Baby won't take the bottle

[Inthestrawberryfields]

So my baby is 4 months old and has been exclusively breastfed. It's my partners birthday next month and we were hoping to do something nice, just the two of us. My partners mum has offered to look after baby for the day but baby just won't take from a bottle. I've tried breast milk and formula in the bottle but it's just not happening.
What can I do to help the transition?

I don't want to stop bf but it would be handy if baby could be fed every now and again by someone else (and I was quite looking forward to a day without the kids)

Who’s giving the bottle? Lots of people find baby won’t take a bottle from mum but will from dad/another adult.

Perhaps try different types of bottle, maybe one will work.

I do know of some babies who just refuse though 🙁 after 6m it’s easier as you could try cup feeding and later on when they’re having food too the milk isn’t so important (prob closer to a year for that though).

I had to physically leave the house otherwise no chance if he knew I was there. It was still hard though I won't lie. He point blank refused for a long time. Would rather having nothing than have a bottle. Then we tried again when he was about 6 months from a sippy cup. He started taking it very gradually. Then grew to love it. Now will take it from me or anyone else. Keep trying but I do recommend you leave someone else to it a few times a week if you can!

Keep trying. Someone else gives It to him and you leave the house for a couple of hours so he can't smell you. He'll get it in the end and you have to be able to have a life.

I had the same problem OP. I tried all the above and it didn't work for us though it is all good advice and works for some. I had to delay going back to work until I could get him weaned and able to do without milk for long enough. However, just as total panic was setting in, an older midwife recommended trying the cheap latex (brown) teats. He went for those pretty quickly, aparantly they feel much softer in their mouth. DS had never taken a dummy either so just wasn't used to having anything non human in his mouth.

Good luck!

Same problem here. DS is 11 weeks and we've been trying since about 4 weeks. He won't take from anyone but me though, and even then doesn't take one just doesn't scream the place down. I've tried leaving the house and he just won't eat and will scream til I'm back. It's such a pain and I've tried different bottles, we're on MAM atm and he seems to like them the best. I've found distraction works well, like walking round the room talking to him as I try the bottle. He doesn't really latch on but will chew on it for a bit and take a few little sucks which is huge progress!

I tried 4 different bottles until my dd accepted one at 7 months- she eventually took a mam with the silk teats- this was nearly 7 years ago so unaware if they sell them any more.

Thanks everyone, I'm going to buy different bottles and see if dp feeding her will help. I don't think this is such a bad idea, albeit rather odd! www.thesun.co.uk/tech/8617903/gadget-boobs-men-breastfeed-babies/

Try different types of bottles as sometimes babies are fussy with the teets.
Good luck!