My Baby Won't Take a Bottle

Are you in the room when she tries the bottle? Even a 7 week old is sensitive to this and will want you. Their sense of smell is incredible so you do not want to be in smelling range, earshot....GONE. You will have the worst luck getting her to take it because she knows she can get it straight from the tap with you. If someone else feeds her, don't go rescue her. She will eat when she is hungry. Also, you could try having whoever is bottle feeding her to squeeze some out into her mouth so she taste it and then try. Also, my daughter's father realized when he made it HER IDEA to drink, she did a lot better than being forced. Just let her play with it without putting it in her mouth and eventually she will get it and start sucking. Good luck.

I breastfed my daughter as well and think that I tried to introduce the bottle with expressed breastmilk too late. I asked family and friends for advice and they told me to have someone else give her the bottle. Try having your fiance or a family member she is comfortable with give her the bottle. You must not be in the same room or she will not take the bottle. She can smell your breastmilk. If she sees you she will see no need to take a bottle. You will have to be persistant and just keep trying. Good luck.

Hi M., have you tried the bottle's from First Years called Breast Flow? This is the bottle my son will take and I breast feed exclusively as well.

We gave my daughter her first bottle around 6-7 weeks and it was a battle. I had to leave the house. My husband gave it to her, she refused. he would squirt some in her mouth and if she refused, take it away and try again in 10 minutes. eventually she took it. but, she did refuse bottles again when she went into daycare at 4 months. she would take a bottle from anyone (except me) and was taking bottles three days a week, but drank about 2 ounces all day at daycare. It just took persistence. we used the bottles from the first years with the double nipple and really wide top, then the medela bottles that come with the pump.

Have the Dr check her mouth for thrush, it is very painful and you have to suck harder on a rubber nipple than a real one. She may just be in pain.

You are in my prayers,
W.

Definitely have somebody else give her the bottle. She's refusing the bottle from you because she knows you provide milk straight from the tap, and can't figure out why you're not giving it to her that way.

Would her caregiver be willing to finger feed or cup feed her as an alternative top the bottle? More than likely she'll end up taking the bottle from the caregiver :)

Good luck!

I breast fed my last child, and exclusively did for 10 months...but I was not working at the time...But I have been helping my daughter and my grandbaby with nursing, and my grandbaby is almost 6 weeks old..and takes both to the bottle and breast..We SLOWLY had been introducing the bottle since birth in order for her to respond.
BUT, I wll suggest this..and it is something to THINK about....the baby MAY NOT be taking the bottle well IF the milk INSIDE isn't warm enough, I found this to be true with my granddaughter...She would ''fight'' the substitute feedings, and then I made sure they were warmer without it being too hot...and she took it quickly..I beleieve that mother's milk 'must' be warmer..Its a thot, and another way we tried...was to substitute water, sometimes..because sometmes she seems to be thristy, and will take water warm or cool..thats now..that wasn't when we first started trying..Now my daughter has her ready to continue to breast fed when home..and substitute feeding back and forth with breast milk and powdered formula...Good Luck.I understand how hard IT IS>>>but if all else fails..DO call the doctor and ask for their advice..Love in Christ...S.
I hope I haven't confused you!..LOL...I ope this gives you another thing to look at...

Did you try "Second Nature" bottles? I used these with my baby while at the hospital and nursing at the same time. They truly work just like the breast. As far as I know, you can only get them at the Mommy and Me Boutique at Candler Hospital. And if you stop in there, the lactation consultants are WONDERFUL. See if they can offer any help. Lastly, I would talk to your pediatrician about it.
Hope this helps - good luck!

try having someone else give her the bottle. also try the wide bottles with the big nipples. they kinnda look like a breast. we used the Ventaire bottles.

I have 7 weeks old twins and we use the Avent bottles with the number 1 nipple. I got them to take the pacifier first (this was less messy). Then we got them to take the bottle. The first few times it was messy, but they are doing better with them now. Hope she takes the bottle soon.

M.

Ima bit curious why you breast fed exclusively up until now? Was the job and or school a last minute thing? Its very difficult to expect a baby to get use to the comfort and closeness of a breast and mommy and then easily transition to a plasti nipple. You may need to call your doctor and ask her if she could refer you to a consultant that can show u easy ways to transition the baby.You may need to hold off on work and or school if your baby doesnt cooperate. At that young of an age a baby will no realize the breast isnt an option b/cs mommies not home and get so hundry it will take a bottle..they also have no comcept of time so the baby would go easily 8 or so hours just crying for mommy to feed her.I personally didnt breast feed so I cant help you but i think you should call your doctor and ask her what the proper steps are to take so that your baby wont suffer through this transition.