refusing the bottle

ChelM1216 · December 2009

Well it has happened...Eirik absolutely refuses to take a bottle now. We haven't gone out really much and the last time I did was the end of November for a bachelorette party. So when I'm here, I just nurse and we haven't really done much bottle feeding at all. Of course, I don't have much left from when I pumped early on from the nights we have gone out or stuff that has gone to waste ( Sad

). We went to a wedding at the beginning of the month, were gone for 4 hours, and he refused to take the bottle from my MIL. So, of course, we came home. My mom bought us the breastflow bottles for Christmas, in hopes that maybe those would help out better and make a better transition for him. Dh tried it last night to no avail. Eirik just screamed miserably and shoved the bottle away. I really need him to take a bottle a least once a day because I have no other time to pump really ever anymore...I just don't get that kind of a break since he doesn't nap well at all either. We really need me to be able to go back to work, but now this has me worried that he won't eat if I do. Plus, I know DH would love the closeness and bonding time with him, but Eirik seems to have other ideas. Ack! I've heard about refusing the bottle, but we never had that problem with Aodhan, so this is all new to me. I'm actually close to tears because I just don't know what to do anymore. He is also teething right now so maybe that's a part of it too? He actually just likes to nurse to help with the teething, even if he isn't hungry. In fact, if I let him, he'd probably nurse all day long lol. Seriously though, do we just keep being persistent and hope he takes to the bottle at some point? HELP!

- One very tired, frustrated momma!

popcorn13 · December 2009

Maybe he doesn't like the new bottle? It's a different nipple then the one you gave him in November I assume? Does that nipple fit the new bottles? Bottles are definitely trial and error. I bought several brands before we found one she would take. We ended up liking the Evenflo Comfi kind and they are less expensive then some of the other brands.

Was the BM fresh? Previously frozen? Did you thaw properly if so? Sometimes frozen or refrigerated milk goes bad even if you follow the guidelines. I had this happen recently.

I think to an extent you have to persist but you might try a new bottle first. Make sure you aren't in the room when DH gives the bottle.

I know it's hard. I also have a "bad" napper and needed a break. I hope something works for you.

ChelM1216 · December 2009

They are different bottles then we've previously used because we hoped he'd take a bottle that is made more like the breas since he wont use the regular kind that we have.

Th milk had been thawed but i checked to make sure it was still okay...sucks when it goes bad. But he wouldn't even suck on the bottle at all to get any of the milk even.

I think we will try again tonight and hope it works. Its also hard too because he doesn't really have an eating schedule so if he's already cranky because he wants to nrse I know it'll be near impossible to get him to take a bottle.

popcorn13 · December 2009

In that case I would suggest trying to give it to him before you think he's super hungry. Maybe prepare a smaller bottle and give it to him an hour before he might normally eat? So if he would normally go 3 hours between nursing, try to give it to him after 2. That way he won't be too hungry and angry yet. If he is fussing, I wouldn't try the bottle. Wait until he's calm. It's so frustrating...I hope it works out soon!

melisb25 · December 2009

I just posted this on the BFing board...

https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/28351756/ShowThread.aspx#28351756

ChelM1216 · December 2009

popcorn13:
In that case I would suggest trying to give it to him before you think he's super hungry. Maybe prepare a smaller bottle and give it to him an hour before he might normally eat? So if he would normally go 3 hours between nursing, try to give it to him after 2. That way he won't be too hungry and angry yet. If he is fussing, I wouldn't try the bottle. Wait until he's calm. It's so frustrating...I hope it works out soon!

This is so hard since he still likes to eat every hour...I might try a bottle after nursing some so he's at least a bit calmer from getting to nurse.

Mskharis · December 2009

I have heard horror stories about this. That's why I decided to at least give my daughter a bottle every other day for when I go back to work cause my husband will have her. Plus I supplement every now and then as well. Have you tried starting him on the breast and then slipping him a bottle? Also, maybe trying a different nipple may help.

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