Getting baby to take bottle

[Joella]

I'm sure similar threads have been posted in the past but I'm struggling to get my almost 5 month old daughter to take a bottle, she absolutely will not open her mouth. I have consistently tried putting a tiny bit of milk on her lips in an effort to coax her or gently pushing the teat in her mouth but she simply won't try and suck and instead gets very upset. I'm not sure what to do, beyond persevering and wanted to know how others who obviously have been through this, managed to crack it. I've been trying all week and she hasn't made any headway. Personally I think she is too young to go straight to a cup so at this point I'm keen to learn from others how they cracked the bottle.

[BeccaL]

At that age it's much easier for someone other than mummy to do it. Had to get ours onto bottles at that age and it took my husband 3 days of trying until she worked it out... I had gone back to work so she was still breast fed outside working hours so wasn't going to starve. She wouldn't take a drop on day 1, took about 1oz per bottle on day 2 then sussed it on day 3. It was hellish at the time but soon forgotten. Good luck with it - keep trying, and if you can get someone else's help do.

[apenn]

Hi Joella,

Of course it's up to you, but my 9 month old son loves using his doidy cup. So far I've only given him water in it. I don't think I would be too keen to put anything else in it when it gets banged around. I would love him to take a sippy cup but he just doesn't get it . . .

Anyway, I remember reading on the doidy cup package that for breastfed babies it's OK to go straight to a cup and never bother with a bottle. (They would say that though.)

Also, don't know what type of bottle you are using, but I have Tommee Tippee ones that are supposed to be good for combining breast with bottle. You're welcome to bororow one to see if it makes any difference.

-A

[canadianlisa]

Hi Joella-

I am by no means an expert as I have a similar problem to you with my 6 month old daughter. However we have recently had some succcess with using the colourful MAM bottles. They have a flatter, dummy-like teat. I only have one so can't lend it out but I bought it at the chemist in Dulwich Village. They have a few unusual bottles.

Also I have found making the milk very warm helps as well as giving it to her in public when she is distracted helps.

I think that perserverance also helps. I also haven't had luck as of yet with the sippy cups. I wonder if babies who are already used to the bottle may take to them more easily. I can't imagine that a 5-6 month old baby would be able to take enough of a feed from a cup in any case.

Good luck. I have lots of bottles and sippy cups if you are looking to borrow anything as well.

Lisa

[Joella]

Thank you for all of your suggestions, all really helpful and much appreciated, I know eventually it will happen, as my eldest was fully bottle fed from 5/6 months, the difference being from 6 weeks she had a daily bottle, wish I had done it with the second! Canadianlisa, I'm sending you a PM as have a few questions.

[katwhite]

I would second the MAM teats - my daughter wasn't happy with Avent teats but seems to accept MAM (at 3 months) - and they fit Avent bottles which is handy if you have already bought them.

[nunheadmum]

My first took to the bottle fine - my second took months of trying every type of bottle under the sun, with every possible combination of who gave it to her and when etc. Some (particularly the second I think!!) are just stronger willed.

Not sure I've got any answers about what to do. Possibly being consistent - pick a feed when you think they'll want it and only offer the bottle consistently for several days/weeks. I offered the bottle first consistently at all daytime feeds for probably nearer 2 months (started with nighttime ones too but gave that up after a couple of weeks). My LO consistently refused it until one day, out and about down the park in her buggy with other things to take her mind off it possibly, she just took a full 6oz. Once she'd given in, she quickly moved to only wanting the bottle (possibly with a little guidance from me as I was going back to work).

I think it's a matter of will with some kids. But they seem to pick up somehow when they need to do it for their own good e.g. mum is going back to work.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

My son who is my first child took a bottle in the beginning ( he was tongue tied) but then rejected the bottle, I have bought so many different teats, bottles, cups and beakers but 8 months on, he is still absolutely refusing to take a bottle. He will play with the teat if there is water in it ( he likes the sound of the teat when he drags it with his gums, and he likes the feel of them on his gums but he does not drink from it) but if there is milk, be it formula or breast milk in the bottle, he will actually retch!

Babies are smart, they know the breast is the good stuff, so they reject the bottle, and who can blame them? My son is just absolutely not having it. So I am no longer forcing him with the bottle as it is too distressing for him. Oh well, least I just have 4 months left until he is a year, and he can have cow's milk from a cup or beaker.

Sadly all the advice did not work for me with regards to using cups, beakers and various bottles and teats. I guess I could starve him all day and night to make him take a bottle but for me it is too distressing, though I can fully understand mums that have to as they have to return to work so have no choice.

I hope you are one of the lucky ones and your son will take a bottle for you!!

[Moos]

Sorry, but it's complete nonsense to generalise that babies who are breastfed don't like the taste of formula. Your son might not, but there are plenty of people (myself included) who mix-fed perfectly successfully.

