3 month old won't take a bottle, please help

[Anonymous]

Baby could take a bottle for the first few weeks, but then we offered it less because breastfeeding was easier. Now he won't accept it at all. He doesn't cry or seem to dislike it; he just mouths it (and can do this for 10-15 minutes without objection) without sucking, so doesn't actually get any milk.

We've tried various bottles, holding him in different positions, different people giving it to him. It just seems like he doesn't know how to use it.

Anyone have tips?

[Anonymous]

Can you try breastfeeding with a nipple shield? Haakaa makes one that's shaped like a bottle, so if you could get him to accept that first, the bottle transition might be easier.

[Anonymous]

Faster flow nipple?

[Anonymous]

I would suggest trying different nipples sizes, shapes and flows.

[Anonymous]

We worked with a lactation consultant and tried so many different approaches to no avail. The Lansinoh bottle is the only thing that worked for us. Good luck, OP! It’s tough.

[Anonymous]

So tough to deal with. I swear we spent a few hundred in nipples bottles, etc. the only thing that worked was my 3 day business trip it was a rough slog on the home front but breastfeed 24/7 and working was breaking me and ruining my career.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all, I Will try these.

I wish someone had told me to make sure I give a bottle daily from the start!

[Anonymous]

This happens but eventually, your baby will take the bottle. Lots of crying and fussing to get to that point. This if a job for dad. You leave and let dad handle the fussing.

[Anonymous]

Same. For all 3 of my lovely children. Don't stress about it. All 3 of my kids had rocky (ahem, hungry) starts at daycare but then took bottles easily from daycare. We did absolutely everything, including giving bottles daily, but it didn't seem to matter.

My current baby will only take bottles from daycare or when I'm not home. She just has such a strong preference for nursing.

Lansinoh momma was the only bottle any of mine would take, even once they took bottles easily for daycare, they would only take the one brand. Also, make sure you aren't feeding frozen milk and that the temp is perfectly 98.6 degrees.

With my 2nd baby we didn't stress bottle at all or make a big deal of it, and he took bottles the easiest from daycare (but wouldn't for us!). With baby 1, I think she was traumatized by us trying bottles so much and how much she cried over not wanting a bottle. I pumped and she refused a bottle for 2 weeks before starting school. WHY did I do that?! I could have instead had 2 more weeks of enjoyable breastfeeding. I think it gave her even more of a bottle aversion.

[Anonymous]

LC helped with this.

My son did well with the Comotomo bottle. He would never take a bottle from me (mom). My husband had to sit on a yoga ball and gently bounce him at first while giving him a bottle. Once he got used to it, it was fine.

Definitely try a good LC if you're having issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all, I Will try these.

I wish someone had told me to make sure I give a bottle daily from the start!

Before spending more money on buying different bottles, see if your local buy nothing group have any to give you. That way you’re just buying different nipples it might save you money.

[Anonymous]

Wait another month or two and offer a sippy cup.

[Anonymous]

Probably not what you want to hear, but my youngest never took a bottle, ever. We say a million specialists (3 peds, 2 IBCLCs, a feeding specialist, an OT/PT, pediatrics dentist, a SLP). I almost had to quit my job because she would not eat all day.