Breast to bottle

[Lulmagenta]

I have a 15 week old baby who is exclusively breastfed and refuses a bottle. We have been trying to get him to take one bottle feed in the evening (from dad) since he was 8 weeks old. He either gets really upset or just plays with the teat. We've tried various bottles/teats, me leaving the room/house etc but we're not getting anywhere. I'm beginning to feel pretty trapped by it especially since he is often awake and feeding most evenings until late. My HV is try pro breastfeeding and hasn't offered much advice. I'm now tempted to get help...who would I approach a lactation specialist? A nursery nurse? I'm in St Albans. Really appreciate any advice.

[Liskee]

Just recently I got 20 week old DS to take a bottle after WEEKS of trying. I read loads on the internet and finally found the following tips had success;

Use expressed milk and heat it up to make it very warm
Use a teat that has roughly the same shape as your nipple after feeding (for me it was Dr Browns-long & rounded)
Use a size 2 teat as it is a good flow
Try at the same time every day
Feed baby on lap facing away from you
Hold teat to mouth and let baby take it into mouth
Keep calm and breathe throughout.

I found having baby hungry but not screaming house down helped.
DS had to be awake, though there were many posts that said babies were more receptive when asleep.

Good Luck and I hope you hit upon what works soon. Knowing you can leave the house if you need to and bubs will still get fed is a huge relief!!

[Kmxxx14]

No real advice as I am having the same issues. I've tried several bottles and formula and ebm but nothing seems to be working. I feel so awful for her as she gets so worked up. I didn't know it was so common for them to refuse a bottle after being breastfed. I don't mind day to day but I have roots that badly need done and I have a night out planned in two weeks which I'd love to be able to go to.

I struggle as I feel as if I have no choice but to breastfeed where as I want to feel like I'm in control and making the decision to continue to breastfeed her. And I worry about when it will end as she gets lots of comfort out of breastfeeding so if I try to transition her straight to a cup I doubt she will accept that! She refuses a dummy so uses me loads for comfort. Sorry no advice just wanted to say I'm in the same position. I've tried MAM, Nuk, Tommee tipee, latch.

I might try the dr Browns bottles but I feel I'm just wasting money

[SerialReJoiner]

I swapped from breast to bottle and back again when my dd was little, and this article about baby-led bottle feeding was a huge help: nurturedchild.ca/index.php/2010/12/10/baby-led-bottle-feeding/

She was only a few weeks old, though, so maybe that's why she was more flexible in switching back and forth?

[LimesMum]

In the same boat and following! Just posted on another post - I had some success with minbie bottle but she now refuses that too.

I'm at my wits end and have now given her a weeks break - not sure if that will help or make it worse.....