December 2011 Moms

refusing bottle - help!

I have to go back to work on Monday. DD, who is EBF, hasn't had a bottle in about 4 weeks. I have never had any trouble getting her to take a bottle and today she is flat out refusing it. I am almost at my wits end. She will be away from me for 12 hours a day when I go back to work.

I have tried two different types of bottles, both of which she took fine before I was out on summer leave. She pitches a fit with both kinds.

I have tried giving her juice instead of milk and she still refuses.

I am almost in tears.

I know that she may do better with someone else giving her a bottle, so I am going to get DH to try tonight. Do you have any other advice for us? 

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Re: refusing bottle - help!

  • Try wrapping the bottle in a shirt that you have worn overnight. I haven't tried it myself, but I've heard that it works. We have the same problem over here sometimes, although he will take one when I am not around. He does best in his high chair though. You could just go right to a straw cup if you wanted to give that a try.
  • My first suggestion is your closing paragraph -- have someone else try to give her the bottle and I would suggest that you be in another room while it happens. 

    If she was fine before, it may be that she's just developed a preference for the breast and given the age our LO's are right now (separation issues), she may not understand why you are trying to give her the bottle when your breast is right there.

    I'm interested to see other poster's suggestions...


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  • Who will be taking care of her? If it's a centre, this idea may not fly. If it's a home care situation she could be spoon fed liquids if it comes to that. Our daughter is refusing more to take more than an ounce via bottles during the day but she'll open up again and again for spoonfuls. It takes a LONG time but she's hydrated and happy!
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  • My dd just went through this. I was going to lose it. I bought different nipples, bottles, had other people feed her, tried everything. She refused. I talked to my LC and my ped's office and I was told to just be patient and KEEP trying. My daughter also was ebf but would easily take a bottle when offered and then BAM she just refused. Anyway, I kept trying (she likes latex nipples over silicone, they are much softer and someone told me if they are getting teeth they may prefer breast because it's softer)... She eventually took it here and there. And now, going on second week, she seems to take it anytime it's offered. Her protest lasted about 3 weeks...
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  • imageCountingUp:
    Who will be taking care of her? If it's a centre, this idea may not fly. If it's a home care situation she could be spoon fed liquids if it comes to that. Our daughter is refusing more to take more than an ounce via bottles during the day but she'll open up again and again for spoonfuls. It takes a LONG time but she's hydrated and happy!

    My MIL is her caretaker. She feels confident that A will take the bottle. I on the other hand, am very worried. DH and MIL tried to get her to take a bottle this evening and she blatantly refused it. My nerves are shot!

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  • imagesara9377:
    My dd just went through this. I was going to lose it. I bought different nipples, bottles, had other people feed her, tried everything. She refused. I talked to my LC and my ped's office and I was told to just be patient and KEEP trying. My daughter also was ebf but would easily take a bottle when offered and then BAM she just refused. Anyway, I kept trying (she likes latex nipples over silicone, they are much softer and someone told me if they are getting teeth they may prefer breast because it's softer)... She eventually took it here and there. And now, going on second week, she seems to take it anytime it's offered. Her protest lasted about 3 weeks...

    I am going to buy some latex nipples to try b/c all of ours are silicone. What did she do after going hours without eating? I am afraid that we are going to be in for a rough week next week. 

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  • imagesara9377:
    My dd just went through this. I was going to lose it. I bought different nipples, bottles, had other people feed her, tried everything. She refused. I talked to my LC and my ped's office and I was told to just be patient and KEEP trying. My daughter also was ebf but would easily take a bottle when offered and then BAM she just refused. Anyway, I kept trying (she likes latex nipples over silicone, they are much softer and someone told me if they are getting teeth they may prefer breast because it's softer)... She eventually took it here and there. And now, going on second week, she seems to take it anytime it's offered. Her protest lasted about 3 weeks...

    When I attended BF class at the end of my pregnancy, the instructor also said if the baby refused the bottle to try the latex nipples instead of silicone for exactly that reason (softer).  Some babies just prefer the more "breastlike" feel of the latex nipples.  Definitely a good point.

    The instructor also said her son refused the bottle when she returned to work.  She tried every kind of nipple, etc., and he finally took the latex nipple and his strike lasted about a week.  Babies are smart, though, they make up for the food they miss during the day at night.  Eep.

  • Don't beat yourself up. Your LO won't starve. Mine won't take a bottle from me since the breast is right there but he will take one at daycare or from DH if I'm in another room. I agree to start by leaving the room for awhile then having someone else try the bottle. 
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