Baby wont take a Bottle

Lauren - posted on 08/22/2009

Along with all of you I am going through the same thing with my Daughter. She is 6 months and I've been trying for the last couple weeks to give her a bottle (just to give me a little free time or maybe a night out with my beau) but she won't drink from a bottle at all. I bought a nubby sippy cup/bottle, ithas two handles on the side and she drinks water out of it but not sure if she just doesn't like the taste of formula or hates the rubber bottle? I got the nubby bottle nipples they have to bite them to get the liquid out, been tring it the last couple days and still no luck, maybe they will work for one of you the nipples fit in other bottles so all you have to buy is the nipples. Some one esle told me to just go right to the cup? but I she's still a baby and it won't work when I'm trying to get her to bed or someone else

Belinda - posted on 08/22/2009

I have the same problem with my 7 1/2 mth old son, but I have found a solution that works for me so it might work for you. I got one of those sippy cups that has the soft top with the slits in it, thses are non-spill without a valve. I had a slightly broken one left over from my daughter that the milk flowed out of when turned upside down. I used this for a while till he got used to the idea then moved him onto a new one and now he will even take a bottle but never from me only from daddy or the babysitter. He will even use it in the car now if I have one prepared. He drinks more if it is breastmilk but will take formula or milk on occassion. You can try and see if that works. It sounds like your daughter is just fine though and getting enough food, my son will cluster feed after his day with his nanny but he eats normally during the day and will even steal her food. Try adding some more chunky food into her diet and things like fruit and vegie sticks to chew on, at 8 mth my daughter only had three breastfeeds and had greatr fun exploring all the different tasting foods that are available. It may sound hard but here in Oz it is generally considered that at 8mth babies are no longer reliant on their mums breastmilk for all their nutritional needs so don't worry too much about how much breastmilk she gets as long as she is happy and continues to thrive. And remember food although messy is great fun to explore with all its textures and tastes.

Tracey - posted on 08/21/2009

I have a friend that went through the same thing... it seems that girls tend to do this the most. She finally just starved her til she took a bottle... since she is 8 months I would get one of the Gerber learning cups to where the part they suck on is soft like a nipple and just give her breastmilk through that... if she takes it! Good luck!

Jessica - posted on 08/20/2009

Babies who breastfeed for a long time (longer than six months, roughly) don't tend to like a bottle with breastmilk or formula. Babies who, for some reason, stop nursing early have much fewer problems with it. The warmth, heartbeat, smell of mommy and the touching of hands have a lot to do with this, my nurse told me a few months ago... why settle for a fake nipple when the real one has worked so well?! My daughter went from breast to bottle to food, but my son now is just skipping the bottle stage. Absolutely refuses formula, and chews his sippy cup (nurse told me this is just habitual, they make that chewing motion when they suckle and at such a young age they kinda just think that's how all drinking is supposed to work), though he will drink water from a bottle if he's thirsty. Weaning will take longer, but since he's eating solids there's no worry of starvation and if you are breastfeeding 3 or more times during the evening/night/morning then the child still gets the immune system boost that we hear so much about.



If your child is in high spirits, is doing ok on the weight and progressing normally with sitting or crawling or hand movements then don't worry about it was the response I got from the docs/nurses.

Renee - posted on 08/18/2009

Sorry I cannot be helpful either but I wanted to let you know that I am going through the exact same situation with my 8 month old. I posted looking for advice on this about two weeks ago. Luckily he is eating and like your baby, in great spirits even without my milk from time to time. He is chewing on the cup but I've actually had more success giving him water when I take the lid off and help him drink it from there. I hope you get some good advice cuz I need it too!

Shawna - posted on 08/18/2009

I don't think there is much u can do. I am on the same boat. My son is 9 months and i have been offering the bottle for a long time now and he wants nothing to do with it. He chews his sippy cups also.
I have just given up on the bottle i am working more with the nubby sippy cup. Its funny tho, he will take diluted juice from it but not my milk. He is getting better with the cup, still chews it alot tho.

Connie - posted on 08/18/2009

I am in the same boat, my DD will not take a bottle (especially from me!)... she does teh same thing with the sippy cup too. My mother in law has SOME success when babysitting if she gives her a pacifier to suck on for a few seconds then slips in the bottle nipple. But its a hit and miss as well. Thank goodness they are on solids at this point so they won't starve! I am eagerly awaiting any helpful replies too!