Tillyamy
Wed 02-Jan-13 15:23:51
Hi everyone
I have been trying to feed my breastfed baby a bottle for the last few weeks but he is having none of it! My first son took a bottle from about 6 weeks old and i successfully expressed and breastfed with no problems. My new little man will not even try and drink from a bottle, he just pushes the teat out and gets quite upset. I've tried Classic Avent, Natural Avent, playtex disposables and NUK. My husband usually tries and i sit in another room. The only semi-success we have had is when he dozed off and drank about 1oz.
My lovely hubby has bought me a 4 night break to Athens and booked it for the end of April. My son will then be 28 weeks and my totally capable hubby will be looking after the kids!
Any advice will be greatly appreciated. I'm so scared he still won't be taking a bottle when i'm due to go.
ZuleikaD
Wed 02-Jan-13 15:28:30
He probably still won't by then, if he hasn't by now, but by 28 weeks he'll be on solids and sitting up, so will be able to take milk from a sippy cup - it won't matter quite so much. Four days away with no bfs will be pretty uncomfortable for you though. Nice though it was of your DH it was a bit reckless to book you four days away before you knew if the baby would take a bottle!
Tillyamy
Wed 02-Jan-13 15:34:21
I know, my poor boobies will be killing me! I'm going with my best friend tho so i'll be able to pump while i'm away.
Bless DH, he loves surprising me! he is a reckless kind of guy but that's why i love him 
Tillyamy
Wed 02-Jan-13 15:35:31
i think i'll start him on solids a couple of weeks earlier and try and introduce a cup perhaps.
Tillyamy
Wed 02-Jan-13 15:36:59
i don't think i'd be so worried if i wasn't going to be away from him for so long.
nickelbabylyinginamanger
Wed 02-Jan-13 15:39:29
at 28 weeks, he will most likely be using a sippy cup.
DD never took a bottle and when I'm at dance, he gives her milk in a sippy cup.
she does use a bottle now, but for water and she holds it herself.
nickelbabylyinginamanger
Wed 02-Jan-13 15:40:03
and you will probably want to start expressing now! 
Tillyamy
Wed 02-Jan-13 15:59:48
you'd think i'd remember all of this from the first time!
Hopefully the cup will be established by the time i go.... well it'll have to be unless something significantly changes with the bottle situation!
how long does breastmilk last for in the freezer then? i thought it was only 3 months? I always manage to get quite a lot when i express - 6 to 8 oz so i should be able to freeze enough to keep him going while i'm away
nickelbabylyinginamanger
Wed 02-Jan-13 17:22:32
i think 3-4 months, yes.
but it's good to practice. If you keep a good rotating supply going in the freezer, then you can keep "popping out" and getting your DH to try the sippy cup/bottle with him.
I know 12 weeks is a bit early for a sippy cup, but keep getting him to offer the bottle - not when he's upset or really hungry though.
If your DH cuddles him in a nice way and makes it all lovely and snuggly, and you're definitely not in the house panicking 
, after a while he might start to take it.
especially if it's a bit warm, too.
just have to keep it relaxed - make sure he knows not to force the bottle, but to keep calm and just offer.
I don't know if this will work - as I say, DD wouldn't take a bottle. I'm more hypothesising!
Tillyamy
Sat 16-Mar-13 23:39:44
I think we've finally cracked it! DS is now 5 mnths old and for the last 5 mornings he has taken between 2 and 5 oz from a bottle.... Woo hoo! The NUK glass bottle with the latex teat was what finally worked. He still has. A little moan about it but usually ends up drinking more if he falls asleep. perseverance has paid off and I got a well earned night out yesterday
Also started solids twice a day and a sippy cup - loves his food and getting variable results with the cup.
