Returning to work, baby won’t take bottle

[Sam478]

I’m sure there lots of threads similar where their ebf babies won’t take a bottle, I go back in two weeks when my little girl will be 10 months. I have kind of given up that she will take a bottle of cup of milk, just more after advice of how to deal with her managing without milk on those days. I’m going back 3 days a week, I’m sure she will be fine with food just would make sleep easier. My question is shall I continue to feed her during the day when I’m off, will it confuse her? She seems to have gone bit boob mad the last couple of weeks so could do with getting her more used to it.

I went back 3 days a week when DD was nearly 9 months and wouldn’t take a bottle or cup.
I kept breastfeeding loads when I was around, and she very very quickly got the hang of a standard sippy cup and ate loads - especially yogurt. She didn’t seem confused at all and always fed on demand.
I was so anxious but it worked out fine. Good luck!
Also I wouldn’t bother trying to introduce a bottle at this stage as you’re meant to stop using them at 12 months.

My 2 children were both ebf and would not drink from a bottle. Like you, I went back to work 3 days when they were 10 months old, it was my mum who looked after them and they would have food and drink water from a cup when they were with her. When working I would breastfeed in the morning and when I returned home from work. I continued to breastfeed during the days when I was off.

Thanks for your replies, I’m sure she will be fine during the day just might be harder with naps. Can I ask how long you both breastfed for? I stopped with my son at 11months who eventually took bottles. Feel like I need to be there for every bedtime and night while she’s waking if she’s just breastfed

With my first I stopped when she was approaching 2 years (as I was expecting my 2nd child), by this point I was only feeding her at night. With my second I stopped when he was 18 months.

Your baba will be fine. The days I was at work. I breastfed him on the morning and when i got back from work. He napped fine. He still brrastfeeds at 17 months.

I can't remember when it stopped. But his feeds have dropped I'm pregnant again but he no longer wants a boob before nap or bed.

I fed until 12 months, but went back to work at 9 months with an absolute bottle refuser. He had banana and yoghurt at nursery, and water in a free flowing tippee cup, then a feed first and last thing with me. He was fine.

I remember the stress of this so badly, you have my sympathies! All turned out ok for us. My daughter never did take milk from anything but my boob and finally weaned off at 4 years 3 months. She would simply wait until I was available and fill her boots then! I fed her normally at all other times.

Did everyone manage alright when at work if still fed during the day on the others days or did you find you needed to pump? I really don’t want to be fussing with that while at work

I didn't need to pump at all. Was fine 🙂 don't get wrong I got engorged a bit but wasn't painful and was such a relief when I got home.

My bottle refusing ebf baby happily drinks expressed milk in a sippy cup. Have you tried this?

DS went to nursery three days a week when I started back at work. He was 12 months and still EBF and had never taken a bottle.

Appreciate he was a couple of months older, but I would feed him in the mornings and evenings on those days (and through the night), and then as per usual on the other days. I was engorged on my work days for the first few weeks but then adjusted soon after.

At nursery, he would drink just water.

It didn’t seem to bother him. If anything, it made the post nursery feed more special as it was our way of bonding after a day apart.

My initial plan was to pump at work. I managed one day and decided I couldn’t be bothered with the faff so gave up!