My 5mo won't take a bottle?

[Hannah's Mum]

Hi there,

My 5 mo DD will not take a bottle.  I am breast feeding, but would like her to take a bottle every now and again but she refuses.  I have tried giving her expressed milk in the bottle and formula but neither seem to take her fancy.

Funny thing is though she took a bottle of formula 2 days in a row then has refused since.  I am wasting a lot of formula and each effort ends in baby tears and we both get very frustrated.

I am worried the bottle has bad connotations for her.  I think she takes a lot of wind which hurts her and even though I burb her she still wriggles and arches her back to try and get away. 
It always ends with her crying so that also creates a bad connotation for her.

I don't want to force the issue but she has taken formula twice before as I mentioned so I know she can do it.

Any suggestions on how to get her to take a bottle and formula would be great.

Oh forgot to say that I have tried all different types of bottles and teat flows.  A very expensive experiment.

Thanks

[nosh84uk]

Im going through exactly the same. My little one is six months. I have been tryng since month 4 to tray and get her to take bottle but it always ends in tears.

I need a proper solution ladies! Tried everything. I go back to work soon. Want the satisfaction of knowing that my baby is eating while im away.

Thanks

X

[Lolly]

Welcome to the boards ladies!

There is a lot of information here http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=173309.0 so have a look, there may be some tips you haven't tried yet! Have a read and see what you think.

Hannah's mum (great name by the way - I've got a Hannah too!) Does the arching and wriggling happen after every feed or just a bottle feed? If it's a frequent thing I would have a look here  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=654.0. Being in discomfort/ pain after and during a feed can sometimes be an indication of reflux.

Have a look at the links, see what you think and come back if you have any more questions - or just let us know if anything works! My two were bottle fed from birth pretty much so I don't have much experience of getting them on a bottle but there are plenty of mums who can help more if you need it.

HTH!

Laura

[*Liz*]

What bottle are you using? BF babies struggle with the wind and vacuum in a lot so anti colic bottles are often best.

I used MAM with DS.

[fiona1274]

Do you do the feeds yourself? Or does someone else feed for you? My DH does our bottle feeds and he will take from him but not from me. Also have you thought of skipping straight past a bottle and onto a cup of some type? I have had better success with straw type cups, I read before that BF babies deal better with straws and all of mine have taken to that sort of cup better. Another expense, but maybe you could try with just cheap straws until you see if it works and then buy appropriate cups??

[Hannah's Mum]

Thanks for all the responses.
I have read the posts that you recommended Laura.  Very useful.  Thanks

I don't think its reflux as she does not have the soreness after BF.  She does take a lot of air though.

I have purchased two cups already and have had limited success.  She seems to take the Avent magic cup quite well with water but is still learning how to drink from that slowly.

Yes I do the feeds myself.  DH leaves for work early in the morning and returns at DD's bedtime.  I don't have much choice there.

At the moment we are using the tommee tippee close to nature bottle and teats.  Reading one of the posts in the "breastfed babies and bottles" forum it was saying to just choose a bottle and stick with it as babies can get even more confused when introducing too many different teat shapes and flow rates.  She has taken the TT one before so might just stick with that.  Not sure if we can get the MAM brand in New Zealand?.

I tried yesterday to give her a bottle of formula again and tried a positive attitude etc but still no luck.  Was thinking I might try during her last feed of the day when she is quite sleepy and I am dried up.  Hopefully she won't be able to tell the difference.  Yeah right....

[nosh84uk]

I have tried all the tricks in the book! My little one just loves mummys boobies too much!! I will give that link a read though and see what works. Maybe...just maybe...

Oh and I have got just about everyone on my husbands side and my side to try. My baby has none of it. Too smart for her own good that one!