Tips for getting your breastfeeding LO to take a bottle

[M2W]

Has anyone tried the "2 day" method for switching from breast to bottle? I am at my wits end- have tried every nipple/bottle there is for a few weeks and no luck. We've tried emb and every formula. We've tried different times of day, positions, etc, too.  I always end up bf because she gets so worked up and upset with the bottle. I am returning to work soon and MUST figure this out. Thinking about doing the nothing but bottles for 2 days like Tracey recommends, but am nervous. Any experiences would help me prepare for what I am sure will be a tough 2 days!

I have given both my children bottles and breast without any nipple comfusion...I'm not 100% sure the 2 day method is, but assuming it's bottles only for 2 days and then on the 3rd day a little of both?

I would use a VERY SLOW nipple flow, you want the child to work to get it from a bottle similar to how hard she/he has to work to get milk from your breast...if it's too fast, they might prefer it and get lazy. JMHO...

I use preemie and #1 nipples for my kids...

If you are gearing up to do this, plan to have a crabby kid for 2 days...and be prepared to rock, sooth, etc in alternative ways...and to have the patience needed for something that might become fairly stressful and frustrating.

Good Luck...

[rachelking]

I have just gone from Breast to bottle at 5 1/2 months. Previously he would'nt take the bottle, cried and spat it out, But i have just tried again and decided to persivere. I discovered that after he cryed himself to sleep (i hated that bit) I popped the bottle in while he slept and hay presto he started sucking and took 5oz. I did this three times and now he taking the bottle with no problem. I tried every bottle going, but the one he finally took was a breastflo bottle...£6.99 from Mothercare. Now after 3 days he'll take any!!! Good luck.

[* Paula *]

That is fantastic news.

Congratulations. 

[M2W]

They won't let themselves starve...I have faith that all children would eventually take any bottle when it comes down to it...but what mother wants to go through that is another question...lol 

[ewelorb]

my baby is 4 mos. she was introduced to a bottle since the beginning, but i havent been giving her one the past 2 months because i was on vacation and always with my baby, and i preferred to breastfeed. however, i really need her to start taking a bottle again, or else ill never be able to leave her with a babysitter. i tried during the first feed in the morning the past 4 days. my hubby would try first, and when she got annoyed i'd try. she took a bottle the first day but hasnt since. how long am i to hold out before giving her breast? she started crying and screaming after 1/2 hr. and if she still refuses the bottle after 2 hours, do i put her to sleep without feeding her? do i play with her in the meantime? also, in her book tracy says to try the bottle only once every hour to avoid making the baby averse to bottles. but i dont have that much time...

[ewelorb]

i also want to add that my problem is not getting her to latch on. she'll stick anything in her mouth! the problem is she pushes away the bottle, turns her head away.if i can only get her to keep it in her mouth im sure she'll drink from it.

[* Paula *]

Hi and Welcome to the BW Boards,

What type of bottle are you using, and what size teats?

Are you warming the milk?

Have you tried warmng the teat?

[M2W]

I have noticed that when Daddy feeds Chloe her bottle, she pushes it away and fiddles with the nipple, but when I feed it to her, she does the same and I am more persistant about make sure it's in there far enough to simulate a breast latch...and she typically takes it then, unless she's FULL or has a burp coming.

So double check the 'presentation' as well.

***

Chloe definitely prefers the breast, but if hungry enough she'll take a bottle. I noticed she fiddles with it and pushes it away mostly when she's not really ready for a FULL feed...and often times BFed babies nurse more frequently, so they sort of have smaller fills then bottle fed babies...leaving them 'less hungry' come the time you are trying to experiment with the bottle...if that makes sense?

[ewelorb]

i embarrassed - but relieved!- to admit, that as simple as it sounds, warming the milk and nipple worked! hurray! now i just have to work on her accepting formula once again.

[* Paula *]

That is great news.  Let us know how you get on with re-introducing the formula.

[ewelorb]

last nite i tried giivng her a bottle of formula, but she refused and made a sour face. today i mixed 1 oz of formula with 3-4 oz. of breastmilk, and while i had to convince her [sing to her to distract her...] with the first bottle, she took the 2nd one w/o problem.

[em_here]

Just read this!

last nite i tried giivng her a bottle of formula, but she refused and made a sour face. today i mixed 1 oz of formula with 3-4 oz. of breastmilk, and while i had to convince her [sing to her to distract her...] with the first bottle, she took the 2nd one w/o problem.

Might be a case of gradually upping the formula:breastmilk ratio and things will be good then!

[* Paula *]

That is fantastic news. A lot of mums find this the best way to introduce formula.

Please keep us posted on how things go.

[anelame]

I have gone back to work last week and my 7 months old DS is refusing the bottle, no matter what we try (different brands, different nipples, different rooms and time of day)
he is also refusing the sippy cup

[M2W]

congrats on success!

just FYI ~ have you ever tasted your own BM vs formula??? It's amazing ANY child takes formula (mine included) Formula is GROSS tasting, where BM is sweet...I'd much rather have BM then formula anyday...I honestly almost puked once when I got a swig of Enfamil...that (IMHO) is the WORST tasting of them all and I've tried just about all of the formulas out there!