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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Getting my breastfed baby to take a bottle

22 replies

dorisbonkers · 20/04/2009 07:41

Hi all. My baby girl is exclusively breastfed and is a few days shy of 6 months.

She was an early baby and weighed just 5 lbs but put on weight, which did slow quite a bit from 4 months on. We don't have the HV system here in Singapore but the paed I've seen each month says yes, she's little, but didn't advise topping up.

She did have a rare bottle or two of formula in the early weeks as I was losing my marbles, but since then I've not had to give her a bottle and have given up on pumping as I couldn't get anything out apart from 7am (when I've not slept all night).

Now she's 6 months I want to be able to give her a bottle as I have a few functions and I need to leave her.

Have I left it too late? She has taken EBM at a pinch (so wonder if she hates the taste of formula) but my pump has broken and the Medela I wanted to buy out here is TRIPLE the UK price (and even then, not sure pumping works for me whatever the pump)

Thanks in advance. I'm at the end of my rope thinking I can't go to these things or that I have to feed like I am for the next 6 months (every two hours last night)

OP posts:

pinkcorsage · 20/04/2009 12:44

No I definitely don't think you've left it too late - praise to you for bfing for so long - I only managed 6 weeks! Perhaps try out different formulas to see if she prefers one to another? All I can suggest is to persevere - it took my ds a while, but now he loves a bottle!!

csqm · 20/04/2009 19:09

Hi there

I am in a similar situation. My baby boy is 5 months and I have been trying to switch him to formula/bottle for a week without success. I have exclusively breast f up until now but need to get him into formula asap due to several reasons. So far the sessions have been a bit of a nightmare ending up in tears all the time and having to give up after almost an hour with only a few mls taken from the bottle. Not sure whether his problem is with the taste of the formula or the bottle...or both! I suspect both, really. I've read that perseverance is the word so I will continue trying to persuade him but there are moments when I do seriously regrest not having introduced a bottle in his early days. If you happen to find some strategy that does the trick for you, pls share! I will do the same.

youhadmeathello · 21/04/2009 09:15

The shape of the bottle teat is totally different to a nipple - imagine having a lovely soft nipple for months and then getting a plastic hard teat shoved in your mouth!!!
Apparently the "boob shaped" Tommee Tippee bottles are the best for the transition to bottles. Good luck all!

Original poster

dorisbonkers · 21/04/2009 09:58

I have bought a Breastflow bottle to try tonight, but last night had most success with a shot glass!

Maybe a Doidy could do it. Can't get them here but will be in London in two weeks.

I'll let you know how I get on.

OP posts:

Original poster

dorisbonkers · 21/04/2009 10:04

I should stress that I aim to continue breastfeeding for at least a year. I just need some way of getting the odd bit of EBM or formula into her for when I have a couple of upcoming weddings/parties (sans kiddies)

OP posts:

Sprogstersmum · 21/04/2009 11:17

Am in the same boat! DD2 6 months exclusively bf till now but would like to leave the house without her just for a while! Have been trying cup and Tommy Tippee bottles for 5 days now, replacing one feed a day - will barely let either in her mouth and just cries till next feed - it's miserable! Am trying to just perservere! Just wanted to offer sympathy but no advice I'm afraid as so far nothing's working for me!

Original poster

dorisbonkers · 21/04/2009 11:50

Sprogstersmum - I'll let you know how I get on with this bottle. Are you trying the TT Closer to Nature bottles? Others have rec'd those ones. Good luck xxx

OP posts:

Catla · 21/04/2009 18:53

No miracle solution I'm afraid either, I posted a similar question a few weeks ago. we're still persevering and hubby is upstairs at the mo trying to get DD to take EBM bottle - she has calmed (got her to start taking the bottle by standing there with the hairdryer on to stop her screaming!)and is taking it slowly - taken her about an hour to take 3oz. It's the first time she's taken so I'm not sure how much she needs or anything! She has missed a feed today cos she refused it earlier but we persisted this time. I usually put her to the breast when it gets too much but we've just stopped, calmed her down and tried again, then left it completely given her a bath and as above tried again with me in background with hairdryer til she started sucking... good luck xx

KingRolo · 21/04/2009 18:58

DD is 6 months and we have had this problem too. The best solution seems to be to bypass the bottle completely and go straight to using a cup / beaker. It's fiddly and messy but if you are bfing you don;t have to do it too often. You'll also be pleased that you don't have to wean her off the bottle later on!

BCLass · 21/04/2009 20:21

DD is 6 mo and have exact same problem.

All my ff friends use Tommee Tippee so I bought some as first choice - she was not impressed.

The only thing we have had sucess with is Nuk size 1 Latex teats & their bottles.

Today she took 1 1/2 ounces which is a bloody miracle!!

smurfette15 · 21/04/2009 20:48

I have been trying for a month to get bf DS to take a bottle and this evening he finally did. I think being consistent is what worked for us in the end. I stopped chopping and changing the bottles and cups and stuck with the Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature so as not to confuse him.

I also sat him in his bouncy chair and sat opposite him.

I persisted with this every day and he got more and more comfortable with the teat in his mouth and today he guzzled 7 ounces. Hopefully it's not just a one-off!!

