How do you get a breast fed baby to take a bottle?

LOUANNA - posted on 01/21/2010

I am going through the same thing right now....I am going back to work next week and my son just loathes the bottle. I went out yesterday and got the first years breast flow bottle and he took to it. I let him play with the nipple so he wouldn't think I was trying to force it on him and them put breast milk in it, and it took a few trys and wasted milk but he finally got the hang of sucking the bottle last night. It is a work in progress, you just have to remember that and be patient and also whoever is going to give the bottle needs to be calm and patient as well because babies can sense the frustration and then they won't even want to try which is what happened with my son and husband

Brittany - posted on 01/20/2010

my first son would never take a bottle either, I tried so many different types and finally used sippy cups at 6 months. this time around I found the breastflow bottles by firstyear. my youngest son is 5 weeks old and takes these like a pro they sell them online and Target is now stocking them in thier stores =o)

Elizabeth - posted on 01/20/2010

try instead a medicine dropper, large spoon or a small cup like a shot glass. even a tiny baby will usually take milk from any of these.

Row - posted on 01/20/2010

i used to tommy tippee bottles that are made to be like nipples they are great, also the midwife said try tapping gently on the bottom of the bottle while its in the baby's mouth the vibration will remind them to suck

Roshani - posted on 01/20/2010

I am having the same problem too. I was so dissapointed and worried. But all these comments gave me some possitive thoughts to try out few other options. Thank you all.

Katelyn - posted on 01/18/2010

Mine won't either and my mom said its because she knows that im her mom and i usually breastfeed. try putting your child in the car seat or propping them up on some pillows or a boppy pillow. my baby will only take a bottle from other people or if im not holding her.

Hannah - posted on 01/18/2010

If anyone else was also interested in trying out the Adiri bottles I just saw some cheap ones on ebay - 10 available (packs of 2). I have read mixed reviews, they seem to be either a godsend or not much good depending on the individual babys preference I suppose, but think they will be worth a try. I've ordered some anyway!

Hannah - posted on 01/18/2010

My daughter has refused bottles since the day she was born. Which is largely why my breastfeeding has been sucessful this time round, she didn't give me a choice! But we re making a little progress now at 6 months.

Like someone has already said, try breastfeeding first so they aren't really hungry and won't get frustrated, but still hungry enough to want to experiment with a bottle. My daughter likes to mess around with the teat and knows there is milk in there, but is still working out how to suck rather than chew to get the milk out.

I think I will try the Adiri bottles Tiffany has suggested, I think finding a bottle your baby likes id the key. I have tried 2 so far with varying sucess, the Advent Closer to Nature ones are supposed to mimic breast feeding but I'm not so sure about them really.

Mary - posted on 01/18/2010

Try leaving the room and having someone else try with the bottle. He wouldn't take it from his dad when I was sitting right there but the next time we tried I went upstairs and it worked great. I use the Born Free bottles.

Tara - posted on 01/17/2010

I only had one of five that would enteretain anything but breastfeeding. Sorry you are having a rough time with the transition. One trick is to have someone else give the baby a bottle, but wrap the bottle in a shirt you have worn. The shirt will have your scent on it and will sometimes help them to at least try and suck on the nipple.

Jamie - posted on 01/15/2010

I tried everything and mine still really won't at almost 9 months. She took one at 2 weeks and one around 4 weeks after that she refused. Last time I offered her one she took 2 ounces of juice. She won't take breastmilk at all in a bottle or sippy. I just had to be super patient and now she is stubborn with cups :( but will drink from a straw. I wish I could help but I never had any luck.

Tiffany - posted on 01/15/2010

I was worried about this happening so I bought the Adiri Natural Nurser.

"The Adiri Natural Nurser Ultimate Bottle is 100% polycarbonate-free and bisphenol-A free, and retains the features babies and parents love in the Breastbottle® Nurser, as well as offers the latest high quality materials, a graceful design, and the new Fill, Twist and Feed™ system, engineered so that a parent or caregiver can quickly prepare a bottle, even with a hungry infant under one arm.

A sleek cover protects the bottle from getting dirty and keeps the nipple from leaking during transport. The Adiri Natural Nurser comes in three stages for three different flow rates. Each stage holds 8 oz. of fluid and is dishwasher safe! Adiri Natural Nursers can also be boiled or sterilized using a basic sterilizer."

I found them pretty cheap at Amazon.com. There's three different stages to choose from too.

Stage 1 (white): 0-3 months
Stage 2 (blue): 3-6 months
Stage 3 (orange): 6+ months

Mel - posted on 01/15/2010

I gave her the bottle to play with, she just chewed on it to start with, but eventually she sucked it. Was easier if she was in the bouncy chair or high chair, if I hold her then she just wants to breast feed!

Erin - posted on 01/15/2010

my son would never take a bottle and I had to leave him, so out of desperation I gave him a cup and he took it great!! He was only about 5 months old then. He has taken a cup ever since then...it worked great! you should try it

Katherine - posted on 01/15/2010

Rather than trying a bottle why not try a cup some cups you can get for 4 months plus

Trasi - posted on 01/15/2010

Try giving him the bottle when he is not starving either between feedings or after you have started a feeding and got him alittle milk but not all the way full. Also try putting sugar water on the nipple (this is what I did with my son)

Cathy - posted on 01/15/2010

My son is 4 1/2 months old and i've been trying to give him a bottle since he was about 6 weeks, and already he had a preferance for the breast. But i should add that he has gotten alot better, at first all he would do was cry and get soo upset and now he is maybe giving it a chance? I've tried the evenflo, a playtex with the 3 differnt types of nipples but now i think that i will try the NUK and hopefully have better luck with that!

Thanks for all your input and i hope that the mommys in the same boat as me have some luck with getting your babies on bottles..because we all need some mommy time!! :)

Tarah - posted on 01/15/2010

My daughter is breast fed and I didn't introduce a bottle till she was 2 months old and I tried working... SHE HATED IT!! She wouldn't take a bottle for anything! She would rather starve! So I got the NUK bottles because they have wide based nipples like and actual breast. It took quite a few tries, but eventually she got the hang of it. She didn't like it, but she ate from it anyway. Hope this helps.

Ashley - posted on 01/15/2010

well as i was told. It really depends on how long you've been breastfeeding your baby...If you havent tried to introduce bottle early..the saying is they tend to stick to the breast...Now thats not always true though. What type of bottle are trying to stick with.... i used the avent bottles...and they worked wonders. but then again...i started her on dr. browns, and she absolutely hates that bottle.

Rachel - posted on 01/15/2010

Same question for me. I cant get my baby to take a bottle for anything... When I go out and need a babysitter it is so hard on them... I went out and bought 3 dif brands of bottles and it didnt help.. I did get him to eat some cereal from a dropper ( for medication)

Jennifer - posted on 01/15/2010

im in the same boat you are in, people have suggested getting nuk nipples as the are simular shape to the nipple, im still in the prosses of him getting onto the bottle but he is slowly, i give him the nipple to play with like a soother

Fatima - posted on 01/15/2010

I used The First Years Breast Flow Bottles. These are specially designed to help with the feel of actually breast feeding. Sometimes when she was specifically wanting the breast I gave her, but at the end of the 6 mo I would put the bottle next to my chest so she almost thought she was taking the breast but infact was taking the bottle. Hope this helps!