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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

11 week old suddenly rejecting bottle - any advice?

10 replies

BristolRabbit · 05/05/2008 19:29

hi all,

I am in a slight panic as my 11 week old DS has started refusing to drink from a bottle. I started to give him a bottle of formula for his 10.30pm feed, and this was going well for the last four weeks or so... but the last couple of nights he has completely refused the bottle, and I have breastfed him.

Obviously this isnt a disaster as all other feeds are breast, and so we can simply go back to that for now (until I go back to work!) but we were doing this so DH could get involved and I could get to bed earlier. (I dont think it is the formula as he rejected expressed breast milk as well via bottle)...

Ideally I would like to return to giving him the bottle last thing at night... but how should I do this? Any advice would be really appreciated.

rabbit x

OP posts:
Elasticwoman · 05/05/2008 21:27

If DH wants to get involved, why can't he just put the hoover round or take ds for a walk in the pram? I feel so that a baby is losing out on breastmilk for the sake of the parents' convenience.

Jojay · 05/05/2008 21:33

Bit harsh EW - the OP is asking for advice here, not a judgement on whether she should give formula or not

cyanarasamba · 05/05/2008 21:39

might have expected you to be a little more flexible elasticwoman?

My DS did the same thing, think they hit 3 months and suddenly realise what they like and that they can make choices about it! Doesn't it make you proud!

On the other hand as a mum it made me quite panicky that I couldn't go out occasionally, get to bed early etc as well as increasing the worry of going back to work, so I can sympathise here.

You can keep trying the bottle - maybe try one other type of teat (we used tommee tippee closer to nature with some success) but be prepared that it may not work.

We had to give up on the regular evening bottle, but this coincided with DS starting to sleep through 11-7 so not too bad.

What worked best was sitting DS in his bouncy chair and giving him the bottle there, but we didn't think to try this till we started weaning at 5 months.

Hope things sort themselves out for you,

cyanara
x

Elasticwoman · 05/05/2008 21:42

Bit harsh, Jojay - am I not entitled to an opinion on a discussion board just because I'm not the OP? She has asked for opinions; I'm giving her mine. She doesn't have to agree with me and neither do you.

The general attitude on MN that only opinions that don't disagree with other posters are allowed, is a very silly one.

Elasticwoman · 05/05/2008 21:46

Why might you have expected me to be more flexible, Cyanara?

I must admit I may have done things in the care of my dc that have been more for my convenience than for theirs (can't think what things, offhand, but there probably are many) so am not claiming Perfect parenthood here.

cyanarasamba · 05/05/2008 21:52

erm - your name!

Jojay · 05/05/2008 22:15

EW - Just felt that the op was asking for help with a specific problem, not for the thread to go off on a tangent about something else.

And how hoovering is supposed to help a father bond with his son is beyond me.

But as you say, you're entitled to your opinion so you say whatever you like -but I'm going to try and answer the OP's question.

To BristolRabbit - I did just the same thing with my DS, though it was EBM not formula ( why do I feel the need to explain that??)

I remember my DS doing the same thing too - refusing the bottle having taken it very well for a while - can't remember what age he was though.

I think I just breast fed him for a week or so and then tried again with the bottle and he was fine. I don't think we ever got to the bottom of what the problem was but it sorted itself out soon enough.

And for what's it's worth, I think it's hugely valuable for Dads to have some time alone with their babies, and for Mums to have an early night now and again, so best of luck, and I hope it works out for you all

Original poster
BristolRabbit · 06/05/2008 17:42

Thanks to Jojay and Cyanara for your helpful advice and for generally being nice. As you point out, I wasnt asking for an opinion on why I am giving DS formula and really hate the fact that some mumsnetters just cant help but criticise sometimes... so unnecessary. We ALL do things when parenting that work for us and our babies, and I think we should relax about it if people choose to do things differently from us. Mumsnet is a valuable resource for some of us who are doing this for the first time, and are scared of getting it all wrong..... I would hate to think people are put off from posting for fear of being judged...

I have tried DS with the bottle again (when he was very sleepy, as a sort of dream feed) and he took it again without fuss, so hope that it is ok again. Thanks for your advice.

OP posts:
Elasticwoman · 06/05/2008 18:26

Hoovering can get a fractious baby to sleep.
To me, "I gave my baby a bottle and he won't take it" is like saying "I left my house unlocked and some one burgled it". The problem is the logical consequence of the action taken. Yes plenty of people can leave their house unlocked and do not get burgled, but it's asking for trouble.

However, I'm glad your problem seems to be getting sorted out, OP.

Sorry I was too busy getting knickers in a twist to see your joke, Cyanara! .

Jojay · 06/05/2008 22:11

Glad it seems to have sorted itslef out, BR

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