Bottle refuser

9fraulein

LO has never taken a bottle, we've tried nearly everything, and try a couple times per day, I just haven't been away from her for more than a few hours though. I figure she will get that when I go back to work in a few weeks. DH will stay at home for a month so he needs to get her to drink from the bottle. We are both anxious about it. Should I gradually increase my hours each day when I go back to work in this case? My regular workday is 8 hrs + 2 hrs commute so I will be gone 10 hrs per day. I can start with being gone 5 and work up to 10 if this would be better. But would it be worse? Has anyone been in this situation and found that gradually increasing hours away was helpful? I am worried she might learn to hold out longer and longer instead of just cave and take the bottle. On the other hand, I am worried she will never cave and go 10 hrs without eating. We did just start introducing solids so she may get some calories there. 

QueSrah

We didnt' have that problem, but I would go the bandaid route (start with full days from the start) so she doesn't try to hold out for you longer and longer.  She's not going to quit eating forever - even the most stubborn baby will learn to take a bottle eventually.

cedenton

I don't have experience with that, but I've heard Doidy cups are good for breastfed babies and since there's no sucking there's no confusion.

I just ordered one because after buying a million sippy cups and straw cups, all of which he pretty much refuses except one which he will only take formula from, I've discovered he like drinking from open cups. So....I'm going to try the Doidy cup.

They're like $9 on Amazon so perhaps worth it? And on the plus you won't have to wean off bottles/sippies if it works.

82Sonia

How long have you been trying to offer the bottle? It took us 4 weeks to get DD to take one.  

9fraulein

Thanks for the Doidy cup tip! Just ordered one and I hope it works! I already feel a little weight lifted, just realizing she doesn't need to do the bottle if a cup works out and she is probably old enough by now. It arrives in 2 days, can't wait to try it!

cedenton

9fraulein said:

Thanks for the Doidy cup tip! Just ordered one and I hope it works! I already feel a little weight lifted, just realizing she doesn't need to do the bottle if a cup works out and she is probably old enough by now. It arrives in 2 days, can't wait to try it!

Good luck! Let us know how it works

NicoleWI

It's not true that "all babies will eventually cave and take a bottle." DS didn't! He took one fine at first but developed some eating aversions with reflux.

Anyway, it sucked, but we got through it. Usually he wouldn't eat while I was gone. If you can get the cup to work that would be awesome!! You can also stir milk into the baby food now that your LO is on solids.

st.augbride

Dd was a major bottle refuser for a while. When I started back at work, she was going to a home daycare from about 9am until 4pm. She absolutely would not drink that week. I even ran home to BF her on my lunch some days. Then we had a daycare fiasco and ended up switching to a center, but had a one month gap until then during which she was home with either me, dh, or family staying with us to help. Let me tell you, her being with dh was the best thing that could have happened. He was more patient with her than anyone else could have been and worked with her a lot. Then, after a good 2-3 weeks of refusing almost anything from the bottle, she starting drinking from him! It felt like a miracle! What finally worked was a combination of time and distraction. He would hold her, facing out, and walk around with her or take her outside while offering the bottle. Also, putting her in the bouncer with the tv on helped too. FWIW, we tried all different bottles, etc.. and that never made a difference, so just stick to the bottles you like best and have your dh try over and over again. I was surprised how long dd held out for since most babies give in after a few days to a week, but not my stubborn monkey! So if she came around, I'm convinced all LOs will eventually ; )