Still won't hold his own bottle

Amie - posted on 05/22/2010

my son is only 4months but i look after another lil boy he didnt stsrt holding his own bottle till he was 12months i dont think there anything wrong with it ur son prob just enjoys the bonding at feed time

Amie - posted on 05/22/2010

if he is on the avent bottle maybe try buying the attatchment handles for the bottle and it could turn it in to a new thing for him

Laura - posted on 05/21/2010

i dont think its a big deal whether he holds it or not. doesnt make him any less developed, he may just enjoy being fed lol.. if you wanted to you could intro a sippy cup with juice, water or something just to teach him that much.. hes just enjoys it lol.. i took my boys off the bottle at 10 to 11 mos bc it worked for us.. i had introduced the cup at 6 or 7 mos so they liked it too so i did make it easier to drop the bottle

Jennifer - posted on 05/21/2010

kids need parents, it could be that he enjoys that time with you and still needs it, and lots of people are still nursing till that age so why not? he can practice with a sippy cup, but that won't really sustain him with enough food, just fun practice!

Brandy - posted on 05/21/2010

I wouldn't worry about it. My son rarely held his own bottle because he loved the special time with my husband or me. That is definitely not one of the things I would stress about. He will be off bottles before you know it and that time will be behind you. Enjoy it!!

Jodi - posted on 05/21/2010

PLEASE do not prop your bottles. If your baby is unable to hold the bottle on their own, propping a bottle can present a potential choking hazard. There is a big difference between encouraging your baby to hold the bottle on their own as a learning experience and propping it because you don't want to have to do the feeding.

Christel - posted on 05/21/2010

The bottle might be to heavy for him to hold! make it lighter!

Amber - posted on 05/21/2010

my 6 month old son holds his on bottle great, but when hes not really hungry he doesnt want to hold it, and will act uninterested.

Meagan - posted on 05/21/2010

My son will be 1 in June and doesnt hold his own bottle. Im not pushing it for the simple fact that its 4 bottles a day, and for the 10 minutes he takes to drink it, its 10 minutes I get go snuggle!

Gray-Kelc - posted on 05/21/2010

Joshua only started holding his own bottle after 1 year. He was just too lazy before that:) Try lying him down and propping the bottle up with blankie or something. Then watch to see what happens if it falls. Eventually he should get the message that if he wants his milk, he'll have to hold his bottle himself. Good luck!

Emma - posted on 05/21/2010

when my daughter was 5months i thought it was time her to hold her own bottle, i leaned the bottle of pillow next to her for her to drink.. i werent going to feed her anymore!! so in the end she gave in and just held the bottle x

Staceyanne - posted on 05/20/2010

WELL my sons just truned 10 months and POSTER he has only just STARTED to hold his bottle and even then its not for long but every baby get there on there own time.

AND just becoz the poster wants her baby to hold his own bottle does not mean she finds it to be a chore , there is nothing wrong with wanted your child to start being able to learn new things

Nikki - posted on 05/20/2010

Griselda I by no means meant it as attacking you and I am sorry if it came across that way. I guess I saw it as you were putting her down because she wanted her child to learn how to hold a bottle and I thought that was unfair.

Griselda - posted on 05/19/2010

Nikki, the original response was not directed to you. There's a distinct diffrence here. Nicki's son is not interested and unmotivated when it comes to holding his bottle.Your baby, according to you, was interested and doing it for quite a while. Two different scenerios.

"he likes to do it himself and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that" I agree there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. My daughter self-feeds (solids only) but I don't/would not prop a bottle or just give it to her to feed. Read my post again and the original question. Clearly the child is not interested in holding his bottle.

"I bond with my son all day long in other ways" Great, but why wouldn't any mom out there NOT take advantage of all the opportunities to bond (including bottle feeding)? It's another story when the baby is ready to bottle feed himself but if it's encouraged by the mom/caretaker I simply can't and will not understand.

"She wants her baby to learn how to hold a bottle, not become independant and move out his own" Why not teach the baby to use a sippy cup??? (Suggested this in earlier posts)



Please if you or anyone has an issue with my original respone or any other send me a message instead. Other's don't want to see a response/question directed only to me....

Firebird - posted on 05/19/2010

My daughter never held her own bottle. My mom said that it would be easier for her to get off it that way, so I always held it for her. And it was great bonding time. She had no trouble learning to hold her sippy cup when the time came. I wouldn't worry about it.

