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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Is this stupid or worth a try??

27 replies

Pastabee · 02/04/2012 17:02

DD is 4.5 months and an inconsistent bottle refuser in so much as she will sometimes take one if the mood takes her.

I've been wondering today whether I could try baby rice made with breastmilk to thicken the milk so DH can try spoon feeding her the milk? I don't want to do this as a way of beginning weaning but just as an alternative way of feeding her milk given she makes such a fuss with a bottle.

Not sure if this is a totally stupid idea though? Have exhausted ideas on getting her to take bottle and she will only have small sips from a cup.

OP posts:

MrsHende · 02/04/2012 17:06

I'm in a similar position so interested to read what advice you get!

My mum suggested using a spoon to feed DD, but just with ordinary milk.

I heard today about a dodi (sp?) cup, have you tried one of those?

lagoonhaze · 02/04/2012 17:07

Im planning on doing this with my 5 month old when I go into hospital. I don't think she will get a full feed from it but it will be enough to satisfy hunger until I'm able to feed her.

EauRouge · 02/04/2012 17:10

I understand your frustration but not sure how you think it will help. Introducing solids early should only really be done on the advice of a paediatrician.

You say you don't want to do this as a way of beginning weaning but it is still introducing solids, even though you would be doing it for other reasons.

Have you tried any of these tips? Have you noticed any pattern to her taking a bottle?

Indith · 02/04/2012 17:13

well you say it isn't a way to start weaning but giving anything other than milk (except medicone) is weaning. Giving baby rice is weaning. Full stop. So it depends how you feel about that.

Why does she have to take a bottle. I have had bottle refusers too but when it came to it and I had to leave dd for a day she did take enough to survive. I always stressed about it, I had a couple of american friends who with their first had lived in the states so had short maternity etc and were used to expressing and bottles and they were far more relaxed and didn't fanny around trying to get baby used to bottles, they just pumped milk and left dad/inlaws/babysitter to it and you know they never ahd any problems. I think there is something in that!

Original poster

Pastabee · 02/04/2012 17:54

Thank you for your replies.

mrsH I've tried a Doidy and she will have a tiny bit and then won't take any more.

eaurouge thank you for the link. I have tried so many things and had helpful advice on here but she just picks and chooses when she will take a bottle seemingly without a pattern which makes me nervous about leaving her.

I didn't know that early weaning should only be done on the advice of a paediatrician so on that basis I won't do it.

indith I see what you mean that weaning is weaning. I hadn't thought of it like that. My ideal would be for her to take a bottle from me too but I don't think she will ever do this..... I feed with shields which aren't discrete, she gets distracted, sometimes cries at the breast and pulls off any cover I use plus I am pretty much the only person I know who breastfeeds now. I think it's plain jealousy that friends get breaks from their babies and seemingly take them anywhere with bottles!

Had a real low moment Saturday feeding her in the back of the car missing a wedding breakfast and speeches which I think has upset me more than I realised at the time and set me thinking about spoon feeding her rice and milk.

I think I just need to accept she is the way she is really!

OP posts:

PeelingmyselfofftheCeiling · 02/04/2012 17:57

I feel your pain about trying to feed in public with shields. In the end I gave up caring most of the time and used a massive great mussie at others. Would a breastfeeding apron make your life easier so you could feed in public?

Original poster

Pastabee · 02/04/2012 18:18

It's a pain isn't it peeling. I feel disingenuous saying that because the shields have allowed me to breastfeed her but they aren't ideal.

I have an apron I haven't used for a while. I will get it out again and give it another go. DD is very wriggly now and strangely I felt a lot more confident when friends all breastfed too.

OP posts:

EauRouge · 02/04/2012 18:29

Pastabee, that's sad that you missed out on the wedding breakfast, no wonder you are feeling a bit pissed off! Have you spoken to a BF counsellor about maybe weaning your DD off the nipple shields? They might also be able to suggest a few ideas for getting your DD to take a bottle.

Try one of the helplines, I'm sure you'd be able to chat through everything with someone-

NCT : 0300 330 0771 (7 days a week, 8am-10pm)
The Breastfeeding Network: 0300 100 0210 (9.30am-9.30pm every day)
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: 08444 122949 (9.30am-10.30pm)
La Leche League Great Britain: 0845 120 2918
Government helpline manned by The Breastfeeding Network and Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: 0300 100 0212

If you don't know anyone else that is still BF then you could try going along to a breastfeeding group like LLL or Baby Cafe.

Indith · 02/04/2012 18:51

It is so hard when bf doesn't go according to plan. I'd take a few deep breaths and do as peeling did, just feed in public and stuff those who think you are showing too much flesh .

If you can get some RL advice and wean her off the shield then great but if not it doesn't matter, you are doing a fantastic job feeding :) It won't be all that long until you can intriduce solids and start to get a bit longer between feeds. Once they are eating reasonable amounts you can pretty easily buggar off for a few hours even over normal feed times.

FWIW my dd was horrible to feed, just screamed, I could only feed in bed so all trips out were around her feeding which was a shock after the ease of feeding her brother so I do sympathise. It gets easier.

Original poster

Pastabee · 02/04/2012 20:18

I think I will have another go at getting her off the shields. I had help from an NHS maternity support worker and a private lactation consultant when DD was brand new and we couldn't do it but I haven't really tried since then.

