-05 16:29:01 · answer #8 · answered by chichibomba 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i quit trying the bottle on my breast baby....and she drinks perfectly well from a cup
haaa....why didn't i try it earlier??
i have tried the sippy cup after discovering she likes the cup....but the sippy doesn't work as well for us
try a sippy or cup feeding her your milk.....works for me
and my daughter is 4 months now by the way
2007-11-05 16:34:08 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