My 3 and 1/2 month old daughter refuses to take a bottle. I am returning to work in 3 weeks and have a hit a dead end. She will only nurse. I've tried every type of bottle. Waited for exterme hunger, not so hungry, sleepy, awake, etc. Anybody have some advice?

Jenny - posted on 01/26/2009

More than likely if someone else tries when your not there she will take it. My daughter did the same thing, if I was in the room there was not a chance. She also still nursed just fine at home. Good Luck!

Carolyn - posted on 01/26/2009

I had the same difficulty with my daughter, whose now 3. She would take the occasional bottle of expressed milk quite happily until about 2 1/2 months when she flat refused to do so any more. I tried all sorts of different bottles and different teats, but I could never get her to take more than about 20 ml at a time, and my difficulty was that I was also returning to work. I realised one day though that all it was was that she was just being stubborn and since she preferred the breast, that's what she wanted. I solved the problem by just deciding one day that all I was going to offer her was expressed milk in the bottle, and refused to give in by offering the breast when she didn't want the bottle. I had the problem licked in 2 days and from there on she was quite happy with either.

Katrina - posted on 01/26/2009

Sometimes an EBF baby won't take a bottle from the mother. I would have someone else try to give it to her without you in the room, or in extreme cases, in the house at all. I'm also curious, is the milk you're offering fresh or has it been previously frozen?

Taren - posted on 01/26/2009

I had a simlar problem with my #1. She wouldn't latch on, but she wouldn't take a bottle either. So we syringe feed her for a while until she got used to it then we added a bottle. It was a pain, but it worked. You could syringe feed the baby then when the baby is used to not eating at the breast offer the bottle. Just an idea. Good luck!

Nichelle - posted on 01/26/2009

I'm in the same boat you are. Although I am a stay at home Mom, I still want to be able to be away from her sometimes. I have tried just about every bottle on the market and an tired of wasting money! :) I'm going to try the "First Years Breastflow" bottle that I got at BabiesRus. It claims that it's "ideal for breastfeeding Moms" due to it requring the same suction and compression as breastfeeding would. I have to go to a family members baby shower this weekend and I am leaving her home with Daddy. I hope this bottle works and good luck to you!

Jodi - posted on 01/26/2009

Looks like you have some good advice here.  My daughter took the bottle for a little bit while at day care and then one day she was done and would have nothing to do with them no matter what brand we tried.  The doctor finally told me to just use my milk and baby cereal and she ate that while at day care.  I would go over there on my lunch and nurse her and then I just pumped every couple hours at work to keep up my supply.  Needless to say, we did a lot of nursing in the evenings.  The no bottle drinking at day care doesn't seem to have effected my girl at all but it sure did stress me out.  Now she's almost 2 and eats and drinks well at day care!!

Melissa - posted on 01/26/2009

Have you tried leaving the house and just going outside while your husband feeds her? Sometimes they know you are still there, someone told me they can smell your milk.

Nikki - posted on 01/26/2009

We had a problem kind of like this.  My son did take a bottle for a few weeks off and on, but then suddenly stopped.  He screamed anytime we got the bottle out at all.  He was just about 2 1/2 months.  After trying many new kinds of bottles, I finally thought to try a faster flow nipple and my son took the very next bottle we tried and didn't look back.  Good luck!

User - posted on 01/26/2009

Thanks for all the advice. I'm offering my breastmilk in the bottle and having my husband/mom give the bottle but she usually just bites it or turns away. We stop before she gets too crazy with crying. I'm definitely going to try offering a cup. I will be working part-time at the office for 2days a week. It's not the end of the world but I would like to go to the movies sometime!

Jackie - posted on 01/26/2009

Offer breastmilk in the bottle first and then gradually add formula over a couple of weeks - if that's the problem, otherwise these other mommies gave great suggestions.

Maggie - posted on 01/26/2009

Hi Danielle, we had a little trouble with our baby Will too. I ended up using the medela bottles and to get him used to them I would breasfeed him for a few minutes and then hand him to my husband who had a bottle of pumped milk and he would try to feed him that and then I would take Will back and nurse him a bit longer so he would not get stressed or feel our stress about the whole situation. Maybe you could use a little sippy cup or something like that also since he will be 4 months when you go back. Will is four months old and it is amazing how much he uses his hands now. Another tip that worked for us was to be consistent in trying one new thing, so you would use a single type of new bottle every day for a few days before switching it up. The whole concept is new to the baby so the more consistent you can make it the better. You might also try holding the bottle at breast level at first. Good luck to you. I work full time and pump to give Will breastmilk when I am not home. It is worth it and you will get there, just don't give up. I think they can feel our stress so try to think positively when you are working with her and maybe that will help too.

Kat - posted on 01/26/2009

I had the same "problem" with my son. We solved it a different way. I decided to work only 5 hours a day. I am lucky that I could. I nurse him right before I drop him off and then in the car right as I pick him up. He can go about 6 hours without nursing and my milk supply is steady enough that it works, I do give his nanny some infant cereal in case he is starving. As long as the baby can somewhat sit up with support, It's ok to give them infant cereal.  This all worked for me but I don't know what your situation is. I do plan on nursing him this way till he is one if I can and then switch to a sippy cup and not even bother with the bottle since he hates it. Good luck!

Catherine - posted on 01/26/2009

Hmmm....is there any way you can take more time off work? I know you said you've tried every type of bottle but there is a certain type that is supposed to replicate the breast. I don't know if you're familiar with that one. If you're switching to formula, that might be the problem since formula will taste different. But if you're pumping it might just be that she's not getting any milk out of the bottle and therefore doesn't realize it's food. You could try asking your pediatrician for help.