My son will not take a bottle!

Laura - posted on 08/04/2009

My twins took the bottle right away but they had too it was getting them to nurse was a problem but that's another story. My now 4 month old I waited till he was 2 months old to try the bottle he would not take it from anyone I would go outside so I wasn't even in the house and he still wouldn't take it. I read that u should have someone else feed them from the bottle because some breastfed babies will only nurse from you and never take the bottle. My son would only take the bottle from me i assume he wanted just me to feed him we slowly had other people trying to feed him and he's 4 months and there are times i've had to leave him and if gets hungry enough he will eat. Have you been trying the bottle or do u have some one else who could try?? Or if u have someone else trying the bottle maybe you should give it a try! Hope this helps. If I can give you anymore advice let me know!! :) Hang in there!

Amanda - posted on 08/03/2009

i feel ya my 10 month old daughter still won't take a bottle or my milk from a cup so i don't pump anymore just feed her when she wants it. i had 3000 ounces of milk sending to a donor bank in austin tx. good luck drs say breast is best

Catherine - posted on 08/03/2009

I know how you feel. I have been feeling so frustrated today, and that is why I looked on here to see if there was any advice from other moms. It comforted me. My daughter is 9 months old and I am so blessed to have been able to breastfeed exclusively this entire time. I've devoted everyday, never breaking from her, to provide her the nourishment she needed. But now it is time for me to finish my degree and go back to school. I start school in two weeks and she REFUSES to take a bottle. I am producing less milk and I am trying so hard to get her to drink formula. It's not working. I am very frustrated. And today she held out from 1pm till 10pm the entire time crying if I picked up the bottle...at 10pm I finally gave in. Although, she wasn't able to get much nourishment because I'm drying up. So, now this is becoming a health concern, I just have to keep up and eventually she is going to get hungry and drink the formula. In the meantime... no juice, and no solids. :( I'm sorry little Stailey, but you'll understand one day. :) Thanks to all the moms, I am recharged for another day!

Julie - posted on 08/03/2009

My daughter is 7months old and she still refuses to take a bottle or a pacifier. I think it has something to do with her nursing.

Terese - posted on 08/03/2009

My daughter (who's now 8) was the same way. I tried all the things you mentioned. I ended up "tricking" her into the bottle. I had the bottle prepared and next to me where I could reach it quickly. Then I put her next to my breast as if I was going to breast feed and just before she latched on, I popped the bottle into her mouth. It worked for me. I hope it works for you.

Toni - posted on 08/03/2009

I'm having the same problem with my 5.5 month old, Jade. I start school in two weeks and she starts daycare in one. I have tried every bottle out there then decided to try a sippy cup. She likes it ok and will take pumped milk from it when I'm not around. Although I did have to try a few before I found one that she can drink from. The kind that you have to bite and suck are hard for a baby to drink from. I ended up buying her some called ThinkBaby trainer cups. The nipple is a cross between a sippy and a bottle. It is soft silicone and kind of flat but has a bottle opening and no valves. Right now she is taking it once a day, but we are going to twice a day this week. Hope this helps and good luck.

Kristina - posted on 08/01/2009

There are a lot of variables to getting your little one to take a bottle… don’t think it is just as simple as “give them a bottle and they will take one.” We tried for several weeks to get Ricky to take a bottle… it just wasn’t happening. We have about 13 bottle/nipples at home, he has chosen to only take the ADIRI. The entire bottle is soft and breast like except the bottom where you actually screw on the base. That being said… I could write a ton but I will summarize in a list… if you want any more info I will give you my email address!

- Around 3 months many babies, even if they have taken a bottle before, will suddenly refuse to take a bottle. They will eventually take one again, but just not for now.

- You cannot be the one to offer the bottle. The baby will smell you and you = breasts. Not happening from you, sorry. Ricky won’t take a bottle from me, only from my husband. You have to be totally out of sight and smell range, at least 20 feet.

- Some milk contains too much lipase and after a while in the fridge the lipase breaks down the fats and gets funky tasting, like you had your mouth washed out with soap. It can be managed; you just have to scald your milk to prevent it. The milk is still safe to drink, some babies don’t mind the flavor. We didn’t know about the lipase in the beginning and we think it contributed to Ricky not taking the bottle. Test your milk at 24 and 48 hours… this might be an issue.

- One last thought: DO NOT try the “if they get hungry enough they will eat” approach. It is not true!! You really don't want attach negative feelings toward eating time or towards you.



If you have any questions or want any more help/support/hints, anything, let me know!

Melissa - posted on 08/01/2009

neither one of my children would not take a bottle. but they did take a sippy cip. try that. they also ,make a bottle called breastflow, heres the websit.

http://www.learningcurve.com/breastflow?...