Exactly the kind of untruthful militant formula-is-bad rubbish that drives me crazy.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Moos, I didn't say formula is bad, my son took formula when he was tongue tied and I have been trying to get him onto formula since he rejected the bottle, I only intended to breast feed for 6 months, but he is not having it, sorry if you took it that way but that is not the way I intended it to come across.

Breastmilk IS sweeter, and the flavour does vary according to what the mother eats, so if a baby does reject formula, it is understandable as to why, as I have tried formula, and it is absolutely utterly vile. Of course some babies will happily mix feed, but a lot of babies do reject bottles/formula when they are usually breast fed, as someone said, it is a battle of wills for those that got baby to take bottles, I am sure if I starved my son and absolutely utterly refuse him breast milk no matter how hungry he is, and how long it takes, he will probably give in and take formula, but it is not something I want to do, I tried leaving it a few hours ( I went out, and my family tried to feed him via bottles) but they could not stand seeing him distressed, nor could I. Whichever way you dress it up, breast is easier for babies, correct temperature, comfort and warmth of mother etc.

Saying that if I ever had another baby, I doubt I would breast feed,even though it IS better for baby, I find it so restricting, 8 months on, I am shattered being the only one who can feed my son, and having my social life based around on when he feeds.

[Moos]

What you said was 'babies reject formula... Who would blame them... It tastes awful, smells awful...'

Pretty insensitive stuff to anyone who can't breastfeed and you must know that it isn't true. So why say it?

I didn't say formula is easier or better, the benefits of breastfeeding speak for themselves. But I find casual judgements of formula as being 'vile' just rude since clearly millions of babies like it and thrive on it.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Ermm babies don't get a choice in what they drink, you give them formula of course they will grow on it and like it, its their source of nutrition and food. It DOES smell and taste vile. I am not getting into a FF vs BF argument with you, you can continue that argument alone, at the end of the day the original poster is breast feeding and wants to get her baby on bottles, you can take up the FF vs BF argument but I am saying if a baby is usually on breast milk and rejecting bottles/formula, it is not surprising why because formula milk is not as nice and bottles are not nice when coming from breast, it would be a bit like me having nice organic cow milk or a nice tasty steak from William Rose and then having to have powered milk or a cheap iceland meat..it would take some getting used to!

If I had just kept my son on formula and didn't give him breast then of course he is going to like his formula and thrive on it, because it is all he knows and his only source of food, but if you give most babies breast, and then try to offer them bottles and formula, you usually will find a lot of babies put up resistance.

Sorry but that is fact, you can take it as personally as you want.

Those that know me know I am not someone who goes around stating formula is evil and nasty and they must breast feed, each to their own.

And I will state again, the original poster is breast feeding. If the original poster was feeding formula then you can take issue with me.

That is the last I will be saying on the matter.

[knackered cow]

Hi!

I have recommended to 2 friends to use nipple shields while feeding, with 1 success out of the 2, so it might be worth a try!

You breast feed while wearing the shield and then the baby (might) get used to the silicone feel and move onto bottles with no problem.

http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Nipple-Shields_334235/

Best of luck!

[Belle]

I think the issue probably more likely the bottle not the contents of the bottle.

My cousin's baby didn't take a bottle either and she needed to go back to work at six months so he switched to a cup, and yes have heard the doidy is good in this instance (unfortunately my boy would just throw the contents all over himself and me so stuck to sippy cups!). I know what one poster meant about wondering if the baby would take enough milk but think they will take what they need, it may just be it takes longer. But yes, others have had success I think from just trying lots of different types of teats etc.

Heidi - realise you're not trying to provoke the forumla versus breast debate which is of course not what this OP was looking for, but do think that comparing formula to cheap meat is a bit ill-considered. To be honest I've come out the other side of supposedly 'failing' to breastfeed and am v happy about having used formula, and would do again, but I do worry that new, anxious mums could be made to feel bad about what they're giving their babies if people persist in rubbishing formula. I find it useful to think of breastmilk and formula as, respectively, excellent and very good options for nourishing your child. It doesn't have to be right versus wrong or good versus 'vile'.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

I apologise if anyone took offence. I am not anti formula either.

[Moos]

Getting away from the offering of opinion as fact, I'll add that in my experience, in the experience of 8-10 mothers that I know personally and in the experience of many mothers I've read on this forum, mainly-breastfed babies do accept formula. I wanted to add that not to prolong argument but to reassure any breastfeeding mothers who are considering supplementary bottle feeding that it's perfectly possible.

On a related note, however, I was told many times by breastfeeding counsellors and other experts when I supplement fed that it can lead to breastfeeding diminishing and even stopping. It wasn't my experience (though my son was on one bottle/day) but it's documented as happening so I believe it's worth bearing in mind. Perhaps sticking to the same time of day for the bottle is a good idea so supply stays strong the rest of the time?