Forum Index
»
Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Bottle-enemy #1???
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
Ladies. my son is 6 weeks old and hates bottle. I actually introduced bottle when he was 2 weeks and he was fine taking it. Then lactation consultant made me feel bad when she said I should not have given bottle untill 6 weeks. I stopped giving bottle (well, I was not really giving bolttle when DS was 2-week on a constant basis, I only gave bottle 3-4 times only when i had to go out and my DH fed him, and all these times it was fine when he was 2-3 week old. Then I stopped). Now we are trying to give him bottle, he hates it. he cries, he is hungry but still would not take it. I tried different nipples, still same result, after some cry he would take 1 oz max and then would cry again, but not take bottle. I need to teach him to take bottle, I am returning to work soon.
Should I try on a weekend having my DH give him bottle entire day, no matter how much he cries?? Should we break his unwilingness in such a cruel way? I do not know how to teach him..... Anyway the first day I go to work my DS will be taught this cruel way without me being home and being able to console him with boob. |
clarabow
Member Offline
Member Offline
| I swear, some LCs seem to do more harm than good, with the guilt trips and the strict rules. (Some are great, too, I hear Pat is fabulous and I found my own to be pretty compassionate, but I've also known more than one mom reduced to tears by her LC.) So sorry you are experiencing stress over this. Your baby will eventually get hungry enough to eat, and can be held and consoled until then. I don't have direct experience on this but some folks report more success using a cup than a bottle -- might be worth a shot. You'll probably help yourself feel better by making sure you squeeze in a nice long nursing session right before you leave for the day and right when you come home. Good luck. |
Anonymous
| Sorry to hear you're having this problem. My DS preferred the bottle at first, then when he started having reflux preferred the boob. With reflux it seems like he's able to control the speed of how much he eats and that might help any pain he was feeling. 6 week period is when reflux starts to hit, perhaps this is what your son is experiencing. We had to burp DS over our shoulders every 1-2 ounces, and that seem to calm him down quite a bit. Our feeding sessions, however, lasted 50 minutes each time. It was a nightmare. Things do get better after about 3-4 weeks, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel. |
Anonymous
|
you should try giving the bottle again with you out of the house and DH trying to give it (if you haven't already).
also just keep trying every so often (as often as you can emotionally handle it). babies go through the phases of liking and hating them. also try giving the bottle in the same environment as nursing (like if you have a specific place to nurse) just have faith that the baby will take it again. |
Anonymous
| I know this must be really frustrating for you! I agree with the PP who suggested having DH give a bottle. That is what we had to do. My DD did not prefer the bottle, so we started having daddy give her a bottle every evening when she was really hungry. I would leave the room. It was good bonding for them and DD learned to like the bottle. It was key to make sure to try to give her a bottle every day or at least every other day so that she would not forget how to use it. 6 weeks is still pretty young, so even though you may feel like you are in your darkest hour, your baby will get it! |
Anonymous
|
OP here
My DH and my Mom are the only ones who give DS the bottle, I tried, but gave up, too much stress for me. I am planning to have this weekend devoted to the bottle. Dh will be feeding him, I guess at some point DS will be hungry enough to take bottle. The only thing I am praying for is that i would be able to handle his crying and that DS would not shut down and refuse even breast, and will go on hunger strike |
Anonymous
|
Baby will not go on a hunger strike and both you and he will be fine when you go back to work. My DD never really took a bottle, but still managed to stay at the 90th percentiles while I worked full-time. Baby will eat enough to get him through the day. I can count on one hand the times that my children have ever taken a bottle from me (I have two kids), yet both of them have taken bottles from others when they were hungry enough.
Don't worry - you will be fine. |
Anonymous
| You may want to consider being out of the house for the day, so that the "alternative" source of feeding is not there, i.e. he does not really have a choice but to take the bottle when he gets hungry. It will be hard on your DH - if your Mom could also be there to give him some relief and be another set of hands to help through the transition, perhaps that would make it easier... |
Anonymous
|
I was in the same situation. The bottom line is that daycare teachers are used to bottle strikes and should be able to help out. It might be much better in a new environment far from you.
Things to try: We tried warm and cold milk, we tried holding the same as nursing or differently (e.g. upright, facing out), we tried many different kinds of bottles, faster and slower nipples, we tried with me in the house or out, with or without a T-shirt with my scent. Usually people find something that works for their kid. Eventually, we tried sippy cups and spoons. Our daycare teacher was wonderful and patient, and eventually he drank out of a bottle. In the mean time, the baby ate enough not to starve (a few ounces) and made up for the rest by nursing a lot! Good luck, but don't worry, don't force it and your baby will be fine. |
Anonymous
|
Amen to 21:35. Healthy babies cannot physically starve themselves and will not be permanently scarred by "nipple confusion" or whatever else that quack LC told you. (And yes, some of them are quacks unfortunately.)
We too found caregiver and pedi really helpful. At work, the Pumping Room Mafia of other working moms was super helpful in making my own adjustments. Babies get over changes much faster than moms do. 
Sorry your LC experience was counterproductive. It's great that you have mom & DH to help. Thanks to all PPs for keeping posts constructive and positive! |
Anonymous
| i've heard lots and lots of stories about babies taking a bottle and then not wanting it for a week or two. they all eventually take it again. this happened with my son when he was about three months old.... |
Anonymous
|
We got ourselves into this situation with my first dd. Gave her a bottle at about 3 weeks, she took it and we thought great she can do it. We were not consistant with them and just gave her one off and on for the next couple of weeks and then she just refused them completely. I ended up BF exclusively for a year since I did not have the heart to force the issue. I regretted it big time down the road. Try and "break" her now. LEAVE THE HOUSE and let your dh and others deal with it. The only way to do it I think. If you can get someone to help your dh so it does not get too mental for him if a lot of screaming is involved!! I have 3.5 wk old twins now and they are getting a bottle every day so as I don't get into this situation again. I swear when I saw them drain their first few bottles I almost cried with relief. Sorry the lactation consultant got you into this fix!
(I ended up starting sippy cups during the day with dd at 5 months or so and she took milk in those so a little relief there if bottles don't work for you) Good luck! |