4.5mths Won't take bottle anymore - Help please!!

[skoona]

Ok, so I'll pre-empt this by admitting to some AP for the last month (we just moved to the US from the UK), and it's fair to say the DF seems to have had the brunt of our inconsistencies Before we moved I used to express each morning, and DS would have this as his DF & this worked fine (and gave me a bit of a break for an early night etc). After we moved, I realised my pump would no longer work, and we decided that instead of buying a new one, we would try him on formula instead for this feed. This worked for a couple of days, but then he started taking less and less and by the end of the first week he was refusing it completely. We wondered if it may be the formula, so bought another one, then another one, all with the same thing happening, ok for couple of days, then refusal. At this point we decided we'd buy another pump thinking he must just not like formula, but he wouldn't take the bottle with the breastmilk in either. So we bought another bottle (was on Avent, new one is Playtex), and he still refuses it. I tried him on it today in the daytime to see if that made a difference (it doesn't!!).

I completely understand that maybe inconsistency could be my problem, but I just don't know what to do for the best now. Which option should I perservere with?? Is a child who refuses to take a bottle anymore likely to start taking it again? Or should I just give up on the idea of him taking a bottle and just feed him myself for the DF? He's on a 4hrly routine in the day which works well, but generally still wakes up for at least one night feed (although somehow slept through last night for the 1st time, despite taking only 1/2oz at df - there's just no telling with him!!). Really wish I had my BW books to read again, but they are all on shipping constainer somewhere over the atlantic Am just not sure how to do the best by him anymore, can anyone offer any advice?  Pretty please?!

Thanks a million, Seonad x

[* Paula *]

Hi and Welcome to the BW webiste.

First of all I wanted to offer you some hugs, I am sorry that you are going through such a rough time.

Personally I would stick with the DF in a bottle either with BM or formula, which ever you decide and persever with it.  Things have probably gone a little haywire with the move, and it has probably affected your lo too.  I would coninue to offer the DF as normal, and if your lo refuses, then fine, take it away and try again the next night.

What you could also do is offer the bottle at the night wakings too and if your lo is truly hungry, he will take the bottle.  Remember your lo does not have the capability of starving himself, he will take the bottle eventually.

Huge hugs, please keep us posted on how you get on.

[nursemeg01]

My LO went through this too. She refused the bottle for 2 weeks (and we tried every day). What finally worked seems silly but it might be worth a try---Sometimes it is the position that confuses babies as much as the nipple; think about when your LO nurses, their body is probably facing yours, but when bottle feeding, they are probably on their back. Try giving the bottle by holding the bottle under your arm so that the nipple is close to the same level as the breast nipple. That way, the baby is facing you in much the same manner as when  breastfeeding. My DH did this and it worked. Here are other things that we tried:

We've tried waiting a bit longer---she went 5 hours without food once!
We've tried my husband feeding her, a neighbor, my best friend etc. with me completely far away
We've tried changing bottles---Dr. Brown's, Medela, and the NUK is what finally worked
MY DH went shirtless to try to encourage her (that was just funny)
I've tried warming the nipple and even putting some Mylicon drops on it.
We even tried waiting a few days to give her a break.

We also found out that my LO likes her milk fresh and warm. My advice is to not give up and it will happen! Apparently it is common for them to go through a phase but if you don't quit, they eventually will return to the bottle. good luck!

[skoona]

Thanks guys, I appreciate your advice, and encouragement to keep going! We finally had a bit of progress last night, as he did take some milk!! So pleased. We decided we'd keep persevering with the ebm and the new playtex bottle so as not to add anything else into the equation, and he did have a little. He was really sleepy, and didn't wake up during the df like he has on other nights for the past month or so, so really gonna try make it the exact same time every night in the hope we've hit the sweet spot of his sleep cycle I also put him in his bouncy chair for it, I've no idea why this would make a difference or not, but maybe just a slight change in setting helped?

Fingers crossed it keeps working this time, and won't just be a few days of success then back to square one.

Cheers guys 

[nursemeg01]

Mine took it in the carseat once---she has bad reflux so maybe that was part of the reason. not sure but I am SO glad he took it! good luck

[* Paula *]

Great update.  Keep us posed on how you get on.