10 week, bf baby suddenly refusing bottle. Help!!

[LittleMissSnowShine]

My DS is 10 weeks and has been bf since birth. When he was 4 days old, my milk hadn't come through and after an 8 hour cluster feed with him screaming blue murder because he wasn't getting enough I finally gave him some formula from a bottle (and then came on MN at 4am and agonised about whether I'd done the right thing lol)

Anyway, despite several thrush outbreaks (ouch) breastfeeding has gone really well over the last 10 weeks but almost everyday DS has also had a bottle, either of formula or ebm, and he's always taken it without any problems at all.

About 4 days ago he started to get a bit fussy about taking the bottle for my DH, kind of screaming and shaking his head but eventually changing his mind and taking it ok. This has continued over the past few days and finally last night he just completely refused the bottle altogether until I gave him and breastfed him, after which he went down to sleep.

Now, I know there's plenty of people out there who don't agree with giving a breastfed baby bottles at all, but the fact is DS has always happily taken bottles from 4 days old to 10 weeks and he's just suddenly started refusing them in last few days. This is a real nightmare for me because I do some freelance work and I'm having to start again later this week and now I'm really worried about leaving DS with my MiL if he won't take a bottle for her.

Any ideas on what could be causing this? And how I can get him to take the bottle again? Your suggestions/advice very much appreciated!

[dinkystinky]

DS1 was the same. At around 9 weeks, he just decided that he preferred getting milk straight from me and refused the bottle entirely. I spent MONTHS of bottle battle with him and we were both miserable as a result - he would miss feeds until the next breast feed - so I gave up, went back to just bfing and only did bottle battle (which lasted all of 8 hours, me disappearing and DH offering him the bottle when he was hungry, making sure was v warm) when we absolutely had to before I was going back to work.

So, if you have to get your DS to take a bottle, I'm guessing he will do from MIL if he's with her and hungry enough and he knows you're definitely not around. She should get the milk really warm (use ebm if possible) and wrap a worn top of yours over her shoulder and cuddle him in and hopefully all will be fine.

[Guacamole]

I don't know why this happens but it's extremely common, my DS refused at 9 weeks and I've been trying and trying (you name it we tried it) but he's now 7 months and we gave up. We arena trying cups!

[LittleMissSnowShine]

oh no, this is what I was afraid of - that this is a known phenomena and there's no easy solution!!

I do think he will take the bottle if he's hungry enough and calm enough not to just scream at it. But it's so stressful seeing your baby scream til they're blue in the face over something like this, especially since DS is usually such a cheerful, non-crying kind of baby too. Sigh!

[dinkystinky]

If he knows you're around, he'll just want you! If he knows you're not around, he will eventually give into the hunger and take the bottle. You know he can take a battle so honestly, there's no real point going through bottle battle if you dont have to. It will be fine. Both my DSs went on bottle strike but took it eventually again when I went back to work and they saw they didnt have the boob option while I wasnt there...

[Guacamole]

Definitely persevere... And make sure you don't offer the breast immediately if you do give in, leave at least 10mins.

[LittleMissSnowShine]

Thanks for the tips ladies! It's so hard to wait out 10 minutes of screeching when you know how to make them be quiet straight away. Went out and bought some new teats today, I've been using the Tommee Tippee closer to nature bottles since the start but I'm wondering if he's ready for a faster flow teat now he's 10 weeks. Anyway, I've got them in the steriliser now so I can but try!!

Will update tomorrow and see how he goes :)

[LittleMissSnowShine]

Back sooner than I thought! After a battle of wills and a lot of screaming he finally took the bottle after about 15 minutes and drained it. Glad I didn't give in sooner! I held him sitting on my knee, leaning back against me but facing away so he wasn't rooting around for the boob and I also think the faster flow teat helped because once he eventually gave in and started sucking the milk came quickly enough to keep him happy and now he's chilled out and gone over to sleep so I can get a bit of prep for work done.

I do think it's prob going to be a bit of a battle to get him to take the bottle for the next wee while but I think you're right, he will take it if he's hungry and hopefully he'll get used to it, especially since I only want to breastfeed for another 6 weeks or so because then I really will be having to think about going back to work...

Thanks again for your suggestions and reassurance!!

[Guacamole]

You really need to keep it up... seriously try every day. I am soooooooo regretting that I gave in too easily with my DS, I'm pretty sure (as is my HV) that he'll never take a bottle now. I will persevere on sippy cups!

[mollycuddles]

Both my dds wouldn't take a bottle if I'm in the house but happily do so when I'm out.