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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Refusing the bottle

15 replies

mimosa · 30/11/2007 13:02

My 8 wk old dd seems to be unable to take a bottle. She just seems to play with the teat but doesnt suck it at all. I am breastfeeding her and dont want to stop, but I would like her to take a bottle occassionally if its not convenient to breastfeed. I have bought 4 different bottles but no joy. I am feeling a bit desperate as I will be going back to work after xmas. Any advice greatly received, the health visitor just says keep trying.
Has anyone had the same problem and overcome it??

OP posts:
Madigan · 30/11/2007 13:16

Yes - I had real problems getting my 15wo to take a bottle - and I tried all sorts of bottles/teats. The best ones for us are the nuk bottles with yellow latex teats; she will not take a silicone teat.

To begin with I got my mother to keep persisting with the bottle, as baby simply would not take it off me. Once my mother had got her into the habit, I was able to start giving her a bottle,.

Also - when I am feeding her with a bottle, I sit her on my knee, facing away from me. That way she does not get confused and think she is going to get a breastfeed!

It is tough,,, but we got there in the end! And I am sure you will too!

MrsWaggsnapps · 30/11/2007 14:57

Definitely get someone else to do it, DD won't take a bottle from me and it's even counterproductive to have me in the same room as her (she does fine if I'm out of the house entirely!), she figures that as I have breasts what on earth am I doing sticking a bottle in her mouth

sophierosie · 30/11/2007 15:07

My DD liked the regular tommy tippee teats as she could latch onto them as if she was bf. DH had to feed her as she just got frantic if it was me.

Are you feeding expressed milk or formula? For some people their babies take formula better as they don't have the connection between mother and bm, but then others like bm as its sweeter.

DD started refusing bottles at about 16 weeks much to DH's dismay as he loved feeding her. When I went back to work I started giving her the bottle half way through my morning feed and as I knew she was starving in the morning so would feed from anything - sometimes she only took an oz and then I topped her up again with a bf. I think it took about a month to get her to take a bottle.

Good luck - you've got lots of time to get it sorted so try not to worry too much

Original poster
mimosa · 06/12/2007 12:39

thanks for your advice, it good to know that I'm not the only one with this problem. I cant seem to find the latex teats for the nuk bottle - where can you buy them?
She is still holding out despite various other techniques. Ive used formula and ebm, my dh tries to feed her in her chair and I have tried 4 different bottles. I guess I just have to keep trying but its getting me down now. Ho hum babies can be monkeys - its a good job shes so cute!

OP posts:
terramum · 06/12/2007 13:41

Are you still in the room/house when your DH tries? Might be worth trying popping out for a walk round the block (with mobile in pocket in case she gets too distressed) & see if that works?

Or have you tried an open cup like the doidy?

EdieMcredie · 06/12/2007 19:17

Mimosa-I sympathise-I have the same problem and it's very upsetting. I feel trapped.

vis · 06/12/2007 19:29

nuk teats from pharmacy2u on line- quick delivery...last time ordered 2mths ago there was a short delay with them getting the larger first choice bottles in.

note all the nuk bottles get sold with a medium hole ( for formula) you need the small hole one for breastmilk...

noted superdrug in truro cornwall had some in - silicone ones.

TheOldestCat · 06/12/2007 19:33

Doidy cuo worked for us too - from about 3/4 months I think.

TheOldestCat · 06/12/2007 19:33

sorry cuo = cup!

nannynz · 06/12/2007 19:40

You could always offer her just the bottle of ebm for how ever long it takes her to drink it, could be a bit rough, but she would eventually take it as babies won't starve themselves. Then when she starts to take bottle go back to BFing and offer a bottle every few days, if she starts not taking bottle go back to just offering bottle.

Make sure milk is quite warm.

Nuk bottles are better recieved.

Keep perservering if you do really want her take bottle.

stigofthedump · 06/12/2007 20:13

Keep trying, then get someone else to do it. Ds refused for a few weeks. Then we stayed with my mum and she kept badgering away til he took it.

Original poster
mimosa · 12/12/2007 13:25

thanks, have now located some latext teats so will try that next. Just got ANOTHER bottle - Adiri - funny dome shaped bottle, supposed to be just like a boob, only got it yesterday, no luck yet but will persevere. My dd is now showing a preference to my right boob and turns her nose up at my left one.....is this the shape of things to come? Whats she going to be like as a teenager!

OP posts:
Original poster
mimosa · 20/12/2007 13:15

RESULT!!!
I have finally got her to take 4 oz from a nuk latex teat bottle - from pharmacy2u. She is still a bit hit and miss, but at least I know she can take milk from a bottle if shes hungry enough. Feel much better now.

OP posts:
Swaliswan · 20/12/2007 15:56

I've found a NUK first choice bottle in superdrug and want to try dd with it. How much difference is there between the size one and size two teats? Also, is there much difference between the silicone and latex teats?

nannynz · 20/12/2007 16:26

I don't find a huge difference between the no 1 and 2 size it depends on what your baby can handle. Start with the 1 and if baby gets frustrated then change to 2(be aware that if may run fast for baby and baby may splutter if it goes to fast so make sure baby is sitting kinda uprate.

Also the use of silicone and latex teats really depend on the what the baby likes.

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