bottle preference (re-post from the BFing board)

perry7285

i posted this on the BFing board, but can i ask you ladies for advice too?

i'm a working mom, i went back to work three weeks ago. my baby is four months old, and we use playtex natural latch nipples (slow flow). i don't know if the problem is that i went back to work so he's now getting a huge percentage of his milk from bottles (i pump), or it's just that he's getting older and more curious and finds it boring to breastfeed. either way, i'm struggling with major bottle preference right now.the pattern is this: if he's waking up from a nap or nighttime sleep, he will nurse. but if he's been awake for a while when he's hungry, he refuses the breast and insists on the bottle. i've tried to refuse to give him the bottle with the idea that he'll give up and take the breast because he's hungry. this does not work. he just gets more frustrated and upset and even more unwilling to take the breast (but if offered the bottle, he'll chug it).do you ladies have any advice? i guess i can live with the current system if i have to, but i'd prefer that he be willing to take the breast when i am home. and i'm terrified that he will start refusing the breast during nighttime feedings, because it would be huge PITA to do bottles at night. 

thanks so much for any thoughts!