Seriously now, what are my options here...

10 replies

snowchick1977 · 21/03/2013 17:21

I am pretty desperate for help. My daughter is 24 weeks old and ebf. I return to full time work in 3 weeks time. She will be going to nursery.

I have been trying to get her to take a bottle for the past 5 weeks. I have tried lots of brands, ive tried expressed milk, ive tried formula. My husband has tried giving her the bottle but no joy...she gets upset and we just give up after about 10 minutes because I dont like to see her upset.

Ive tried cups too and to be honest the nursery have said they will not entertain cup feeding a 6 month old baby. Ive tried also first cups but no jony.

What are my options now? Has anyone else found this so hard.

It is stressing me out big time now.

Thanks for any help in advance x

OP posts:

McBaby · 21/03/2013 18:40

Doidy cup is the only thing I have successfully given my LO. Can't see how it would be more work for the nursery than having to struggle to get a baby to take a bottle! Esp if you are teaching from now and give water/milk in it at other times she should become proficient quite quickly.

McBaby · 21/03/2013 18:43

And offer it before every feed with a small amount of milk. My LO kept refusing and one day drank 3oz no fuss. I didn't even have chance to warm it as she was asking for more and I only out 1/2oz in each time so I didn't spill it!

StuntNun · 21/03/2013 18:55

My DS2 was the same. I breastfed him immediately before and after nursery and in the evening / at night. Then it didn't matter so much that he wasn't taking much milk from the sippy cup. Can she fill up on solids during the day?

JiltedJohnsJulie · 21/03/2013 20:13

I'd be more concerned about he nursery's attitude. Surely the have had bottle refusers before?

char1eston · 21/03/2013 20:13

Dd was the same. It took us ages for her to take a bottle and I think she eventually started taking a little when dp held her and walked around looking at things. Looking out the window etc. maybe she just forgot what was going on! May be worth a try, otherwise the feed pre and post nursery would work (and get nursery to give her cheese and yogurt to up the calcium intake).

Original poster

snowchick1977 · 21/03/2013 20:29

My plan was to stop breastfeeding totally when I returned to work. I'll be doing 10-12 hour shifts so it's not really possible for me to carry on.

I guess I'll just keep trying in the hope she finally gets it and then see what the nursery says

OP posts:

JiltedJohnsJulie · 21/03/2013 20:33

smow have you spoken to a BFC about wanting to stop and bottle refusal?

Original poster

snowchick1977 · 22/03/2013 13:24

No I havent spoken to anyone about it. I was hoping to drop feeds as she took more of the bottle, as I did with my son but it isnt quite working out

OP posts:

SquashedPea · 22/03/2013 21:06

Nothing helpful to add but I am watching with interest as I'm in the same situation

teacher123 · 23/03/2013 08:08

DS (now 11mo) took bottles beautifully when a tiny baby and then never did again!! I started him on a tommee tippee sippy cup at 6mo and persevered. He wouldn't drink from it for ages unless I wasn't holding him-so I used to give it to him in his car seat watching ceebeebies or in his pushchair. Now he'll drink it in my arms quite happily. I transferred all daytime feeds to a cup by 7mo, but carried on morning and evening bf until 9 1/2 months. Nursery sound v unsupportive tbh. I would push the cups-you'll only have to wean him off the bottles later! (That's the way I justified it to myself whilst sobbing in frustration and tipping gallons of formula down the sink...!) good luck

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