Amanda - posted on 08/01/2009

i had the same problem! its stressful! and i just kept trying and trying a couple times a day and eventually she just took it. She didnt like it but the more you try it the faster they will eccept it.. i tried the different nipples too.. and she liked the regular more straight ones, not right away though. Unfortunatly it took me about two months for her to totally take bottles. GOOD LUCK, and just keep trying breastfeeding is the best for both of you!

Beth - posted on 08/01/2009

My daughter also didn't want to take a bottle. I had successfully managed to get my hubby to give her a bottle in the mornings when I was at work, but none in the evenings (she only wanted me). Then my mom came for a couple of weeks and felt that since the time that my daughter wanted the bottle was so close to my returning home from work (within a half hour/45 minutes), that she could just wait until I came back. So, after not having a bottle for two weeks straight, my daughter completely refused the bottle. We just started trying to reintroduce a bottle because we are starting the weaning process and she only takes a bottle that is shaped similar to the paci she sucks on (she's 9 months old now, btw). So, there is truth in that. I use Nuk pacis and bottles. She still is hesitant in taking the bottle, but it is getting better all the time. Also, initially, it would probably be helpful to have someone else give her the bottle. I had to go upstairs while my hubby fed my daughter downstairs. If she had any idea I was around, she wouldn't take it.

Kirstie - posted on 07/31/2009

I'd say a sippy cup also if you can find one that suits a 3 month old. Maybe being completely different from the breast she may agree with it better. When i went back to work this is what i did but my son was 8 months old. Keep trying she may take it eventually.

Erin - posted on 07/31/2009

I know this is hard, my little boy is 7 months and no bottle yet. Work 3 - 6p to 6a shifts as a nurse and my husband brings our son up to me each night to feed him then he falls asleep on the way home.



I was upset for a while that he wasn't taking a bottle but look at it this way...you are all he needs and wants, this will (on average) last for a year. A year goes so fast and you will never regret having those times with him. Then he will be moving from one thing to the next before you know it he will be graduating high school.



It is a sacrifice but worth it in the long run.

Rochelle - posted on 07/31/2009

My son is 5 months old and refuses a bottle. He would take it here & there and now he just won't take it. Its so frustrating. I don't want to starve him until he takes one. I've tried every bottle out there. We're trying out the sippy cup but still having trouble :(

Stina - posted on 07/31/2009

my dd took a bottle from 4 days of age till about a month ago... she's three months now and it's pretty frustrating- the growing number of different bottles in the cupboard that she won't drink from. Luckily, I have a job where I can take her along and nurse her there. (so blessed) But we are still trying. Will have to try the sippy cup and or the breastflow bottles. Good luck.

Nicole - posted on 07/31/2009

Something else I just thought of, is that a paci I see in your picture? Will your son take a paci? If so, try to get a bottle that has a similar type nipple, as close as possible, that might help.

Nicole - posted on 07/31/2009

My son never took a bottle, it was all me until he'd take a sippy cup successfully at 12 mo. But, even then he'd only take fruit yogurt smoothies or water in it. Nursing still has to be all me. He's just now started drinking, CHOCOLATE milk at 2yr 7mo. Otherwise he won't drink any milk, but me. (We're doing child-led weaning.)

My daughter on the other had, she's 16w and will totally take a bottle, most any kind too. The only thing we did differently with her was we consistently give her a bottle, at least one, every single day since 21 days. That was the key to success for us. She's super easy going though too.

I agree, try to only use breast milk as it's best and what he knows, ensure it's warm including the nipple and have someone else give it to him each day while you go for a walk or something out of the house. Just like a 15 min walk so even if he's totally hungry, but won't take one you won't be gone too long. Try every day.

Best wishes!

PS... yes, we do need breaks, but I personally didn't get one until my son was over 2 yrs. old because we didn't have anyone we trusted to take care of our kids. It was the first time in over 2 yrs that my hubby and I went out and turns out it was a big mistake to leave our kids with my mom even. She went against our wishes it turns out. URGH! So my hubby and I are back to having date night after the kids are in bed. We meet up in our office where we have a futon. Turn on iTunes and enjoy. We co-sleep too the kids are in our room. You just gotta find creative ways around things some times when you have kids. :-)

Macie - posted on 07/31/2009

persistance is key. i do not encourage starving your child for a lenghty period of time. just keep offering it to her first. do not offer her the breast rite away ifshe refuses. this will teach herthat she will get what she wants. babies only retain things for a small amount of time so offer her the bottle if she refuses do something wiht her like walk around the house or give her some tummy time for a few minutes THEN offer the breast.

i tried every bottle from a 89 cent bottle to a $14adiri bottle and everything in between, forumla. uu name it i tried it. i finally just had to leave the house for a few hours at a time and let the hubby or my dad try feeding her. she still hardly takes the bottle but its gettingbetter each week.

good luck!

