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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

exclusively breast fed 9 week old won't take the bottle...

31 replies

Ellieo · 12/10/2007 19:52

We're trying to get our 9 week old ds to take one bottle of formula in the evening before he goes to bed, so my partner can do some of the bedtimes. Up till now he has been exclusively breastfed, which has been going really well, and he is gaining weight nicely. However, both myself and my partner have tried giving him a bottle (tonight has been about the 6th attempt)and he just screams the place down, sometimes to the point of making himself sick. Strangely the very first time we tried he took 2oz, but since then has got progressively more angry every time we try to give him the bottle and hasn't taken any at all. Has anyone got any ideas as to how we can get him used to the bottle? I really want him to be able to take one bottle a day, and I haven't really got time to express as I also have a very demaning 2-year-old boy to look after as well! Any advice would be much appreciated.

OP posts:
barbamama · 12/10/2007 20:10

My ds1 took the bottle ok for one ebm feed a day at about 5 weeks last time. we are going to try ds2 this weeked at 6 weeks. I seem to remember that about 6 weeks was the optimum time to try as bf is established enough so as not to cause confusion but they are not too "set in their ways" to refuse it - but this may be rubbish. I have a few friends who tried at I think it was 7 and 10 weeks or something like that and had to try a few different bottles/teats before they got one that was accepted. My SIL had great problems and tried every bottle going before I leant her my haberman feeders (which are supposed to be most like bf www.selfexpressions.com/habermanfeeder.html and that got her going and very soon after she was able to switch to standard Avent ones. They are a faff but might be worth trying - or at least a different brand/shape of teats.

pulapula · 12/10/2007 21:06

I've read that when you introduce the bottle, try it for the first feed of the day when they are definitely hungry. Try for 5 mins then wait a bit. Don't offer the breast. They'll take it if they're hungry (in theory)!

Then you have to give a bottle a day really or else they can 'forget'.

Have you tried to express just a little bit to see if the problem is the bottle or the formula milk or both?

I started my DD at 4 weeks and DS at 2 weeks and they took it straightaway no problems, so hope you can get DS to take it soon. I use Dr Browns bottles which seem good.

blazingsandals · 12/10/2007 21:08

Could it be the formula you are using? maybe he actually doesn't like it and if you tried a different brand he'd be more reasonable?

My friend had to switch types and offer it cold (ie not warmed) before her baby would drink it. s

Original poster
Ellieo · 13/10/2007 10:44

Thanks for all the advice - I know I've left it a bit late, with DS1 I gave the bottle at 3 weeks and he took to it fine. I've bought one of those bottles that are supposed to be like the breast, but even that hasn't worked. I'll maybe try a different kind of bottle again... My gut feeling is it's not the formula as he goes mental even before he's even tasted any of it - it seems to be the actual act of putting the teat in his mouth that makes him furious! Should I persevere with it even if it gets him so angry? And will it work eventually? I'm feeling a bit down about it actually.

OP posts:
MrsBadger · 13/10/2007 10:54

I think you mention a key point - 'putting the teat in his mouth'
if he's been exclusively bf'd he's used to latching himself on, not having the nipple do the work.
Maybe offer the bottle by (eg) brushing the teat against his cheek and seeing if he turns to take it, don't just shove it in?

duchesse · 13/10/2007 10:59

They do say that cup-feeding a fully breast-fed infant is easier. It may be worth a try...

duchesse · 13/10/2007 11:00

When I say cup-feeding, I mean an open cup, not a beaky one. I have never done it, so am not sure of technique, but there must be someone on here who has...

Original poster
Ellieo · 13/10/2007 11:36

That's a good thought MrsB, but Dh has just told me that he's tried brushing the teat against his cheek so I don't think it's that . Although we haven't tried that with the new breast-like bottle, so may be worth another go. I'm loathe to do the cup thing as it could get messy when he's older... or do you just mean as a stepping stone to the bottle? Maybe I will make an extra special effort to express some milk, put that in the breast-shaped bottle and not shove it in his mouth - if that doesn't work I don't know what will! Any other thoughts greatly appreciated though.

