Help my son will not take a bottle at all

Sara - posted on 03/31/2009

My daughter up and refused the bottle a 7 weeks old. She now 7 months. If there is a way to get them start taking them again, I haven't found it. I own every bottle ever made. Every different type of nipple. She litterly went a few different times 8+ hours without anything to eat because she refused to take the bottle. They know what they want. So finally at 4 months when she started to chomp on everything I got her a nuby sippy cup. She could chomp on it and get the milk out of it. But the milk had to be ice cold. Most sippy spill proof sippy cups you have to suck on to get anything out. Which didn't help us, if she would suck I would have gave her a bottle. Now she can give herself the sippy cup. She still has trouble with holding the butt end of it high enough. I know he may be a little young for it but if all else fails try the sippy cup for a regular little cup and help him take sips.

Becky - posted on 03/31/2009

We had to try a few different nipples with my son. We found the Playtex kind were the best for us. Something that is similar to the shape of your actual nipple.  Also, my son REFUSES a bottle from me. He takes it from Grandma, Dad and pretty much anyone else. I think he just knows my smell, voice etc.  Ive tried it and he just seaks out the breast. Makes it a little tough for me to go by myself to places I cant breast feed, but were workin it out!  Hope this helps! oh yea, he doesnt take a pacifier either.

Melissa - posted on 03/31/2009

I had the same problem with my  little one. What i   did was fooled her.. i breast feed for  a little bit and then had a bottle waiting. once she got a little sleeping and what not i  just swtiched it. Now she takes the bottle all the time. Also  could be the Bottle's that you are using  some babies know when it's a bottle or a nipple.  Beoforehe goes to bed try and give her a bottle with her favorite Toy or  in her  chair or something and see what he does or even play with the bottle when you are trying  to give it to  him   try to make it fun.. Good luck!

Sia - posted on 03/31/2009

I know the feeling, I start work in 2 weeks...  I tried different nipples and discovered that it wasn't so much the nipple as it was just the fact that he wanted to nurse.  I started leaving him for 2 hours at a time with a trusted and patient Aunt who would try to give him the bottle of warmed breast milk.  We found out that although he nursed every 2hrs, he would go about 4 hours without trying any bottle/nipple.  After 4 hours he would take just about 1-2 ounces of milk and that would hold him over for another hour.  When I bfed him he would stay latched on forever it seemed.  Babies just know what they want.  My son also refuses the pacifier.  So far (after 4 weeks)  he takes 1 bottle a day, reluctantly.  He fusses before and after.  We also try to make sure he is in a good mood, at least not screaming when we place the nipple in his mouth.

Just be gently persistant and patient.  Babies won't starve themeselves.

Rebecca - posted on 03/31/2009

Have you tried using different nipples? My son likes one kind of nipple but another we have. He also refuses to drink it unless it's warm. Is it only you ever giving it to him? It might help to have someone else try as he can probably smell the breastmilk coming from you and wants that. I know with my son my husband gave him the first bottle and that really helped, but also it took some perserverence eventually he would take it because he had no other choice (although at the beginning it was hard and i kept giving in), keep tweaking things you'll find a way to make it work for him, you can always add something sweet to the nipple the first few times (sugar water) just to get him to suck on it

Rebecca - posted on 03/31/2009

Have you tried using different nipples? My son likes one kind of nipple but another we have. He also refuses to drink it unless it's warm. Is it only you ever giving it to him? It might help to have someone else try as he can probably smell the breastmilk coming from you and wants that. I know with my son my husband gave him the first bottle and that really helped, but also it took some perserverence eventually he would take it because he had no other choice (although at the beginning it was hard and i kept giving in), keep tweaking things you'll find a way to make it work for him, you can always add something sweet to the nipple the first few times (sugar water) just to get him to suck on it