Please help, advice on top up feed, baby won't take bottle.

[Pia_2009]

I am new here and need advice.

I'm exhausted. Layla has been waking up every night about 5 or 6 times for about 3 weeks now. I then have to breast feed her till she falls asleep again, sometimes only 5 min's, sometimes 30 min's. At first I thought it was a growth spurt, but now 3 weeks later have realised it can't be that. I called my midwife and she said she thinks Layla is hungry and suggested I try a top up feed of formula at 10pm. But she suggested I try 50ml's during the day just in case she had a reaction.

Anyway, I tried to give her the 50ml's. She won't drink from the bottle at all. I tried Nuk and Tommy Tippee. I tried Nan no 1 formula. I went and bought a pigeon bottle to try and got Isomil no 1 also (Just in case it was the formula and plus my nephew was lactose intolerant).

She is almost 5 months old and this is my first atempt with a bottle. Should I just persevere and do you think she will finally take to a bottle?

Oh and do you think a top up will help her sleep a bit better? She used to only wake up twice a night, sometimes once.

[* Paula *]

Hi and welcome to the BW website.

I would pick one time of the day when your lo has a feed, and continue to just offer the bottle.  Perhaps try this when your lo is at her hungriest.  I would not force the issue, if your lo refuses the bottle give her a few minutes break and offer again.  Have you tried offering expressed breast milk in the bottle first to see if your lo will take this?  If your lo takes the breastmilk, you could then slowly introduce the formula by mixing breast milk and formula, and then upping the amounts of formula until your lo is fully on formula for this particular feed.

It sounds like your lo is using the breast to fall back asleep again.  This is a prop, and your lo needs the breast to fall asleep.  Try posting on the props boards, and the ladies over there will be able to help you wean yourself from being a prop.

What does your EASY look like during the day, can you post it so that we can have a look.

E
A - how long
S - how long - does your lo fall asleep independantly or does she need to be fed to sleep?

[Pia_2009]

Thanks for the welcome and for answering my post!

She won't take the breast milk from a bottle either.   

I will post on the props board too.

I don't konw what EASY is.  Sorry!!   

[Pia_2009]

What does your EASY look like during the day, can you post it so that we can have a look.

E
A - how long
S - how long - does your lo fall asleep independantly or does she need to be fed to sleep?

E
A - She sleeps for 45 min's every 1.5 - 2 hours during the day
S - I rock her in my arms (she fights) until she falls asleep or is very sleepy.  Takes about 10 min's.

[MommytoJashn]

Pia , here in india ,we were adviced by the peds not to start a bottle , so my baby who is 9 months old has never been fed by a bottle, so i know its difficult , but try a spoon feeding the baby with milk it is time taking but can be done . in case nothing on the bottle works.

[Pia_2009]

Pia , here in india ,we were adviced by the peds not to start a bottle , so my baby who is 9 months old has never been fed by a bottle, so i know its difficult , but try a spoon feeding the baby with milk it is time taking but can be done . in case nothing on the bottle works.

I'll try this now!  Messy, but I'm sure it'll make a difference.