OP posts:
nappyaddict · 13/10/2007 11:43

it could be that he doesn't like the taste of the milk. could you not express and try bottlefeeding him that instead? or if its the bottle he doesn't like give it to him using a cup. the doidys good cos it slants to make it easier to drink from.

nappyaddict · 13/10/2007 11:45

what bottles are you using? are they the tommee tippee closer to nature ones?

Poohbah · 13/10/2007 18:09

My son decided that he didn't want a bottle and no amount of trying ever changed his mind.....he loves your boobymilk. maybe hubby could do the 2 years old bath and bedtime or give you a rest in other ways. It's still so early, after a while you won't really be bothered about the evening feed will you? Just my humble thoughts!

Original poster
Ellieo · 13/10/2007 19:52

I was using Avent ones, then changed to one that has a teat that's supposed to be like a nipple (can't remember the name). Dh tried it again tonight and ds was worse if anything - absolutely screamed the place down. Tomorrow I may try expressing if I get the time, but after I've tried that, I'm not really sure what to do, other than maybe give the cup a go...

OP posts:
horseymum · 15/11/2007 11:09

am also having this problem with dd 16 weeks. have tipped away gallons of expressed milk. she screams blue murder. not sure how long it is fair to persist for. tried spoon and doidy cup today and she took a bit but very slowly. was threatening dh that i would just give up bf totally if i cant get the odd bottle into her.

sleepycat · 15/11/2007 11:14

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FioFio · 15/11/2007 11:15

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oliveoil · 15/11/2007 11:19

both mine refused until about 5 or 6 months old!

pain in the arse

just keep trying really, I did EBM but then found I got very annoyed at it being wasted

try NUK teats and bottles, they worked with mine eventually

kittock · 15/11/2007 13:02

Have you tried letting him latch on then sneaking the bottle in once he's in full flow but before he gets full up? My dd reacted furiously to attempts to reintroduce a bottle when I hadn't given her one for a few weeks, but this eventually worked.

Would try lots of different teats too - think it was a really cheap old school latex one that she went for in the end (perhaps that was the one most like my rubbery old nipples!)

Notquitegrownup · 15/11/2007 13:06

I had a milk monster too. The only way he would take anything in a bottle - usually ebm - was from dh, if I was out of the way. If he knew I was around, he wouldn't accept an alternative.

Best of luck

sophierosie · 15/11/2007 15:40

Try a different teat. My DD was the same, then eventually took to the tommee tippee ones as she actually 'latched on' to them as if she was bf.

lacarte · 15/11/2007 16:31

my 6 month old will only take a tommy tippee type and not always - and never at night for some reason

StarlightMcKenzie · 15/11/2007 16:38

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lailasmum · 15/11/2007 16:43

try the nuk ones they are another one that quite a lot of people get on with and maybe try a different flow teat. Not much else to suggest.

BadZelda · 15/11/2007 16:50

I've the same problem (5 mo) and had the same thing with DD1: at six weeks they turned their backs on even the occasional bottle. Luckily they've both been good sleepers (as I don't think DH would be capable of waking up for an EBM night feed) - but a bit worried, as this time I'll have to go back to work 2 days a week when DD2 is seven months, and I don't want to stop breastfeeding her...guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it...

mmelody · 15/11/2007 20:24

Try giving him the bottle at a different time of day to start with? My LO is SO tired and on the edge by bedtime that he would scream at anything! perhaps let him hold the bottle and play with it?

cheritongirl · 15/11/2007 20:29

havent had time to read other replies, but sorry to sat it took my ds til 10 months to take a bottle! But think it worked then coz i refused to feed him (he was biting and it was agony!), my dh took over completely and he got hungry - persistence paid off surprisingly quickly! When i have my next LO i will intro a bottle earlier i think..
hope you can get it sorted