Help! My baby won't take mommy milk from a bottle!!

[Anonymous]

My sweet 7 week old DD #2 is refusing the bottle--crying hysterically--despite starting the bottle at 3 weeks of age (took it very well then, but we were not consistent enough), trying Born Free and Dr. Brown's nipples, and attempting the bottle every day for the past 2 1/2 weeks! The only way we have been able to get her to drink from the bottle is when she's half asleep and not terribly hungry at night.

I am headed back to work FT in a short 2 weeks, so we need to have her taking the bottle well by then. To make matters more complicated, the new nanny who will be taking care of her is not yet experienced with small babies! Egad!

Any hints/tips out there? Yes, I know we can let her "cry it out/starve it out," and offer the bottle every hour until she takes it, without giving her the breast, but short of that, I was wondering if anyone had any hints.

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

Use deceit.
Give boobie, but in the last minute pop in the bottle.

Worked for my kid.

[Anonymous]

We had great success with the Playtex Drop-ins after DD refused Avent, Dr. Brown's and Born Free. The Playtex nipples and liners are BPA free and the nipples are much softer then the other brands which is why I think she accepted it. Good luck and hope it works for you.

[Anonymous]

I had the same problem. The Playtex Drop Ins also worked for us. However, DD only took the bottle after an ordeal. I had to leave the house, DH had to rock, walk, sing, etc. while trying to give DD the bottle. After 1 hour, she took it. Next time it took 1/2 an hour. After that, she was fine with it. I think it became a contest of wills between DH and DD. Luckily he is more stubborn than she is. Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the suggestions--I think we have a contest of wills too! The parents must prevail!

[Anonymous]

Try dream feeding, i.e., feed when she's asleep. Babies have a suck reflex at that age.

[Anonymous]

Try different nipples and bottles. Also try having someone else offer the bottle (not the mom), if possible. If this isn't possible, then, try feeding in a bouncy seat or swing or in a different position.

We tried everything imaginable and still only had modest success with the baby taking the bottle (and like you, she had started the bottle early, though not consistently) and then started refusing it at around 6 weeks old).

I know it's both frustrating and heartbreaking - knowing that you'll have to return to work soon. Perhaps you can have the nanny start early, before your maternity leave ends, and have her work with you on the bottle feeding. Good luck and hang in there.

[Anonymous]

I went back to work with my DD refusing the bottle every time husband or I tried. We tried every combo-- warmed up, cold, different bottle types, when she's hungry, when she not, in the bouncy chair, being held, starting with bf, with me out of the house, etc. I was freaked out but really, I tried everything.

What worked for us is that when she was hungry, she ate. When I went to work the first day back, husband (who had one week off with her b4 she started daycare) finally got her to take the bottle around the 3rd try. at around 2:30 in the afternoon.

Remember--they will eat when they are hungry. Period.

Even now, my DD will not take a bottle from me or usually not from my husband, and on weekends, it's hard to get her to take a bottle for even one feeding. But she has no problem taking 3 bottles of 5 oz each at daycare from her two providers. She does it because she's learned--she's not gonna get it for 8 hours otherwise.

Don't freak out too much, and just keep trying but with only a little milk at a time (1-2oz) so you don't waste it. When you go to work, the nanny will have a few rough days, and Mondays might be hard, but the baby will have to eat or will become a champion night nurser. Don't wreck your last few weeks with her killing yourself to give her the bottle. Just try it once a day and then don't worry--she WONT starve herself.