Nikki - posted on 05/19/2010

My son held his bottle at 3 months, He was a very big eater from day one and I would always take the bottle out of his mouth to wipe his face during feedings and he would get mad bc he thought i was taking it away for good, so he would hold on tight so i would hold my hands over his. From then on he held his own bottle. It took til 9 months though for him to learn to tilt his head back when its getting empty. By 6 months you should start to introduce a sippy cup, so if he doesnt want to hold his bottle give him a sippy cup instead.

Grisella--- I dont think I lost out on any bonding with my son bc he held his bottle. My son is extremely independant when it comes to eating he started feeding himself solids at six months and will not allow anyone to feed him , he likes to do it himself and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I bond with my son all day long in other ways. She wants her baby to learn how to hold a bottle, not become independant and move out his own.

Abbie - posted on 05/19/2010

Might be a great time to introduce a cup! My son never held his bottle until I think the last month he used one. I guess I wouldn't push the fact and as someone said its a great bonding time.

Medic - posted on 05/19/2010

Don't worry my four month old will push our hands away and "hold" it herself but I still hold the end because she only wants to use 2 fingers. My son held his only for a few weeks before we switched him to a sippy so maybe its just a boy thing.

Kathy - posted on 05/19/2010

Why should he? It's a great time to be together.

Stina - posted on 05/19/2010

My dd is BFand at 10 mo wasn't interested in feeding herself with a sippy. We gave it to her on her tray at mealtimes and when the meal was over, I'd top her off at the breast. Right around her first birthday she got the hang of the sippy cup. She still gets most of her fluids from me but at meals she enjoys practicing with her cup.

I don't think this has anything to do with lack of motivation on his part. Developmentally, and emotionally, he probably just needs you to hold him in your arms still and feed him his bottle. Some kids show an independent streak early on and refuse to let Mom hold the bottle that the can control themselves. Others like the warm cozy cuddle of your arms and a bottle.

I would give him a sippy cup at meal times. Do hand over hand guidance to show him how to drink from it a few times each meal and then let him figure it out. When the meal is over, or at his usual times for a bottle, hold him and feed him his bottle. Think of the bottle like a breast that cannot be taken anywhere any time by him. Eventually, he'll get the hang of the sippy cup- and after a while, he'll decide he likes the freedom of feeding himself from the cup.

Kayla - posted on 05/19/2010

well my son didnt hold his own bottle till about 10 months aswell, but what i did was prob his hold him in your arms, and hold the bottle in his month then pputhis hand on it aswell then gradually let go once he has got grip of the bottle, or you can prob him up on a bed.

Heather - posted on 05/19/2010

Really its not an issue. My son is very advanced for 13 months, is learning to put words together into sentences, walks (has since he was 11 months) opens and closes doors, puts lids on things, takes them off, is learning to put things in containers, trash cans, I could go on and on. His pediatrician is even amazed at one he does and he wont do half of it infront of him!

HE NEVER HELD HIS OWN BOTTLE!
Even when a sitter tried to encourage it, he would rather starve then hold his own bottle (as I found out when I got really worried his formula intake was down, we changed sitters when I found out she refused to hold him and feed him at 9 months, she thought he should be doing it on his own)

When we transitioned to Sippies he liked the ones with handles, Still does, and I dont have an issue with it. His dexterity has not suffered one bit!

There are all kinds of dental issues and health issues (ear infections) associated with LAYING your child down with a bottle. So if your little one has no interest then decide whether youre ready to put him on a sippy, or can handle still holding it.

I wanted to nurse and couldnt so I personally loved "our time" when feeding him

Sandra - posted on 05/19/2010

Maybe now you can start offering him a glass with breakfast, sips in between and then once he gets use to it offer it at another meal and before you know it he will be on a glass by 1yr old and you won't have to worry about him needing to hold a bottle. It's a perfect time to BREAK him of the bottle saving you from doing so when it becomes harder.

Sarah - posted on 05/19/2010

:)

Griselda - posted on 05/19/2010

Sarah- Great! Whatever woks for each family... end of discussion.

