Not taking a bottle, dealing with people not understanding

User - posted on 07/13/2009

My son only wanted it straight from the tap and never really drank my pumped milk from a bottle very well. I never had anyone not understand though why I didn't force the issue. To me it was easier to let him nurse then mess with a pump, bottles, nipples, and all that mess. When he was around 7/8 months I started letting him have a sippy of water and he would take that at mealtimes, but never would take a bottle.

Lucy - posted on 07/13/2009

My little girl is exactly the same, she's 3months and wont take a bottle and doesn't have a dummy, i get fed up of people telling me to give her a dummy and that she NEEDS to take a bottle! I'm going back to work in January when she'l be 9months so hopefully by then she'l take a cup. My MIL is constantly having a go that she should have a bottle but then again she thinks i should feed her formula???????????/

Dawn - posted on 07/12/2009

That's a great thing, I have two kids and have breastfed both. My first one was until she was 2 1/2 and my second is almost two. I tried bottle feeding but gave up with my first because I felt pressured to bottle feed. The only advice I can give is to not let other people bully you into something that you and your child are not comforable with. If he wants to breast feed let him, and when other people say anything tell them that when they have their own children that they can make that decission all by their self.

Tricia - posted on 07/12/2009

They get smart quick, don't they? My LO takes a bottle from Dad during the day (thank goodness, 'cuz my job pays the bills and I work an hour from home), but he reverse cycles. He eats enough to take the edge off from the cold, hard artificial nipple, and then nurses like crazy in the evening and every two hours all night. He knows the good stuff is direct from the boob.

Jeanne - posted on 07/12/2009

Definatly! When my daughter was 12 weeks old I returned to work. My husband stayed home with her (I had a well-paying job) and I had breast milk that I pumped for him to give her. Well, she'd end up screaming and screaming and not taking the bottle. So I'd have to leave work early and come home and nurse her. After a couple weeks of this my boss pretty much told me I'd have to resign or be fired if I couldn't work fulltime. So, I resigned. That was almost three years ago. Nobody at work could understand why my child wouldn't take the bottle - actually though, she did when she was first born. My doctor said she wasn't gaining weight and so to supplement with formula. She took the bottle then, but when I stopped she didn't want anything to do with it anymore.

Therese - posted on 07/12/2009

Thank you so much for everyone's support. I trully needed to hear that it's o.k. for my daughter to only take the breast and not a bottle or pacifier. I really wish people would just sit back and enjoy the visit with my daughter and not push opinions in my face. Thanks again.

Lorilei - posted on 07/12/2009

Oh yes! Both of my children were the same way. Don't worry about what other people say. As long as it is working out o.k. for you and the baby that's all that matters.

Minnie - posted on 07/12/2009

I personally don't consider it a problem at all. Last I checked I don't have bottles hanging off of my chest. What really is the reason that one would have to ever use them? The basic biology of infant feeding pretty much makes it obvious how long baby expects to be separated from mother: never- and if you have no problem with tending to your child 24/7 (as you truly shouldn't) then why use a bottle? Really?

Of course your baby wants only your breast! A bottle is no comparison, and does not work like you do!



Neither one of my girls ever had a bottle or a pacifier, and I'm happy that way.

Awilda - posted on 07/12/2009

My son is 8 weeks and i too get sick of people and their need to push their opinions on u. my son is exclusively breastfed and is only given my milk in a bottle when i'm away. i get tired of people always telling me to give him a bottle whenever he sucks on his hand or a bottle instead of the breast! also i don't want him to have a pacifier and everyone else thinks he should. y can't they just let me raise my child as i see fit? i would never do anything that i didin't feel was beneficial to the baby.

Amy - posted on 07/12/2009

I can relate. My 5 month old will not take any artificial nipple...be it a bottle or pacifier. He did drink out of a bottle one time around 7 wks old, but it was a very long process and now, he won't drink out of it. Which is also fine with me. I have heard comments also. Mainly from my son's grandparents. When he's chewing on his hands, his gma says she will give him a bottle. There is no way she would, not with me sitting there. I think she wants the opportunity and for me to say he will NOT take it...she wants to challenge me. She says he must be hungry. But, my child is gaining weight just fine. She feels she could get him to take it. At this point.why start one now when he'll be drinking out of a cup soon? We've done just fine the past 5 months. I also use the...we've saved so much money not having to buy pacifiers or bottles. My son likes to suck on his bottom lip to soothe himself now...so everyone thinks I should give him a pacifier, I feel like screaming sometimes! {hugs} Anyway, enough of my vent. I love the closeness and soon enough he will be on to cups and such.