Back to Work tomorrow and LO still refusing bottle

JWSchwarz

I'm back to work tomorrow. Our LO is still refusing the bottle (not sure if you saw my other posts on 0-3, breastfeeding and working moms boards). We have tried everything we can think of, talked to a LC, our Pedi, etc. 

Wish us luck and send your T's & P's that he will take a bottle at daycare tomorrow!  

Also, if you have any recommendations on how to get him to take it I'd love to hear them! We have tried every bottle, nipple, holding position (including feeding in his swing), apple juice on the nipple. . . 

michnthecity

I think eventually he will get hungry enough to take it.  I know that doesn't sound pleasant, but when I was a LO, that's how my mom got me to take the bottle.  I had to eat eventually and so will your LO.

chemmie03

My sister nurses and her dd rarely has a bottle. My sister had to be away from her dd for 12 hours so my mom had to give her a bottle. And she refused the bottle completely at first. She finally got hungry enough to take one right before my sister came to get her. It won't be pleasant but they will eventually eat. Good luck. 

megaloo27

I agree that she will do it when she gets really hungry. Make sure that the milk is warm enough, not just room temp. Does she take a pacifier? My daughter only will take a mam paci and they make bottles with the same shape nipple. 

Ashley&Scott

First, it will be okay. My DS doesn't take a bottle well & I remember stressing right before I returned to work. 

A few tricks that work for us. DS likes to lay on his changing pad to eat. DH will hold his hand & lean in close. He also likes to listen to slow calming music.

When you send bottles to daycare start by sending more bottles with small amounts. Our first week we sent eight 1oz bottles per day. I know that sounds like a lot but we didn't want to waste milk. Slowly we reduced the number of bottles & increased the ounces. Now we're in our 5th week of daycare & we send four 2 oz bottles. 

Also be prepared that he may not eat much. My DS reverse cycles. He averages 4oz at daycare (9 hours) then cluster feeds in the evenings. He normally nurses for 1.5-2 hours per day, on weekdays he condenses almost all of his feedings into 5-8pm, feeding or 20-30 minutes every hour.  

This may sound alarming but you just have to follow your child's lead. My DS is very happy & has plenty of diapers. He will eat just enough from the bottle until I get back, he prefers to nurse & that's okay with me. As long as your LO is still having plenty of diapers there's no need to worry. Here's more info on reverse cycling, just in case your LO goes that route.
https://kellymom.com/bf/normal/reverse-cycling/

 

 

nothingbuthappy

I was having the same problem with my LO and thought I'd tried every "trick" in the book.  I talked to his pedi and she said to throw all of those "tricks" out the window because there are no tricks...it's just whatever works.  Anyway, she said to just nurse him and to then give him the bottle for the last 5 minutes of his feeding.  It went against EVERYTHING I'd ever heard...the mom shouldn't offer the bottle, you shouldn't offer the bottle unless they're hungry, but not starving (but not DURING a feeding), etc.  Well, IT WORKED.  I nursed him, offered him the bottle after I burped him half way through, and he took it like he'd been doing it his whole life.  I mean, I just put the nipple near his mouth and he kind of "mouthed it" for a bit.  Then I got some of the milk on the tip and he licked that up.  Then I placed the nipple on his lips with milk on the tip and he started sucking away.  I was flabbergasted, but, hey...!  Anyway, I know all about desperate times and desperate measures.  Try it and hopefully it works as well for you!  

 Also, I know a lot of people swear by the latex nipples versus the silicone ones for nursing babies.  Again, that's what worked with my son (the Playtex Drop-In Nursers with the latex nipple).  

GL!  The stress and anxiety is overwhelming, so I will cross my fingers for you!