Returning to work in a month and my LO wont take a bottle or pacifier!

Jen - posted on 12/05/2011

Try having your partner, or whoever is going to watch her give her a bottle. My first son would not take a bottle from me because he could smell my milk but, when I went back to work my mom watched him and he took it just fine for her. He fussed at first but, he was hungry and I wasn't home so he took it. Also use wide neck bottles, they are more like the breast so breastfed babies take to them a little better.



I also use the breastflow bottles with my 4mth old, when i'm not home, and he seems to like those.

Liz - posted on 12/05/2011

Baby is 11 weeks, Anna. :) LOL

Anna - posted on 12/05/2011

By 11 months you can start teaching your baby to drink from a cup or sippy cup. It's actually great that your baby doesn't want a pacifier or bottle as they are both bad for jaw development.

Aimee - posted on 12/05/2011

My BF 4 month old refuses silicone nipples! He only likes latex.. A bit weird but all his paci's or bottle nipples have to be latex for him to even consider them!

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 12/03/2011

Oh yeah! lol. You can still try the bottle alternatives that Lise linked if baby won't take a bottle from you. If she won't take a bottle from anyone then you could try this: I worked in an infant room for a while. We had a BF baby that didn't like bottles much either. We had mom sleep in a shirt for a few nights and then threw it over our should when we gave her the bottle. That way she smelled mom. We also kept the bottle angled down more so the flow didn't overwhelm her.

Candis - posted on 12/03/2011

A sippy cup would be a wonderful alternative- but if she won't take that, you can try BREASTFLOW bottles. Our Target and babies r us sells them. They rely on both pressure and suction, google them at the very least. I love them!!! And so did my babies. You don't have to stop breastfeeding to try them, pump and store and have someone else feed he what you have expressed. My oldest would not take a bottle from me only someone else. While she's nursing on one side, pump off the other! Good luck!

Michelle - posted on 12/02/2011

I had the same problem when I was ready to return to work. My daughter REFUSED to take a bottle at 2 months. I called her pediatrician &the nurse told me to get a bunch of different sized and shaped nipples to put on the bottle. I found 6 nipple and my daughter took the 4th one.

Dlindas22@hotmail.com - posted on 12/02/2011

Thanks Kristen you do make a good point!! My mother just keeps insisting I start her on it now so that she will be familiar with it when I start work.

Kristen - posted on 12/02/2011

Your baby will not take a bottle from you becuase she knows there is an alternative. When you are gone, it might take a few days of her refusing to eat, but hunger will win. You can pump and have the caregiver offer your milk in a bottle. I did this with all 4 of mine, and even the most stubborn took the bottle after 1 week.

Lise - posted on 12/01/2011

There are other feeding methods - check out http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/alter...

I never gave my daughter a pacifier, so I don't know about that. Many babies will reverse cycle - not drink during the day and then make it up at night.

Dlindas22@hotmail.com - posted on 12/01/2011

and no she isnt on solids since she's only 11 weeks lol. I guess that might change your advice sara.

Dlindas22@hotmail.com - posted on 12/01/2011

big typo!! 11 weeks not months, silly me!

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 12/01/2011

Is your daughter on solids? At her age I wouldn't worry about a bottle. Have you tried offering pumped milk in a sippy? If she still won't take it and is eating solids, she can have solids and water while you're away and nurse when you're together.

My second daughter had a very white tongue, but it was just milk. She's only on breast milk and didn't have a bug or anything. The milk isn't sticking to her tongue much anymore because she's drooling so much, but she's younger than your daughter. I wouldn't be worried unless you have nipple pain or she gets white patches on her cheeks or lips.