Sarah - posted on 05/19/2010

colleen- yes my son is 4 months almost 5 months on 2nd june, he holds his bottle, and can crawl a certain distance, he can pronounce words, he directs words at people eg. for me he ses mum when he crys he ses mum and other words, i think he is very bright for his age and alot of people are shocked on how fast he picks up things
griselda- i breastfeed more than i bottle feed, i hold my son with both he loves holding the bottle himself thats his choice, iv only just started him on bottle now that imv moved into my own home it helps me get things done he just lies there and watches a movie whilst feeding i give him cuddles all the time, it is not my problem if you like to sit and feed thats up to you, your children your choice, my son dnt mind it i have no problems with him his so easy i can sit him in his rocker and he'll watch telly for 1 whole hour or more im happy

Barbara - posted on 05/19/2010

No typically developing child goes to kindergarten with a baby bottle. All children develop at different skills at different rates. Do not compare him to other babies. Spend the time feeding him. This time doesn't last long. (I know. My oldest is 29) He will do it. There is no gain in forcing it. That will just make him feel insecure.

BTW: We bought my grandson a Nuk sippy cup with handles and a flexible no-spill spout that works like a bottle nipple. (He didn't hold his own bottle until after 10 mos. of age either.) Henry doesn't much care for it, but your son might.

Kristin - posted on 05/19/2010

Start giving him whatever is in the bottle in a sippy cup with handles. He can then hold it like a bottle or use the handles.

As long as your are feeding him with a bottle, you should hold it. If he wants to hold something, he can use a cup. It will make taking the bottles away easier. You will still get bonding time and be encouraging his independence with self feeding (think finger foods and sippy cup).

Griselda - posted on 05/19/2010

Very interesting Sarah, if you were breastfeeding your son you would have to stop to feed him, We all have chores and 'things' to do but there's some areas where I know it's my duty to do. I'm also a SAHM and I nurse my 11 month old. I choose sit down to feed her I don't just give her expressed milk in a bottle, prop her down and expect her to drink it.
Just like you I'm a busy mom. I have two children and have chores but I take the time to personally feed my baby. My first baby was not breastfed and I sat down to feed her until I took the bottle away at 13 months.

Colleen - posted on 05/19/2010

Sarah B. How old is your son? He's really crawling at 4 months? saying words?

Sarah - posted on 05/19/2010

griselda- as they get older they need to learn to do things for themselves they cant always relie on mum its like when u put them down and they cry till u pick them up it becomes a habbit for them and they expect it all the time, i totally agree that its bonding time but u have there whole life for that, im a stay at home mum i have things to get done and for my son to hold his own bottle is such a big help for me, i did not force my son into it tho he learnt himself, but every1 is entitled to there own opinion

Griselda - posted on 05/19/2010

Kate, so why not give him a sippy cup instead?

YUdI - posted on 05/19/2010

My LIL started her at 4 months....wen i feed her i hold her hands with so can know how to do it...she 6 months and i dnt have hold it no more....hopefully yu can get him to hold his self....good luck

Amy - posted on 05/19/2010

I'm sure he will learn in time. Just wanted to say that I never taught or even let my boys hold their own bottles. Just liked that time together when I held and fed them. It didn't create any problem for them. They could hold everything else when they needed to. I think the advantage was that they also never carried a bottle around with them and I had no problem weening them from the bottle when I wanted. They also never had a bottle in the crib or used a pacifier or anything and were great sleepers. Personally, I think it was much better for them.

Kate CP - posted on 05/19/2010

Griselda: because he needs to learn to drink on his own for when she transitions him to a sippy cup.

Griselda - posted on 05/19/2010

With all do respect but why do you want your little one to hold (and feed) himself? It continues to be your job to sit down and feed your baby or do you see it as another chore?
What happen to bonding time while feeding him? It's a great time do sing or talk to him specially now that he's probably on the go- crawling, cruising or possibly walking.
You have two more month left before yo can take away the bottle, enjoy these moment because they will never return.
If he's happy with his mommy feeding him I don't see why you want him to feed himself....

Sarah - posted on 05/19/2010

my son is 4 months old and holds the bottle i would give him a rusk to chew on which tought him to put it to his mouth and when i bottle fed him id hold his hands on the bottle under my aventually he wanted to do it by himself, but apparently my son is way to motivated and to smart for his own good the little buggar is teething, crawling, sitting up and saying mum, dad, nan, boo and o-ow already, his already a handful i hope your son will learn soon good-luck

Susanne - posted on 05/19/2010

If he loses interest, be happy. It will be easier to break him. Get him one thats colorful and looks like a sippy cup with handles. He's ready. Don't hold it for him anymore. He expects it.

Kate CP - posted on 05/19/2010

Then he's obviously not hungry if he just loses interest. If you keep doing it for him, he'll never learn.