breastfed baby wont take bottle

Megan - posted on 05/31/2009

this could be a long shot... but my nephew was breast fed and wouldn't take a bottle AT all for a bit. we ended up having to let him get upset (eek mean i know). During a daytime feeding have daddy or grandma offer him a bottle of breastmilk. If he doesn't take it don't force it but don't offer him the breast. if he is hungry enough he will fuss a lot but will take the bottle! of course pump any time you would be feeding him. Do this a few times and he will probably take to it! I l know it is upsetting to see your baby cry... especially when you know how to soothe him, but it will be easiest if you kindly but firmly transition him. My one caveat is that you shouldn't try to do this for going to bed at night or you could have some pretty awful nights! Do it one to two feedings a day for a couple days and if it doesn't work try again later. *I am not a mean mama... but sometimes a little tough love can help*

Carolyn - posted on 05/31/2009

Typical of an exclusive breastfed child! I never thought my son would ever wean. I started him on a sippy called nuby with a soft spout he would never take a bottle. Just cut out a feeding and replace it with a sippy of breast milk or formula. A baby will never go hungary or thirsty. It will take up to a month so dont rush it. Also try to get him to self soothe by placing him in his crib put on his crib music and teach him to fall asleep on his own. He will cry but he will stop and learn to sleep on his own. I use to nurse or rock my son and when he was 6 months I decided it was time for him to learn to sleep on his own. It only took about a week but I have never had a problem he cries for 2-3 min the falls asleep. Good luck!

Charmaine - posted on 05/31/2009

My oldest daughter never had a problem going back and forth between bottle and breast, but my son and youngest daughter absolutely refused to take a bottle. Even when I went back to work and my mom watched them, they both refused to take a bottle. At 6 months, we discovered my son could drink through a straw so that was the only way he drank other than when I nursed him, and when he was about 9 months old he took a Nuby sippy cup (the soft spout worked for him). My daughter is now almost 15 months and has also never taken a bottle. She learned to use a straw at 6 months as well, but will not drink expressed breast milk from anything other than a cup! I don't work anymore, so it's not as bad, but it's an issue that comes up when my mom baby-sits. I hope your son isn't as stubborn as my little girl because she had gone almost 4 hours without eating because my mom kept trying to give her a bottle while I was away and didn't think to try another way. Maybe try those other options? Good luck!

Laura - posted on 05/31/2009

be persistant ,patient and calm! try cup feeding{it worked for me}

i have a 3yearold daughter who refused to take a bottle from anyone i got stressed i got angry i was depressed as all she wanted to do was feed from the breast{try expressing your milk into a cup} and take it slowely when i fretted over this for ages then one morning i woke and she refused to feed from me to say i was devestated was an understatment.good luckx

Jacklynn - posted on 05/31/2009

http://www.askdrsears.com/faq/fo2.asp

Check this out...might be helpful. Gook luck! It WILL work and get easier with time.

Jacklynn - posted on 05/31/2009

http://www.askdrsears.com/faq/fo2.asp

Check this out...might be helpful. Gook luck! It WILL work and get easier with time.

Elaine - posted on 05/30/2009

youve got to persivere try getting someone else to feed him bottle when he knows your not around sometimes because he sees you he wont want anybody else your parent also need to be patient too. my sypethy