My 10-month old won't take a bottle! He's been breastfed since birth and he refuses to drink anything from a bottle. I'm concerned that my milk supply is not enough for him, but he won't drink from a bottle or a cup! HELP!

Lee - posted on 01/14/2009

Have you tried the straw? i found mag mag to be quite good and tomee tipee do a good one too. Generally the thiner straws seem to be easier. but i first tried my daughter with the baby juice poppers.

Nicole - posted on 01/13/2009

My son never took a bottle. At 9 mo we started introducing a sippy cup, but he would not drink BM out of it. But, we'd keep one around so he got use to it. Well finally by about 12 mo. he started drinking from a sippy cup, but only smoothies and water. It took him a while still too. He's still nursing pretty strong during the day/evenings at just over 2 years now. He loves his cups of smoothie in the AM and water throughout the day though too.

Tayo - posted on 01/13/2009

By the way gals... even if you think your milk supply is dwindling because of size, it's not the case usually. Your breasts are a supply on demand thing. They will adjust to what is needed by your child and not produce too much more. The best thing do to if you are worried about supply is pump or just put that baby on the breast more often.

Tayo - posted on 01/13/2009

I say try experimenting with different sippy cups and find one he likes, or try straw type drink boxes with the big tops. At 10 months old my son was weaned off any bottles and did just fine. He loves his sippies and he started those at 6 months old. He's now starting normal cups and it's not going the best. But patience is key. If your son is still breastfeeding too he is getting plenty from you. You can also try exspressing some milk into the cup for him.

Odette - posted on 01/13/2009

I too, felt that my milk supply was dwindling and my daughter seemed to be frustrated during a two of the daily feedings. I researched it and I found quite a bit of literature on a natural herbal supplement called FENUGREEK. I take two times the daily dosage 3 times a day and it has been such a blessing! My breasts are full again in the mornings which hadn't happened in months! I'm positive I'm making more than she needs again, which helps to express and freeze for outings.



As for the sippy cup, my daughter has been drinking from a 3 stage bottle/sippy cup by Nuby. I started out giving it to her during her puree/baby food feedings (with 25% juice and 75% water). Now she takes a few sips in between bites. I have not tried putting breastmilk in it. I have tried getting her used to 1% milk already...she doesn't like it. Her pediatrician recommended that I start getting her used to whole milk. He told me to start her on 1% and work her up to whole now that she's 10 months old. This is to prepare her for when I stop nursing without interrupting her milk intake. He says a lot of moms just stop and their babies growth chart line crashes because they won't take whole milk after being stopped abruptly from the breast. He says it's a stumbling block that they never recover from and follows them throughout life.

Sandy - posted on 01/12/2009

Hey Meg, I'm not there yet as my son is only 5 months old, but I was concerned about my breast size and supplying him. My LC was very patient (and tried not to laugh) as she explained to me that my boobs won't grow to bursting to continue to support my son as milk volume won't change but the quality will. He won't need more to get the nutrients he needs as he grows. My son was a preemie and on bottle in hospital so I'm lucky there. My son does already drink from a straw and cup so I suggest going that way. He would mimic me drinking so I offered the same for him and it took a few tries but he figured it out. Whatever you try, keep it fun and don't let frustration set in. Our babies are so in tune to us!

Megg - posted on 01/12/2009

i am going to try the straw! i bought him the 'boob' shaped bottle and everything and he still hates it! that little man only wants the real thing. i've been drinking tons of water, making sure i get enough calories, and i've been pumping too so hopefully that will help with my milk.

Lee - posted on 01/12/2009

The only thing my daughter would take was a straw cup, around 10 mnths. Good luck

Tammy - posted on 01/12/2009

My daughter wouldn't drink from a sippy either - we were just wanting to give her water with her meals etc (was exclusively breastfed as well) - and a mom at a store one day suggested I use a straw cup, as her DD was breastfed and they too bought a ton of different sippy cups - I bought the ones with the silicone straws (easier on their mouth) and she drank from it no problem... perhaps try that for water/breastmilk??

Kristi - posted on 01/11/2009

Many times, the normal changes that occur as breastfeeding continues past the first few weeks or months can make mom feel like her milk supply is decreasing, even though it isn't. See the link. The website in general is very useful. It reassured me when my son was around 9 months old... I wasn't as full and I didn't leak anymore and I always had. My son and I are still nursing healthily and he is 16 in half months and he NEVER drank from a bottle. We used to feed him sips of expressed milk from a shot glass if I needed to be away for any length of time.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/enough...

Megg - posted on 01/11/2009

thank you ladies! i feel better hearing from some other mommies who have been through this before. i am able to be with him all day, so i guess we'll just keep nursing and he trying a bottle (i'm going to look for that boob bottle - i'm willing to try anything!)

Sheyda - posted on 01/11/2009

My daughter was the same what finally worked was a boob bottle from ebay. It made in England it really amazing. It looks and feels like a breast. Made for breastfeeding babies. Just type breast bottle in search in ebay. Good luck!

Carrie - posted on 01/11/2009

I wouldn't worry that your supply is not enough for him.  My son didn't really get the hang of a sippy until about 14mo.  As long as you're able to be with him during the day and he can nurse when he wants I'm sure he's just fine.  If you're worried you can always count wet diapers like when they were infants. :)

Katie - posted on 01/11/2009

My son drank very little - like maybe a couple ounces a day - from a sippy before he was a year or a little older. If your baby is nursing fairly regularly, I would think he is getting enough fluids. Does he seem healthy, or are there things that concern you?  And I wouldn't worry about your supply as long as he is nursing every few hours. Your body knows how much milk to make for him.