Need son to go on the bottle but he won't drink the formula... what is best?

[becca81]

Hi there, I am in need of your advice. Firstly DS2 is now 5 months and nearly 18lbs. I feel like I have given him my best and would now like to give him the bottle. I tried this morning, but he screws his face up and looks repulsed at the flavour. I am using Cow and Gate No 1 Green Pack. I have tried both ready made and powder.

DS1 was breast fed for a year, although this was more my war with the MIL as she was determined to give him a bottle (over my dead body!) (there is another long story how the one time they did look after DS1 when he was 6 weeks old, he cried and cried. I'd left two bottle made up and she somehow for some crazy reason gave him 11oz of milk! ARGH! this still gets me mad and DS1 is now over 2 yrs..)

What is best to do?

Thanks in advance, Becca. x

hi becca81, we have a similar problem but it's been a battle from very early on. We switched to aptimil which ds takes but only at night 1030 feed. In the day he is too aware of whats going on and refuses. So I'd try a time when he's drowsy and hungry but not starving, get someone else to give it and stay out of sight yourself and then try different teats, we have ended up with nuk. I would only change one thing at a time and keep trying! ( Though I have given up trying in the day and am waiting till 6 months to try a beaker!) HTH

Becca, my dh got ds to take a bottle by wrapping it in a bra I'd worn earlier that day while feeding him. While I was out of the room so ds couldn't see usual source of milk and get outraged that it was being denied. Worked a treat - dh said ds's expression was 'Oh, why on earth didn't you tell me it's milk in there before?!'

HTH

If it's any help, I taste tested all the brands of formula. SMA, C&G, Farleys all tasted foul - a bitter, chemical taste to them. Aptamil and Hipp Organic were sweet and creamy with no horrible aftertaste. There is no way, after doing this, that I would give my baby any of the first three - I couldn't drink them, so I wouldn't expect my baby to. The last two were quite palatable.

You could also try expressing milk & mixing it with formula. ie 1st few days do 1floz formula and 6floz ebm, then do 2floz formula with 5floz ebm and so on until you finally have him on full formula.

HTH

Nice to find someone else with a good size baby

Hi all ,thanks for your help.

Edam: I love the idea of wrapping the bottle in the bra! I remember DS1 actually recongising the sound of the click as I fastened it back up!

RosiePosie: I also taste tested the formula milk this morning and I thought it tasted foul! I got DH to try it too and he looked green at the taste of it!!I will try Hipp Organic and Apatamil... fingers crossed!

banthambabe: I have been somewhat taken for a ride by DS's as they both snack continuously through the day! I will try it when he's sleepy and he hopefully won't notice.

Queen Victoria I like your suggestion, but I have a problem with expressing. If I express (avent hand pump action thingy) I can only get 2oz from one boob, the other leaks away in to the breast pad. However, if I feed babes he can chug away for ages and get enough to feed a baby army. I'm not sure why I'm like this! I will keep this idea in mind though!!

Thanks all for your help... will be down Tesco later buying the formula milk in!

I had the same problem with expressing. However, with a lot of perseverance and trying several times a day I'm now up to 4oz in one go. You could put a breast shell (avent make them) on the other boob while expressing to collect the milk so you can use it. Or while you're still breastfeeding, express from the other side while feeding - can be tricky though!

good luck with the formulas...

Thanks Suzi2. I never thought of any of that. (don't ask why!? I don't seem to think at all anymore.. babybrain!) I'll keep it in mind if I need to express in the future!

Another breastfeeder & NUK fan here. My DD had a bottle of Hipp Organic a day (when at nursery) from 7mths old. She was fine with the NUK latex teats. Never got on with anything silicone, i.e. avent/dr browns

I've read it helps to warm the teat too - don't know if it works though.