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Infant feeding

7.5 month old bottle refuser, any advice?

7 replies

Neiffer · 20/02/2014 19:55

Hi
I've read lots of Internet forums of people with the same problem, but I'm wondering if anyone can help with my particular situation!
Ds2 is 7.5 month old and exclusively breast fed. I really, really want to stop Breastfeeding. He's an awful sleeper, totally unroutined when it comes to feeds day or night, and Breastfeeding is generally making me feel quite resentful towards him (which is hideous I know, and the main reason I want to stop). He will not take a bottle of ebm or formula. He chews the teat and that's it. Have tried various bottles and cups, neither of which means he gets any quantity of milk in. Weaning is going ok, we were doing blw but have recently switched to spoon in the hope he might start to breast feed less, hasn't worked so far.
Is there anything I can do? If he won't take a bottle, is there any other way round so I can stop Breastfeeding him? Should be be in a routine with feeds now? He eats roughly every 2.5 hours depending. He won't drink water from a cup either. Ay advice would be much appreciated. Im desperate and quite sad :(

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teasleromani123 · 20/02/2014 20:08

I had this trouble with my son.. the only bottle he would take is a NUK (Flat sided teat,) quite expensive but he would take to them.... and the other way I got him used to the bottle was by giving he a dummy :/ I know not a lot of people don't like giving babies a dummy, but it worked for my son.. and my son was in a routine by 3 months :) I loved it he would only wake up once :)
chin up,
your baby will take anything when their hungry :) x
HTH x

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MrsLoada · 20/02/2014 20:22

Try a sippy type cup or you can get some teats shaped like spouts which you put on the bottle. my son at about 7 months took his big sisters drink ( was in a sippy cup) and from that moment would not have a bottle.

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Orchardbeck · 20/02/2014 20:54

Mam bottles/teats were what worked for us as they are flat so you can slip them in to their mouths more easily. Perseverance too, I tried 2 or three times each day for weeks until she became consistent. Had to introduce a dummy too - Mam again. Now have switched to Avent as I prefer them but she'll take any type now. Wouldn't take breast milk in a bottle either, only formula.

I feel your pain, the above was my life's obsession for three months, so stressful! Worth it now though, she's in a perfect routine.

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Cakeismymaster · 21/02/2014 18:49

I've got a bottle refuser but a month or so before you..the cup we have had success with is this
m.boots.com/mt/www.boots.com/en/NUK-First-Choice-Mickey-and-Minnie-Learner-Bottle-in-Red-Silicone-Non-Spill-Spout_1219907/#un_jtt_addtohome_hidden
I gave it to her with water initially and at first she just chewed but then rapidly got the hang of it - maybe the handles help? - and tries hard to drink from it. So I tried some milk in it next time and same success.
I feel your pain though as all the trial and error is expensive!

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HighlanderMam · 21/02/2014 20:32

You might find some of the tips in this article helpful.

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rosiedays · 21/02/2014 21:01

I have a 7 month old ebf bottle refuesr or i did :) i gave her an ella kitchen fruit smoothy pouch to suck on (just didn't attach spoon and held it at her lips) and she sucked . Took her a few goes to work out what she was doing but she got there .. then gave her a nuby cup of water and she did the same. She's not taken a feed from it though, just sips throughout the day. .. WWorth a try