Bottle Refusal

[Roxy96]

Need some help and advice! I have been exclusively breastfeeding my baby for 4.5 months and looking to transition to formula/bottle. He has never taken to a bottle easily despite trying almost every bottle on the market! Recently he took a full 4oz of EBM from my mum out of the mimijumi bottle but then went on to refuse when we proceeded to keep trying. This gives me comfort he can take a bottle as for a while I felt like he just didn't understand the technique. Now he just refuses probably cause I am around. I know breast is best but I really need some balance and my husband really wants to be able to look after him and be able to feed him too. I ideally would of liked to combo feed but I don't think he will allow this. I am therefore thinking of going cold turkey to transition to the bottle. I have tried all the weaning tips. Someone else feeding, slipping a finger in his mouth, trying when hungry/not hungry you name it and nothing sticks. Would be good to know if anyone has had experience with this and some advice! Many thanks!

Welcome to Mumsnet, OP. We're giving this thread a little bump for you

Try the bottle with baby in the bouncer facing away from you.
I've given this advice to 2 people and it's worked both times so fingers crossed for you!

I would not recommend weaning cold turkey. This seems so cruel as breastfeeding is about comfort as much as food.

Instead keep working on adding in a bottle gradually and let your husband/mum take baby for feeding time. Often babies do take the bottle with mum out of the house as they can't smell you!

With DD when she has BM from bottle with her dad/nursery it takes a looooong time and she has just has little bits and comes back to it... She's 13mo and never drank more than 3 Oz. I think she's so used to have boob around and frequent small feeds the idea of just drinking a bottle of milk is alien to her. Not sure if all BF babies are like this or just mine

I also have a bottle refuser! I'm trying to give her BM from the bottle and she rarely touches it. She has in the past drunk a few bottles so I know she can but is just refusing to.
I tried how Jazzhands said a few times but nothing. I've read trying different bottles, has anyone had any success with this before I go spending money on something she won't touch?

I still haven't made much progress! I have tried everything people/internet has recommended and he still won't take the bottle from me! I have bought 10 different brands of bottles and teats. Had a little bit of success with my mum giving him a mimijumi bottle but he won't take it from me or my husband :( Kind if need him to take one from us as my milk is drying up so I need to be able to get him to take a bottle! Good luck! Let me know if you find a miracle trick that works!

She has taken it on a couple of occasions but no real reason why! She wasn't very hungry or tired just went for it, however when I've tried again it didn't work. I'm going to stay at my mums for a little while over Christmas and that is the one chance that I have for a baby sitter so I really want to train her! I know that isn't as urgent as your need though. How do you know you'r milk is drying up? I have no experience with this at all, just an idea, would it be possible to stimulate more by using a pump?

I put yogurt on the teet and it worked. She was 6 months old, did it for the first two bottles and she will take one fine now. Goes between breast and bottle fine. I use Dr Browns and just stuck with them