breastfed baby won't take bottle

[bcmom]

Hi all

I need some support and encouragement.  My LO is almost 9 weeks old and exclusively bf.  We have been trying to introduce a bottle of ebm since he was about 5 weeks old.  At first we had some limited success.  While he never really latched, he did manage to eat some of what was offered.  Now however, we have gotten to the point where he absolutely refuses the bottle.  Just turns his head away from the nipple.  I have read the sticky about tips for introducing the bottle and have tried them. 

Will he ever take the bottle?  Should we take a break?  My 1st lo took the bottle occasionlly which was great as it allowed me a chance to get away occasionally.  Right now I feel hopeless, like I will never get any time away until he is weaned from the breast completely.  I don't even feel motivated to pump because that milk just gets dumped

Any words of advice/support/stories to share appreciated!

Thx, K

[momofclaire]

K-  I am assuming that you have tried different bottles and nipple types.  Have you tried giving the bottle first thing in the morning? 

We, contrary to many bf experts, offered dd a bottle of pumped bm in the first week and gave her 2-3 bottles every week from the start because we were afraid of bottle rejection.  We had sippy rejection and I just decided that one meal everyday would be a sippy and although she refused for a couple of days, she didn't starve. I think just keep offering it and if you really want her to take it just don't give in for a few days, she'll get it. 

[bcmom]

I have tried both Avent and Playtex.  I am reluctant to go out and buy all different types of nipples because I am not looking to replace a feed, just to buy myself some freedom a couple of times a month...  Right now, when offered, he turns his head away.  If his dad is persistent, he cries.  Even if he is hungry.  He does not take a paci.

We have not tried the bottle first thing in the morning because my lo tends not to be super hungry at that feed.  He either eats around 2 and then 5ish or has a big feed between 4 & 5 and doesn't want a whole lot when he wakes around 7/7:30. 

My dh has been trying to give him the feed but part of the problem there is that he works and so opportunities are limited to morning and night.  He is hungry (or wants to nurse) for his before bed feed BUT we also have a 3 year old who needs to be put to bed so right now we are doing a lot of dividing to conquer...making bottling opportunities even more limited.

When did  you offer your lo the sippy (how old?)?  What happened when she didn't take it ie did she wake at night/more often to take it?  Like I said, ideally I don't want to replace a feed but just have some comfort with the bottle...

Thanks again!

[MommytoLissandra]

Hi BCMom,

I'm sorry I have no words of advice for you, just thought I'd let you kown that you are not alone, my lo is 5mths and she still doesn't take the bottle!! : (However she now takes a sippycup.   I agree with momofclaire, just keep at it!! Someone told me to try for a whole day, without giving in, even if that meant she skipped a feed, until she was hungry and had no choice to give in and take the bottle. I unfortunetly didn't have the heart. 

[momofclaire]

Have you tried giving her the bottle for a night feed?  Sometimes they area more relaxed at that feed. 
When I gave the sippy she refused and refused until I just stopped giving the bottle during the day.  This was at 8 months.  It took about 3 days and she finally started drinking from it.  She didn't wake out of hunger those nights but she was a bit older.

[Luke-n-Me]

I just wanted to let you know ( in case you haven't read the posts about the Haberman feeder), that the Haberman was the answer to all of our frustrations with trying to get my dd to take a bottle.  I tried for 12 weeks to get her to take a bottle and I spent lots of money buying the different types.  When I went back to work I was in tears not knowing how should would eat during the day, so in desperation I ordered to Haberman.  She took to it instantly and we never had another problem.  I never even tried to go back to another bottle, she was able to drink from a straw cup at 5 months, so when she was about 9/10 months, when I was away from her I just simply left straw cups for her and she was fine!  Hope this helps.  They are expensive, but so worth it.  I had 2 of them!

[LLLena]

Hi, I just wanted to agree about the Haberman feeders.  DS did really well with them and took without problem.  What I like about them is that the amount of fluid is not free-flowing.  It is adjustable and baby has to work for it.  I would definitley recommend it and will be buying a couple more when we have another lo.  Good luck.