It is so hard at times and then other times I absolutely love feeding her and feel good that we've carried on despite the problems we've had.

OP posts:

RedKites · 02/04/2012 20:49

If you're wanting to get off the shields, the helPlines are a good idea. There's also a page on Kellymom with lots of suggestions- if you haven't seen it, say, and I'll find it. Although in my case, I just tried without one day, and he fed fine. We did still end up using them occasionally for the next few weeks but it really was as simple as that. DS must have been a similar age to your DD so I hope it happens as sim

RedKites · 02/04/2012 20:50

Simply for you!
(sorry posted too soon...)

Eglu · 02/04/2012 21:00

Could your dh try a syringe if she won't take a cup/bottle. He can just squeeze tiny amounts into her mouth at a time. Probably better than a spoon.

RosieK12 · 14/04/2012 18:05

Hi, I am a maternity nurse as well as a mother and have developed a way to put a baby onto a bottle (usually within 48h), I am not advertising just letting you know my background. If you would like me to give you some tips (from one mother to another) then please message me and I will send you my number. The only reason I am not writing my method down for you is because it is easier to explain verbally.

OlivesTree · 15/04/2012 21:13

Pasta I am going through the same thing with my 6 month old DD who refuses to take a bottle and am also frustrated. I went to a wedding on Friday and had to drive home half way through (fortunately only 15 mins away) to feed her and missed out on lovely champagne and canapes and then had to go home early too. I was feeling quite put out about it until I gave myself a talking to, reminding myself that she would only need me in this way for a few more months and that I should be enjoying what will be such a short but precious time. There will be lots more weddings.
And ok yes, it is more convenient for those who can leave their babies with bottles, but they also have to sterilise them, warm them in the cold kitchen in the middle of the night, buy the formula, pack bottles every time they leave the house and miss out on those lovely quiet & cuddly late night feeds that are reserved for you and your baby and nobody else in the world.
Good luck with getting off the shields and well done for coming this far with them.

OlivesTree · 15/04/2012 21:16

Rosie I would also be really interested in hearing your method, and I know from reading everyone else's posts that there are lots more like me and Pasta. Are you sure you can't write down your method for the rest of us poor EBFers deprived of a social life? (Cue violins)

Original poster

Pastabee · 15/04/2012 21:49

After writing this post I did manage to wean her olive and it's helped me get my BF mojo back. Feeds have gone from 30 mins minimum to 10 mins and it's easier in public as she can latch herself on now!

It was getting really hard as bottle refusal was combined with spending 3 hours a day feeding. This past week has been much more flexible in terms of planning our day without shields slowing everything down!

Rosie i agree with olive. There are loads of us who have bottle refusers. I'm actually really lucky as I'm not back to work until she is 1 so not under any pressure at the moment unlike some ladies on here. Any advice you have would be gratefully received.

OP posts:

Original poster

Pastabee · 15/04/2012 21:50

Wean her from the shields that is.... Confusing given original subject of thread was about baby rice!

OP posts:

mamamac101 · 15/04/2012 22:03

Rosie I'd be really interested in hearing how to get my dd to take the bottle too. I had a stressed out dh phone me to come home because my ds wouldn't take any of the expressed breast milk i'd left :( Poor dh sulked the rest of night

OlivesTree · 16/04/2012 13:09

Yay! Congrats Pasta. Well done. My poor friend never managed to get off them and had to give up bf at 3 months. Her DS is now 10 months and it still gets her down sometimes.
Now all we need is Rosie to give up her secrets. :)

Monkeymonstermum · 18/04/2012 10:28

Eaurouge: Where is the statement that early weaning (ie before 6 months) should be paediatrician led? I should think our NHS paediatricians have better things to do than state whether or not babies should start solids! This leaflet below is NHS and states early weaning can lead to vomiting and diarrhoea but gives advice on foods to avoid if you do decide to wean before 6 months.
Incidentally I don't think one of my friends has waited until 6 months and none have been admitted with D&V! If that statement was based on WHO advice (and I have not looked at the evidence so this is just a wonder on my part) it would make me wonder if it's sources of clean water to prepare/cook food and clean utensils that was the cause of D&V as WHO do most of their work in low resource, developing countries. Also, interestingly even re the food the leaflet the says to avoid due to risk of allergies, they are recruiting for a study at the moment in London where they are introducing even those foods early as they think the increase in allergies may be due to later weaning. nB I'm NOT saying they are safe, just that it will be interesting to see the study results done in a uk population.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding/1441713-Is-this-stupid-or-worth-a-try

Monkeymonstermum · 18/04/2012 10:31

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/solid-foods-weaning.aspx

Oops, wrong link posted above!! Try this one.

RosieK12 · 26/04/2012 13:23

Hi, as I said before it is easier to explain my method over the phone than to wright it down, if anyone is interested then inbox me your number and I can call you back :)

returnvisit · 26/04/2012 23:16

Rosie can u pls outline your method in a post as I'm sure a lot of mums are very interested in your method. I for one am struggling a lot with getting dc to take a bottle.
TIA

allthegoodnamesweretaken · 28/04/2012 11:23

Have you tried breastflow bottles?

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