Trying to introduce bottle after 13 weeks exclusive BFing - advice needed!

[Peddy]

My lovely son and I have had the pleasure of exclusive breastfeeding for the past 13 weeks. Since he was 8 weeks old we've tried every week to encourage him to take my expressed milk (just as tasty!) from the bottle so that my husband can feed him too. But it seems he just loves those boobs! He's taken it on rare occasions (such as first feed after a long sleep) but these are few and far between. I tried dream-feeding him from the bottle last night but would you believe it? He could still tell the difference, even in his sleep! I'd love to get a night out at some point in the next 3 months, with or without my husband, but unless he takes the bottle that ain't happenin'! Anyone manage this successfully post 6 weeks?

What bottles are you using? Some have softer teats than others

Have you tried your DH giving the bottle instead of you?

my DS2 was the same - couldn't get him to take a bottle from anyone until he was 4 1/2 months old and had started on solids. Once he had started them he was better on the bottle cos he realised he could look around him while he ate!

Hi, The Blonde, we're using Avent and NUK teats, and apart from last night it's my husband who exclusively does the bottle feeds. In fact, I usually leave the room altogether to make sure the little bean doesn't get confused.

What teats would you recommend?

I ended up using Mam teats after trying a variety of others (didn't try Nuk). They are quite soft and flat so they can feed in the same way as breastfeeding

I am so glad (sorry) that someone else has the same problem. DS is nearly 15 weeks old and also exclusively breat fed. We've been trying since he was 9/10 weeks and he has only taken some expressed milk from a bottle about 3/4 times and then its been a huge effort. DH does the honours, we slightly warm the expressed milk, we've tried it when he's tired, awake, hungry, not hungry etc/ We've changed from Avent to Tommy Tippee breast fed babies bottle - the only one he has taken anything from. They have very flexible silcone teats and a larger surface area to supposedly mimic the way breast fed babies usually latch on.
I am getting really down about it as I really need a break - an afternoon or evening where I can just relax knowing he is well and being fed! DH is also keen to help out and I know feels a bit sad that he can't feed him. He has to endure the scremaing everytime he tries the bottle. I also go back to work in 10 weeks (he'll be 5.5months) and am worried that unless this is cracked before then he will have so much change at that time - being weaned, away from me, nursery, bottles etc all at once, so I really want him happy with a bottle as soon as possible. Has anyone got any other tips for success? Getting very desperate.

Well, we bought both Mam and Tommy Tippee teats today so we'll give them a try tomorrow. Fingers crossed! Thanks for your help.

peddy, I had to get DS of 3 months used to a bottle cos of starting back at work, (not to mention getting myself used to expressing in the office!)..

My tips would be:

-you leave the room (as you already mentioned you're doing)

• make sure milk is nice and warm but remember never shake breastmilk, just swirl it.
• get dh to prop baby up beside him in a semi sitting position and hold onto daddy's hands or the bottle while feeding. My DS soon learned that bottle feeding was different. If he was held the same way as when I breast feed him, he got upset and kept rooting for the breast. this way he separates it from breastfeeding and now enjoys holding on to the hand and bottle
• make kissy kissy noises on his hands and cheeks, imitate sucking noises and rub his hands to encourage him to suck
• initially, if he can't get a vacuum with his mouth help him by gently pressing the side of his mouth against the side of the teat
• wait till he's really hungry before offering the bottle feed
• is it expressed breast milk? cos if it's formula and he's used to breast, that will be hard for him.. tastes different.

best of luck, just keep trying and smiling, being positive, sure it will be fine!

Thanks Gemmitygem - my husband's going to try tomorrow so I'll give him your tips!

We used tommee tippee closer to nature bottles, they are a completely different shape to normal bottles, more like a breast, I only used them because they came free with a steriliser. IMO they are great!

these ones

Well we tried the Tommy Tippee and Mam tonight; TT worked for a wee while and then he did his 'How stupid do you think I am? Give me the real McCoy!'. So after that Mam just didn't have a chance. Think we'll carry on trying the TT ones for now.

Well, here we are again. I am in hiding as I listen to DS scream the place down whilst poor DH tries a bottle again with my precious breast milk! At least I now know to only offer a small amount after having to pour too many feeds down the sink after unsuccessful attempts. We are trying all the suggestions helpfully offered below - but still nothing is working. I wondered if anyone could tell me how long we should try for on each attempt? Our longest sitting is an hour - but it was hell and of course he still refused and all we ended up with was a very angry, unhappy baby who was too tired to then breast feed properly and so was up half the night as a result! I also feel so sorry for DH whose "quality time" with DS consists of bath and then screaming as he does his best to get him to take the bottle! Help!!!

It's very frustrating, isn't it? I recently had to chuck six bottles of milk down the sink for a different reason - had thrush and apparently it can lay dormant in frozen expressed milk. Gnnnnnnnggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!! All my hard work.

I think with the bottle feeding you try until you think your baby will become too distressed - try to preempt this is you can - and then give him/ her the breast. We're trying this, like you by heating a smaller amount each time.

I have another question - what's the point in sterilising, since things that go into our babies' mouths (hands, hair, mum's breasts) are clearly not sterile themselves?

Have you tried walking around holding baby facing away from you? Sometimes the movement seems to distract them and they suck the teat. Try doing that between feeds - don't wait till they are starving.

What about starting to breastfeed and once milk is flowing slip the nipple out and pop the teat in. Better if EBM is quite warm. That worked for me.

Same problem with son having to express at work he hates formula and doesn't like bottles. Finally my new child minder said that her gd would only use the old latex brown teats. My son will now take the thin neck bottles with brown latex teats. I also started with Advent bottle and teats as both daughters were fine with then but he will not take a wide neck bottle at all. His fav bottle is a pooh on with a hole in the middle so he can also hold it with me. He'd still prefer the boob any day and if I'm in sight he really plays up but when I leave the room he finally lets daddy feed him with these bottles. Daddy did have to start by holding him in the same position with a hot water bottle on chest before he was comfortable.

Got so bad in the beginning when I 1st started at 20 weeks that my mum cup/spoon feed him when my h was rushed to hospital and then later she used one of those medical things like a syringe that the chemist issued with my d's calpol.

Chissy, I know exactly how you feel, and the only advice I can give is to persevere even though it' very hard and demoralising...We've been trying since she was 7 weeks- she's now 18 weeks and I go back to work next week. She still won't take anything from a cup/ bottle/ spoon etc. We've tried every teat known to man and beast but she's a dedicated boob girl. I want to cry everytime I think about being at work knowing that she's screaming to be breast fed and it's ruining our last days together.

However, I've told the nursery about the problem and I just have to accept that it may be a rough couple of days before she gives in to taking EBM from someone.

Does anyone have any experience with this?? I need to know that she'll be OK!