baby hates bottled breastmilk!

snugglebug88

I've been breastfeeding exclusively since Audrey was born, and she is a pro now.  However it is time for me to start getting ready to go back to work soon, and she absolutely WILL NOT take a bottle.  We've been trying to get her used to having pumped breastmilk from a bottle now for about a week.  The best she's done so far is let us put the nipple in her mouth and she "plays" with it with her tongue. 

I am getting really discouraged.  Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

eschall

What bottles are you using?  I used the playtex drop-ins because the nipples are similar in shape to my breast. 

snugglebug88

Yeah, those are the ones we use.  I've even tried mixing in a little rice cereal to alter the taste a little.  Someone told me that the taste of the breastmilk from the bottle might "remind" her of nursing...therefore she will refuse the bottled milk.  I don't know if that is true or not, but I do know that there are babies out there that have learned to drink bottled breastmilk....

I just keep trying a little bit each day and try not to get frustrated.

JAWMIN

Have you tried other bottles? Sometimes it's trial and error.

KellyG6279

I would try different bottles/nipples. ?My DS likes Dr Browns.

trinny

I've heard they will sometimes not take it from mom, so get your DH to try?

I'm going to introduce next week.  I am starting out with First Year's Breastflow bottle and maybe soothies after that.

Dobie_Mama

I would try a different type of bottles/nipples.  DD used the Medela nipples.  Breastflow and Adiri are good for BF babies as well.

Don't be surprised though if she never really falls in love with the bottle.  DD didn't.  She would take them, but it wasn't like nursing.  We switched to a sippy pretty early on for that reason.

QueSara74

My son was never a big fan of bottles. But I got him to take one, by doing this:

 

1. Nurse him on one side ... maybe 5 or 10 minutes.

2. Then offer the bottle. That way the baby's not HUNGRY or cranky. Make it fun with lots of snuggles, hugs and kisses. 

 

Also, try lots of different bottles. Dr. Browns worked for us, but there are lots of options. 

susiederkins

Have someone other than yourself try a bottle. You baby already knows mom=breast, so it might  help if someone else does it.

Try different bottles and nipples. We use Born Free. They're a bit expensive, so just buy one. But if it works, it's worth the price.