Fights breast loves bottle? Any advice

[MrsGplus1]

I've started giving LO a bottle at night - sometimes expressed milk sometimes formula (if I haven't expressed enough). He's 13 weeks now.
However I've noticed he is fighting/playing around on the breast - which in turn is making him posset up lots of milk. But the bottle he is very calm for and doesn't seem to bring up anything. Could be as the bottle is at night he's just in a calmer frame of mind and less eager to play. But obviously I'm keen to carry on breast feeding the bulk of the time - so any tips on how to get him to feed more calmly during the day. Worried that he isn't getting enough milk to start with then he brings some up so there is even less in there.

[jbepko]

It sounds like the bottle is just one night feeding? I won't worry about your supply- since you only supplement once a day, it may be a bottle preference. Remember that bottles are easier for a LO to eat from (therefore nipple confusion). My suggestion...stop the bottle all together- nurse, nurse, nurse, nurse, nurse away the next few days! Concentrate on making it a quiet session vs in front of visitors, on phone/TV/computer and see how it goes. Sorry this is short but I am chasing my 4 yo and 16 mo trying to get them ready for school and me for work.

[RachelC]

Is there a reason you think he's not getting enough?

[MrsGplus1]

Sorry for not replying earlier - and thanks for the advice. After a couple of days of really focusing on it I think its the other way round (he has also started fighting the bottle at night). Actually he wants to feed less and I'm making him snack. In Babywhisperer terms I'd say his tummy is on a "4 hour routine" whilst his energy levels for activities is still on "3 hours". He is shattered after 1.5 hours from waking but then naps for say 1.5/2 hours. However he isn't waking up hungry - I put him on the breast and he's like "yeah whatever - not interested - lets play!" Problem is if I wait til he is hungry its toward the time he is getting tired - and then he can't take a lot he just wants to snuggle to sleep. Either way he doesn't want to feed and is fighting it. The bottle feed at night is after a longer time awake and bath so he is hungry but also tired - last 2 nights he has woken 1 hour after going to sleep and feeding 4oz plus. So tomorrow new tactic :-) .... feed ever 4 hours and try either to keep him up longer or nap longer, but also feed at least half the bottle before bath so he can finish off before he gets too tired. As they say its all trial and error so lets see how it goes!! Thanks Ladies

[M2W]

I've started giving LO a bottle at night - sometimes expressed milk sometimes formula (if I haven't expressed enough). He's 13 weeks now.
However I've noticed he is fighting/playing around on the breast - which in turn is making him posset up lots of milk. But the bottle he is very calm for and doesn't seem to bring up anything. Could be as the bottle is at night he's just in a calmer frame of mind and less eager to play. But obviously I'm keen to carry on breast feeding the bulk of the time - so any tips on how to get him to feed more calmly during the day. Worried that he isn't getting enough milk to start with then he brings some up so there is even less in there.

A bottle is EASIER to get milk from...less work then the breast...and we all will take the easy route if we can. I gave both bottle and breast and it lasted 10 months before my son decided bottle was more mobile and easier. Sad for me...but he's content.

I would see if you can get your hands on some preemie nipples or the lowest flow you can find...because the more 'breast like' the bottle is, the better. And the slower flow are going to be some work to get the milk out, similar to the breast.

I would save the one a day bottle for mid-day when you might be pushing a shopping cart as well...lol...and save the calm loving bonding of breastfeeding for the night feeding.

Best of luck!!!