How to get almost 6 month old to drink more than 2oz from bottle?

[EmmaLL25]

Wee boy is almost 6 months and bf till now. We tried bottles at about 6 weeks with ebm but he wasn't for it.

Been introducing bottles since 5 months - this time with formula. Aim is to have him take a bottle so I can get the odd couple hours break. Also thinking ahead to being back at work. Hope to keep bf morning/evenings for a while.

Anyway he's learned how to suck the bottle and seems to like the taste. He will enthusiastically take the first ounce or two then refuse any more. We've managed 3-4 oz a couple times. He'll happily go on boob after a couple oz so I don't think he's full. Trying with bottle couple times a day after nap when in theory he's hungry.

We are using 3 month teats just now.

Any suggestions how we can get him to take more? I can't imagine him putting away 7oz which is what he should be a feed for his age/size.

I could ask exactly the same! My daughter is just over 5 months and has now taken 2.5oz ish of breastmilk from a bottle now, but never any more. I don't tend to offer the breast after unless she's clearly hungry so she can see that the bottle is a "feed". She then lasted two hours until she was hungry again, which to be honest is about average for her. Going by her weight and age she should have 6oz in a feed, however, my HV said that as she has been breastfed until now I may find it takes a while before she takes more than 4oz. So she's still not having as much as she "should" but it's better!

How long have you been trying for? It took Dd a couple of weeks to go from few ozs to full feed. She was also 6mths i replaced afternoon feed first. she was useless at bf with any distraction at all & was same with bottle but did eventually take bottle anywhere. i also tried every type bottle /cup going but i think it was consistency that worked in the end

also had to be really quite warm at first.

We're about a month in to trying. We are resorting to watching Cbeebies while feeding - this seems to keep him more focused on eating oddly.

Maybe I'll stop offering boob after so he realises he should take more (I don't even think baby's brains work they way!).

He's also a very distracted bfeeder during day unless dozy.

Also remember that the guide amounts for a FF are based on a certain number of feeds per 24 hrs - 5 at 6 months I think? Your BF baby is probably having more feeds a day than that so the shortfall may well be less than you think.