Tell me all your tricks for getting bf baby to take a bottle

[Ameybee]

I know this has been done to death but just tell me what random things worked for you. 12 week old ebf sliding down the centiles over last 5 weeks, need to top up with formula but no joy so far -what worked for you?? XThanks

Try feeding baby with a small cup.

Ds (4 weeks) will only take a bottle if I'm not in the room. Mind you, we've only tried it twice (with ebm) so I'm not sure how helpful my advice is

Is there anything you can do to help your supply? Might be easier than bottles as well as cheaper and better for your self-esteem. The more they breast feed, the more milk you produce afaik, but you need to keep well fed and hydrated

What do you mean 'sliding down the centiles'?

Lots of babies have an 'adjustment' or 'catch down' a few weeks after birth, IE DD1 was born at the 50th Centile, dropped down to 2nd and has stayed that way ever since! (She's 10 now!) DS4 went up and down like a yoyo, but now is a constant fatty centile! He was a good 2 cm UNDER the 0.2nd centile for quite a while, HV went a bit crazy, GP checked him over and said that as he's putting on weight, (albeit slowly) and weeing, pooing, and alert, he would catch up.

Is your baby otherwise fine?

TBH, the LAST thing I would do is put on formula. There is so much more to look at before then. Can you post with more info? Feeding patten, sleeping pattern, weeing etc..?

And to answer your actual question , I agree with alwayspregnant Baby cups worked for me.

Oh, and DD1 was a bottle fed baby, just to confuse things more!

DS was older than your baby but for us it was not holding him. So propped up on cushions or nestled between legs was fine but in our arms was a massive no no for him.

Very odd.
Good luck.

He's gone from 50th to 25th 3 weeks later and another 2 weeks is now between 9th and 25th. I also have 3 year old DD so expressing time is limited.
There is no consistent pattern at mo but generally he goes down between 8-930 and goes 3-4 hours between feeds. In day goes 2-4 hours but naps are total nightmare, won't sleep unless in buggy or on me.
I'm desperate for a bit of one to one time with DD and some uninterrupted sleep so formula may be easier for us. X

Oh and plenty of wet and dirty nappies x

Oh, to add to what stretch said - ds was 9th at 1 week old, 0.4 at 3 weeks having only gone from 6lb3 (back up to birth weight) to 6lb7oz. Cue lecture from hv, me in tears thinking i was killing/starving my precious baby ah, the joy of sleep deprivation That afternoon i went to bf group and the specialist mw said it's all a load of bollocks for ebf babies - if they're alert and producing regular wet and dirty nappies, they're fine.

So, depending on your circumstances, you might find that the problem is the hv's expectations and not your baby's weight. You're under no obligation to have him/her weighed, might be better going to a local bf support group so your still being monitored by professionals but not under pressure to follow some arbitrary government-defined average...

(he put on 8oz this last week and is now on the 2nd)

www.calinbleu.com/navy-navy-microfleece-wrap/

I remember choosing the time for a first ever bottle to be when they were very hungry, then holding them close, as usual for a feed, wrapping in a blanket, chatting softly and just slipping the bottle in

easier said than done, but they just took it

i sort of made little sucking noises and calming noises and this helped, along with the warmth of the blanket, the holding position cradled in my arms etc

i was relaxed also, which they picked up on, so they knew it was feeding time, the position was similar as bf, and they just took the teat of the bottle

good luck xx

The change in centiles doesn't (in my experience) sound too worrying as long as there is some regular weight gain.

Having a baby with a small child is a nightmare isn't it! I understand the feeling of wanting some time (to sleep and to myself), however there is no guarantee that switching to formula will mean baby will sleep more, or gain weight quicker. You may end up with a baby who sleeps just as little, but you also have to get up to make bottles instead of just latching on!

3-4 hours at night and 2 hours in the day sounds about right.

Upping your milk supply may help. You could try 'babymooning' (urgh, hate that word). Have your DD looked after, stay on the couch and feed (the baby) all day! PLenty of books/snacks/tv/someone on hand to fetch and carry.
I would also try to see a BF counsellor to check your latch. This could mean baby is not getting enough milk.

i can only say good luck as we tried and tried and tried to get DD to take a bottle but she hit the 3 month mark and point blank refused to have one, despite her having taken them previously.

we got loads of advice but the thing that showed the most promise and worked for a short time were these...

www.amazon.co.uk/The-First-Years-Y4561-Breastflow/dp/B001QVG9YS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1355927288&sr=8-3

you can get them in 9oz as well :)

Thanks for all the replies, will keep trying & might get the breastflow bottles. I kind of feel like its the right time for us as a family to gradually make the switch to formula. DH really wants to help out. Our DD became very unsettled at 6 weeks and we made the switch at 8 weeks and it was like magic (I'm under no illusions that it might not be the same this time).

He will chew on the bottle and take a bit of milk if he's not starving without freaking out but if he wants to be fed its a different story. Guess it will be trial and error. X

You could try sandwiching the bottle feed (or cup) with breast, it will take off the hunger pangs and he may take some bottle. Then gradually give more.

Whatever you decide (or he decides!) good luck xx