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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

First attempt at ebm bottle feeding...disaster!

19 replies

IHeartOldYork · 03/03/2012 21:01

I feel terrible. My poor DS was so upset. We tried to give him a bottle of ebm at his bedtime feed (our first mistake!) He refused the bottle from my DH and then from me. We gave up in the end and I breast fed him.

This was all in aid of hoping to go out for a meal in 4 weeks time. I have looked at advice on various websites and the consensus seems to be to try on a feed earlier in the day rather than the important night time-settling feed.

A bit of history: My DS is 5.5 months old and exclusively BF'd apart from his first feed after birth ( in special care unit. I was not present after EMCS) and a few 'top-up' feeds over the next fee days. He also had two or three bottles of EBM up to the age of 2 months.

Does anyone have any tried and tested tips or any advice please? It was awful seeing him so upset and I feel very guilty. I don't want to go out loads. I just would like to be able to go out for a meal once in a very rare while and know that he is happy and fed while I am away.

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PotteringAlong · 03/03/2012 21:03

Were you there when DH tried? My DS will happily wolf it down if I'm not there but v unimpressed if I am!

Original poster
IHeartOldYork · 03/03/2012 21:10

Thanks for your reply. I was there but then I left as he was looking at me and getting more upset. We'll try with me well out if the way next time! Was thinking of trying an oz or two just before a nap, not on an actual feed.

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MigGril · 03/03/2012 21:14

I had two bottle refusers so not much help. But can you try possibly going out after baby has had his bedtime feed? This was the only way we could do it. Means eating a little latter but at lest we got some quit time not worrying about baby to much.

PotteringAlong · 03/03/2012 21:15

I just went and had a bath the first time we tried with DS and built it up to someone who wasn't DH feeding him.

It might be worth trying different teats on the bottles too - maybe the milk is too fast / slow for him?

kd73 · 03/03/2012 21:27

My DS 2 never took to a bottle so I have limited no words to assist you but I started going out socially from him being about 3m old. Always went out after he went to bed at 7pm having got ready beforehand. I never went very far and tried to come home by around 10.30pm to offer another feed before I retired to bed. It is easier once you start weaning. I got called home once.

If you wish to keep trying bottles, as the other poster said try different bottles and teats and stay out of the way, while you are around you will be preferred and while you will want to be closeby, you are making it harder on everyone.

And finally remember baby steps... it will take some time for things to get established.

Coldcuppacoffee · 03/03/2012 21:29

Agree that the further away you are, the easier it seems to be.

Don't give in and give him boob too quickly as he's old enough to think if he cries for long enough you will give in.

Is he ebf on demand? My son was and when he went on hunger strike at his childminders, he would make it up later. If you have the confidence, just let him take what he does and feed him when you get home. It will all sort itself out and he'll know to take a bottle when he's hungry.

Original poster
IHeartOldYork · 03/03/2012 21:36

MigGril I have thought about that but we bath at 7 and then he is normally settled by 8 but doesn't always sleep for long enough for me to go out. He sometimes wakes 2-3 hours after settling and can often be resettled without a feed but occasionally he wants a feed then.

It will definitely be an option when he sleeps through for longer.

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Original poster
IHeartOldYork · 03/03/2012 21:37

Pottering and kd73, I will try some different teats. Thanks for the tip.

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Spagbolagain · 03/03/2012 21:38

If you want to try different bottles, the only one DS would take at all was a Nuk one. I have since heard from several other people that Nuk is the only one their babies would take too. Might be worth a go.

Original poster
IHeartOldYork · 03/03/2012 21:42

coldcuppacoffee, thanks for the advice. I will make sure I am well out of eight next time!

I do lack confidence as my DS has a heart condition so I get very anxious when he is worked up. I couldn't leave him and just feed him on my return and hope he learned to take the bottle that way. We're starting solids in 2 weeks so that might help fill him during the day I suppose.

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Original poster
IHeartOldYork · 03/03/2012 21:43

Eight = the way! iPhone "correction"!

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Original poster
IHeartOldYork · 03/03/2012 21:46

Spagbolagain thanks for the recommendation. Will have a look for one.

And thanks everyone for all your advice. I feel like I have a few things to try out and consider for next time.

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BoffinMum · 03/03/2012 21:50

Try him once a day, every day, so he gets really familiar with its arrival near his mouth.

TruthSweet · 03/03/2012 21:52

What about a cup/beaker? At 5m he could easily skip the bottle stage altogether and have any additional feeds from a cup or beaker.

He might be objecting to the 'recreation' of the bfing experience (which he knows and is familiar with) with something that he doesn't know and isn't familiar with. If you tried something that definitely not bfing-a-like he may be keener to take it.

Worth a shot anyway!

voyageofdiscovery · 03/03/2012 22:06

You could try when DS is sleepy - less resistance! Start by smearing a little over his lips

SconesForTea · 03/03/2012 22:19

I cracked it with my bottle-reluctant DD2 by switching mid-feed from breast to bottle. Once she'd got the hang of that, I gave her a bottle, then DH did, now she will take one from my mum or Sis. Going out for an evening is another story though Sad

crochetcircle · 03/03/2012 22:38

There is good advice on Kellymom.com about introducing a bottle to a breastfed baby. The techniques are very gentle - have a look there. I would expect it to take more than one attempt, so it's good that you have left plenty of time. Don't be too disheartened! I think what worked for us first time was alternating feeds - one from
Bottle, one from boob etc until she got it. I used fresh BM as well, seemed to help in the early days. She was only 8 weeks ish then though, and did subsequently refuse again about 4 weeks later!

Good luck.

TerrorNova · 04/03/2012 03:24

Mine was a bottle refuser from 4mo. No amount of coercing can get her to take a bottle. (Not until 7mo when she self feeds with a bottle. She can also use a cup by this time but can drink more from a bottle). But she has her bath at 6pm and usually sleeps till after midnight before wanting a feed.

The only bottle she will take is the NUK latex teats.

Don't despair. Once weaning is established, they can be offered other snacks. Mine has no bf all day while I am at work from 9mo for example.

The situation will solve itself one way or another.

Original poster
IHeartOldYork · 04/03/2012 20:06

Thanks for the advice everyone. Fingers crossed for our next attempt! Will be leaving it a few days now though!

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