Expressing but baby won't take bottle. Any hints or tips please!

[Princesspowersparkle]

As the title says really. Baby is a month old and I have tried to give bottle a couple of times but she just screams and pushes teat out of her mouth.
I am going to get a different bottle and try that on her tomorrow. Have also tried a warm teat, and warm and cold milk.
Any other ideas?
thanks, PPS x

Sorry, just seen the post below!! x

I have just overcome this with slightly older baby (around 3-4 months) by just persisting... tiny bottle (so as not to waste that valuable ebm!) every day, sometimes twice a day, choosing the time when dd was in the best mood, ie. about an hour after feeding but before she got tired.

At first she made a big fuss, then occasionally she sucked a bit after a few mins. Best was usually propped next to me on the sofa with toys & TV to distract her, rather than in my arms. After only a few days she seemed to suddenly get it & suck. Now she downs whatever I offer in one go, no questions asked!

Just keep at it. Personally, after going through this twice, I don't think it's anything to do with what teat, what milk etc... it's simply building the association and the habit.

Good luck & HTH

Is there anyone else that can give the bottle? Sometimes it's easier if it's not the mother because baby won't smell milk off mum.

Our midwife suggested that dh do the bottle feeding and I do the breast. Otherwise the little mite was getting confused. She was only 5 weeks. I got to go out sans sprog shame it was only to work.

I had exactly the same problem with 3mo DS. It took me a month (and 6 different types of bottles) to persuade him to take a bottle.

What eventually worked was NUK bottles, really warm milk, feeding him lying on his side on a pillow (ie exactly how he was positioned when BF) trying 1fl oz at a time before every daytime feed, but giving up before he or I got upset. DH also tried at least twice a day at weekends - he was the one who had the breakthrough.

I think the key was to stay calm, which is easier said than done when the little blighter won't take anything from a bottle and you are feeling trapped after 4 months of feeding him every 2 hours !

Good luck, it will happen, but maybe not as soon as you'd like!

Mothercare Breastflow... here the only one that uses the same jaw action as a breast - and get your DH or someone else that's not you to do it. Got this to work for my sister after seeing it work for a close friend.

Can I add another vote for NUK bottles - tried quite a few and that was the one that worked for us.

Also someone else on here - their DH wrapped the bottle in one of her bras so that the bottle smelled of mummy and said that worked for them

Have you tried when the baby is very sleepy or actually asleep (get dh to do it at 10pm).

Also you could try milk that you expressed immediately before - I remember tasting ebm that had been in the fridge and then warmed, and it wasn't the same!

Thank you for all the tips! I will try them all and be patient!

x

Hi All
Had sucess last night! Started to feed her whilst she was still asleep and that seemed to work. By the time she realised she had a bottle in her mouth she was sucking and realisd she was getting milk out so continued! I only put an ounce in at first so as to not waste much in case she didn't take it. When she'd finished that I changed her and gave her another 2 ounces (now fully awake) and she took that too! OK, so did sick it all back up about 15 mins later but it is definitely a start. I know we have by no means cracked it but at least I know she can do it! YEY!!
Thank you all for your hints and tips- I feel so much more positive about it now!
X

Oh good!