Nipple confusion?

[cmkeough]

DD is 6.5 weeks old. Long story short, I am BF DD my husband and I have also been giving her a bottle each evening (1oz of formula). She previously would get a bottle of breast milk from my husband around 7 or 8 pm so he could feed her. Well about 2 weeks ago she started to really fuss when getting a bottle. She now pretty much refuses to take a bottle from either my husband or me (I know that moms shouldn't be giving a bottle when BF), it makes no difference if it's breast milk or the 1oz of formula. I just don't understand what on earth is going on...the only possible "culprit" I can think of is that a few weeks ago we started to give her the vitamins (liquid) mixed in her formula before nursing for the last time before bedtime. Any insight or helpful suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We would like her to be able to take a bottle again as my MIL would love to feed her/care for her occasionally. Not to mention if my husband and I want to go away we need her to take a bottle. HELP!

[Anonymous]

Do you think it's the bottle? Have you tried a different nipple or anything?

[cmkeough]

We were using the same bottle and after a lot of fussing on her part (husbands too) we've tried two other types of bottles...same result. Could it be the flow? Husband is upset that he can't feed her. Not sure who's more upset, DD or spouse. Sigh!!!!

[Anonymous]

I was thinking maybe it was the flow...if she is used to BFing, it may be too fast for her...also, is it really feeding time when you give her the bottle, or are you just "topping off"? I only ask because you said it was just 1 oz...maybe she isn't hungry enough at that time to take the bottle over the breast. Just a thought !

[Anonymous]

It'd take more patience, but if he wants to feed her- you could try feeding her by cup or eye dropper. A newborn is capable of eating both of these ways.

[Anonymous]

Does the "bottle" (the nipple, the flow, the way the bottle is held, the angle) cause DD to be gassy and thus uncomfortable?

So, she has taken the bottle before, but now refuses? (just wanted to make sure I read that right).

Have you tried using a nipple shield on yourself while she is nursing on you so she "gets used" to a nipple?

[Anonymous]

My question is why are you giving her vitamins? You said liquid, so i'm assuming you mean either the Tri or Poly Visol. Everything I've read, and been told by our pediatrition, is that babies don't need any vitamin until they are 2 months old, and only then if they are exclusively BF. If you have not already, I would double check with your pediatrition that she really needs the vitamins.

[Anonymous]

My baby and several of my friends babies all started to refuse the bottle around 6 weeks (even though they had drank from if once a day before). I've read that they reach a certain development at that age where they start to do this. We never mixed anything with formula or anything, so I don't think that's the reason in your case. Your baby just knows what she likes and she likes to nurse and expressed milk in the bottle just isn't the same to her anymore. I've tried every bottle and nipple out there, and we really struggled with this.

[cmkeough]

To the 15:03 poster - yes, it's the Poly Visol and the ped told us to give it to her since I was BFing...and she knew about the 1oz of formula.

To the 15:21 poster - ARG!!!! That's what I was afraid of, an all out battle with the bottle. I even went to Buy Buy today and bought two other types of bottles, (yes, in sheer desperation to please my husband and have a little down time). How long did it take until your baby (and friends babies) would take the bottle?

Thanks a lot!