6 week old refusing bottle - bit worried

[Ettenna]

I'm going back to work for 2 weeks when my DS is 14 weeks (it's a royal pain in the a**e but essential, unfortunately). He took a bottle of EBM at 5 days old and another couple of bottles at about 2 and 3 weeks. But he's refused the last 2 offered (by mum and DH, not me) I'm a bit worried because he'll HAVE to be taking them to go to creche won't he? It's at my work so I think I could give him a feed at lunch but betweentimes he'll need bottles presumably. Or could he take a cup of some sort at 14 weeks? Any advice very gratefully received!!

have you tried some different teats ettenna? I have used a MAM soft, textured flat one with some success but dd wasn't having any of the closer to nature or avent teats. I've also heard of those adiri boob shaped ones but haven't tried.

The other bottles I've been recommended are the Nuk ones with latex teats - dd is 21 weeks and still trying to get her to take a bottle as I am back to work in 5 weeks (have been trying on and off since she was 5 weeks ). I've only just got one as my local shops don't sell them and dd seems to tolerate it in her mouth but isn't actually drinking from it as yet... (have also tried avent, tt closer to nature, boots, mam, various different flow teats)

I'm also trying her on a Doidy cup (John Lewis sell them) which says it is suitable from 3 mths - can't see her taking large volumes from it at this stage. Some other cups say they are suitable from 3 mths but having bought a couple they are v difficult for me to drink from so can't see dd managing - you can take the valves out of them for a freeflow cup but then the flow seems too fast...

My suggestion would be to choose what seems to be the most likely bottle and stick with it to avoid confusion - when it comes down to it and you aren't around your ds may well just take a bottle. Lucky you are close at hand - I too am prepared for a quick lunchtime feed (7 mins walk each way from work) when I go back if she is still refusing...

I read a story in the newspaper a while back about a mother on a business trip to the US who had to fly back early to Ireland to breastfeed her baby who was starving himself in preference to the bottle. I tried (or rather, my mother tried) giving my breastfed daughter a bottle of formula and it never worked.

Have you tried expressing and giving it from a cup?

the tommee tippee closer to nature bottles are great - i used this when i was BF and mix feeding - they encourage baby to latch on like they do with the breast .... try them