Breastfed baby won't take milk any other way

[PuddingBrain]

Help! My DS is 8 months old and I'm going back to work in 7 weeks.

DS is breastfed. He feeds well and is a big baby. He drinks juice very well from a sippy cup, and eats solids. He will not however, take milk in any other way than from the breast. We've tried every variation - Expressed milk in a bottle/cup, various types of formula, many different bottles and cups, warm, room temperature... None of it works. He simply will not entertain the idea and won't drink more than a few mls.

He'll take solids with milk in (weetabix/porridge, etc) and will eat almost anything (including cheese, etc). He just will not drink milk!

I work shifts that vary day to day (ranging from 6am until midnight, and occasional night shifts) and breastfeeding when I go back to work is simply not do-able.

How on earth do I get milk into him??

Is it just you who has tried to give him milk from a cup? It might be easier when you are not there with your boobs! He will of course prefer them.

Sorry - Should of said that DH has tried him when I'm not there, too. Still not interested

I'm inclined to say persevere with a bottle or a cup, and when he adapts to his new routine without you he should settle down. Do you intend to combine breast and bottle now or just switch to bottle?

With my DD I did breast and bottle, and she very quickly settled into that routine, but others find it easier just to stop so that the baby doesn't get confused.

Also have you tried the medula bottles? DD took to those well, the shape of the teat is designed to require the same mouth position as the breast.

Hi Oreacrumbs. I would probably have to switch to bottle completely. My shifs are so erratic I think it would make it difficult to breastfeed.

If I'm on a night shift, for example, I could feed him before I went but then DH would have to drop him at the childminders before I got back, so it would be about 20 hours without a feed. I can imagine this would make supply difficult.

What options do I have if he doens't settle into it? I don't know how I'd feel leaving him at the childminders all day knowing that he's unlikely to take milk all day

I'm not by any means an expert and I only have one child, but IME when he is in a different situation, with other children having other things he will probably have milk. You might have to forego bottles and move onto some type of cup - a different one to the one he has water in. I know I was given that tip, say he has water in a sippy cup, he could have milk in one of those nuk type rubber spouted ones, then as soon as its in his mouth he will know he is getting milk and not water.

When you are at home with him and he wants to feed from you, try wearing one of your DH's dirty t shirts, his smell will cover over your milky smell, I know another mother who tried this and it seemed to help.

Do you already have the child minder arranged? I think you should talk to her about your concearns and about how she thinks it best to handle, I imagine that she will have come across this situation before, and will be able to re assure you and make suggestions that have worked with other mothers.

I always warmed DD's milk up to body temp as thats what she was used to.

Some babies make the switch quite easily, others will make you suffer but all get there in the end.

Have you spoken to your HV as she will have some tips as well.

Mainly though I think you need to reassure yourself that he will take milk in the end. When you decide to make the switch then do it, if he fusses for your breast distract him, keep offering him the bottle/cup whatever you decide on and he will get there in the end.