Switching from breast feeding to bottle feeding

[angela72]

I have been breastfeeding my DD for 4 1/2 months and am thinking about stopping. She had had the occasional avent bottle but when I tried (or my husband tried, or my friend tried) to give her a bottle on several different days last week she just refused to take it.

Is there any particular bottle which is best when switching from breast to bottle, or is it best to go straight to a cup?

Thanks

It depends on what type of bottle your lo will prefer - it will just have to be trial and error. I think that going straight onto a cup at this age will be difficult. It will take a lot longer to give and can be a messy buisness - quite a difficult job!

Some babies just aren't happy to take milk from a bottle when they have been exclusively breastfed. They prefer the warmth, smell and closeness of mum when they feed. I think perserverence is the answer if you're committed to stopping. Be prepared for the shock of sterilizing, washing and making up feeds all day though!

I'm in a similar place to you. Have you tried ebm in a bottle? My dd will take this better than formula. It might help to get her more used to a bottle.

I had a similar problem getting my dd to take a bottle - but she will take expressed milk more easily than formula. I use the Tommee Tipee Closer to Nature bottles with size 2 teats (my dd is 5 months). One good tip is to put some milk onto the teat b4 you offer it to the little one - that way the first taste she will get is the familar milk taste and not the rubber teat! Agree it can be difficult though esp if she is used to exclusive bf..

the combination that worked for us was tommy tippee 'boob shaped' bottle, with a slit cut in the teat to make the flow faster (i tend to spurt). we have tried cup as well, but DS's hand co-ordination isn't up to it yet and he gets frustrated banging himself in the head with it.

I managed to express 6oz the other day and put into a bottle and she wouldnt take it. tried it cold then warm with me, without me. Tried formula in a bottle as well with again no success. I will try the milk on the teat suggestion.

I stopped bf DD2 at this age with a couple of rejections and then was fine. DD1 was mixed bottle and breast so was fine when I stopped her. Bit of a shock this time round!

Thanks for the advice

you could also try a 'bottle to cup trainer' with a spout. My lo took to these well after months of refusing bottles and now hoovers his feeds down. It also seems to have inspired him to sometimes accept an actual 'bottle' (Tommee Tippee)

41/2 months is pretty young for the cup. I would advise a bottle.