Stick with it and be consistent. Good luck

smurfette15 · 21/04/2009 20:49

Forgot to say that it was formula he took

KERALA1 · 21/04/2009 20:55

We are in exactly the same boat! Exclusive bf for 6 months now want her to take the odd bottle of formula to free me up for the occasional night out

We have been persevering for 3 weeks. On Sat she took most of a bottle. We use a "mam" bottle and do lots of chatting and distracting while feeding. Also helped that DH did it, although she took her first bottle from me today. Freedom beckons...

smurfette15 · 21/04/2009 21:17

DD was also a bugger taking a bottle when she was a baby and she eventually took mam bottles too.

feralgirl · 21/04/2009 21:34

We've spent two months trying to convince 4mo DS to drink EBM out of a bottle and have finally given up after trying various teats, people, situations and times (the only one we've had any success with at all was a mam teat though).

However he lurrrves his purple sparkly doidy cup and is able to hold onto it and feed himself which is ace as it's one less thing for him to have to learn later.

Am dreading trying to convince him to take formula in a couple of months time when I go back to work...

jaz2 · 21/04/2009 21:42

Another vote for NUK teats: it took DS 3 months to persuade him to have a bottle, and NUK worked where Tommee Tipppee didn't (nor Avent, Dr Brown, boob shaped ones)! Also have the milk nice and warm, and suggest feeding your DD in exactlt the same position as when you BF (eg my son fed lying sideways on a pillow on my lap ; and so that is what I did when feeding with a bottle.

Good luck!

Ponymum · 21/04/2009 22:46

Hi, just to say I am in the same position with DD aged 7 months, and now wish I had kept up with the odd bottle she took when she was younger (not that this helps you, sorry!). I am now trying to perservere with the Nuk teats, more because someone said to choose one and stick with it. So far she has once had 100 ml EBM from a bottle at nursery, but we have never achieved this at home by my mum or DH, even when I am out.

Regarding breast pumps, after 6 months exclusive BM I was unable to express anything at all. I was tipped off to hire a hospital style pump which has had quite amazing results. I have rented an Ameda double electric pump which I would highly recommend - not sure if you can where you are, but I understand they are similar to/same as the Lactaline model if you can get one of those. (But now that I have a good milk supply I just have to figure out how to get DD to take the bottle!)

Best of luck and I'll keep an eye on your progress for any tips I can also use.

mears · 21/04/2009 22:56

At age 6 months and beyond, why introduce a bottle? Better to introduce a cup really.

Original poster

dorisbonkers · 22/04/2009 13:35

Thanks everyone, and yes, I hear you mears. I have tried a cup as well. She's just turned 6 months, was an early baby and isn't good at sitting up yet.

The person who will look after her has bottle fed her before, not cup fed her.

Also, mended my pump and I don't want to waste a drop of EBM since it takes 30 mins to get 2 ounces.

I asked about hiring a double pump but no point as I'm moving in 2 weeks. May try in London -- do you have a link or do I have to turn up at a hospital to ask? Thanks

OP posts:

csqm · 22/04/2009 16:41

Hi everyone. I found it very interesting reading your experiences. I've decided to try the cup instead of the bottle. As some of you pointed out, at 6 months (my son is nearly there), perhaps best thing is to try the cup straight away. Tried the cup yesterday and he drank quite a bit. I used a TT freeflow cup. It requires a bit more work from who is giving but at least he got some milk out of it and did not cry (as he inevitably would end up doing when we insist on the bottle). Will try again today.

Fufulina · 22/04/2009 19:40

Hi dorisbonkers - haven't read the whole thread but wanted to give you our experience. My DD (18 weeks) wouldn't take a bottle she'd just roll the teat around in her mouth, but I really needed to know she could - really just for my sanity. I resolved tom give her one bottle a day. The three things that really helped us:

Warm the milk right up (I was using EBM) - warmer that I thought it should be on the inside of my wrist, but we're 37 odd degrees. When the milk was too cold, she'd gag and complain.
I sat her facing me the first few times - so it was different enough from breastfeeding that she didn't complain. This was onyl necessary the first couple of times. Now she sits on my lap.
The tommee tippee closer to nature bottles were a disaster - she didn't know what to do with them. We use Avent - I think because she'd had a dummy, she 'got' these much quicker.

It took us 2 days - the first day she got upset and spluttered for 15 minutes and then I gave her a full boob feed and the second day (using the above!) she latched right on and drained the bottle. I make sure she has a bottle of EBM at least 3 times a week so she doesn't 'forget'! Out of everything the temperature of the milk was absolutely key.

HTH.

Original poster

dorisbonkers · 23/04/2009 11:43

Thanks everyone. I think it was two things. Nasty (to her) taste of formula and unfamiliar teats.

Found my pump and managed to mend it and got 60 mls out (quite good for me) this morning and bought a NUK latex teat in size 2.

It worked. Strangely Mr B had more trouble whereas I got her to take it pretty much all in one (although looking at her made her break off!).

So I'll stick to pumping and storing and giving her 3 feeds a week or so.

Oh, Fufulina - I hear you on the temp. When I pumped in the early days I could give it straight from the fridge. I made it hotter than you'd think you need this time.

Thanks

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