Lynn - posted on 07/31/2009

Im so glad Im not the only one struggling. I also feel like Im fighting a losing battle with the bottle. All I want is a night out with the girls but that has to be postponed until the bottle dilemma has been rectified. Strangely enough, my little boy (whos 4 months) did drink from a bottle a couple of times around 2 months ago, but now hes definitely 'boobyfied'

Amanda - posted on 07/31/2009

I soooo know how you feel! My little girl is 3 1/2 months and won't take a bottle either. I started her in day care last week and I've been going over every 3 hours. Luckily my daycare center is literally across the parking lot, so I just walk over. It's actually faster than pumping in my office and cleaning all of it up. But daycare probably isn't too happy with the setup! They have to rely on me being there in time to make sure she doesn't fall apart. They told me she will eventually take the bottle, they try every day at her 2:30 feeding... she cries and fusses but is making small progress. 1/2 an ounce more a day makes it into her mouth!

Annie - posted on 07/31/2009

my daughter didnt take a bottle untill the day she turned 6 months old !!!

i breastfed exclusivly till she was 7 months and weaned her slowly with the help of a bottle she is flying now lol xx

i used tommee tippee teat flow 3 she loved and took to that straight away ;0

good luck and try be patient hun it will come soon xxx

Kimme - posted on 07/31/2009

Try a tippie cup with a silicone mouth piece. It is the closest shape plus he will have to suck to get the milk out.

Ashleigh - posted on 07/30/2009

My little girl would not etertain a bottle until she was about 10 months old.. even then it had juice in it.. She would not take formula or expressed milk.. In the ends i gave in and breastfed in the morning and bed time until 1 week before her 1st birthday.. Then for some unknown reason she was happy to drink cows milk from a sippy cup.. Good luck, i know its a stressful time.

Sarah - posted on 07/30/2009

NUK bottles were the only ones that worked for me!

Deanna - posted on 07/29/2009

I also have a son that wont take the bottle & he is 10 months old. If I were you id keep trying but have someone else feed him at someone elses house because at your house he can still smell you !! my last son only took the bottle at my moms house !! good luck

My - posted on 07/29/2009

I have same issue with you. My baby will go to day care this coming August.

What we have done are changing teats, formula milk, pumped breastmilk, until changing the bottle soap, however to no avail.

Based on my understanding is that baby like to imitate/follow the way we act. So we try to mimic by drinking milk from the bottle in front of her (we prepare a bottle special for us to do the mimic) after that she follow the same way. We just try it for these 2 days however it works.

Emily - posted on 07/29/2009

I used Breastflow brand bottles -- they were the only ones my son would take. The nipple is shaped more like a real nipple. Also, once he starts eating solids, he could go a while without milk during the day and play catchup at night when you two are together.

Sarah - posted on 07/29/2009

For my daughter this lasted until she had no choice. I couldn't go anywhere without her due to the breastfeeding so what I did was pump milk and didn't feed her regardless, she got so hungry that she finally gave in and drank the bottle. The only one that worked for her is the nuk bottle it is shaped like your nipple when it's in the babies mouth. If you don't give in he is going to have to learn to drink from the bottle and let me tell you, it gets worse!! No juice, no anything means Mommy has no break. Try the bottles and the no breastfeeding regardless until he takes the bottle and honey let me tell you it took her 19 hours before she would drink the bottle and with nothing to drink she had to give in. I looked at it this way, if I stopped producing her milk then she would have to take a bottle and go through the same thing and this helped me not feel so bad. Good luck. Any questions feel free to message me!!

Tara - posted on 07/29/2009

I would suggest sticking with breastmilk since it is what he knows and it is what is best for him. This is a phase that will pass and your baby will be able to breastfeed and drink from a bottle by the end of it. I had a friend who had to wait in the garage while someone else gave him the bottle. Her baby wouldn't do it if she was anywhere in the house! It also took waiting for a few hours until he was hungry enough. Not an easy thing with a screaming baby, I'm sure! But, he WILL eventually take the bottle, although he may never take one from you. Good luck!!!

Dawn - posted on 07/29/2009

I tried tommee tippee closer to nature bottles with my b/f baby after she wouldn't take an avent one. I also let my husband feed her while I was out the room. she didn't take to it straight away but he'd managed to feed her the whole bottle by the time i'd had a shower!

i've heard if your baby knows your in the room then he'll want milk straight from you so let someone else feed him. i peeked throught the door to see what was happening!

try sticking with pumped breastmilk- that way you know he's getting not only the best milk but the milk his body is used to.

hope this helps and good luck.

Nicole - posted on 07/29/2009

totally know what you mean .. my daughter is 9 months old and has never taken a bottle she is clueless.. if you have a walmart where you live they sell soft sippy cups my daughter was 3 months old when she first had a sippy.. but it was only water.. good luck...