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Baby won't take bottle!!!! HELP!!!

melisgoodmelisgood member
in Breastfeeding

I already typed part of this as a response to another post so sorry if this is repeated info. I just really need advice!!!

I introduced the bottle to my DD at 4weeks old with my pumped milk and my mother-in-law gave one bottle almost every day so i could take a break and exercise with my dog.  I also did this because I wanted to make sure she took the bottle when i went back to work.  Everything went fine until week 7 and all of a sudden DD decided to not take the bottle.  She had been using the Breastflow bottle.  I've been on the phone with lactation consultants and tried so many bottles, nipples, different feeding positions and me being home and being gone, etc.  She's taken bottles after a lot of crying but my mother (who is going to watch my baby during my 12 hour shifts) has not successfully given DD a bottle in a long time.  Last week, when we tried playtex drop ins my mother gave a bottle no problem, but it's like DD got smart again and decided she won't take the bottle again yesterday and today!!!  I'm trying to decide if I should even go back to work in 2 weeks, which was the plan.  This is such a nightmare!  My DD cries and is so upset that it breaks my heart.  When I finally give in and breastfeed her she gulps so loud and doesn't want to let go for a long time.  My mother-in-law in very persistant and in the past she could finally convince DD to take the bottle after 45 minutes of crying and walking and putting the bottle in her face.  My mom isn't as persistant and feels like a meanie for insisting baby takes a bottle.  I almost regret BFing because it's caused so much anxiety and tears.  Any advice?  What would you do?  Financially I can stay home if I need to.  I am a new nurse and have a great job that i was looking forward to returning to.  I just don't know what to do now!!!!!!  PLEASE ADVICE!!!!
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Re: Baby won't take bottle!!!! HELP!!!

  • bootcampbridebootcampbride
    Ok, I don't know that this will help at all but anythings worth trying right? What if you spent some feedings starting with nursing until her initial panic settled and then finished with a bottle? Maybe if she's not starving and its you she might settle down a little? Then maybe a few times same thing but with your mom giving the bottle?  Good luck.
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  • melisgoodmelisgood member
    Thanks for the suggestion, but I've tried this and she won't take it
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  • ally2158ally2158
    Does she take a paci?  I'm a NICU nurse and sometimes if you give a paci to get them settled just pull it out and sneak the bottle in instead.  I did it with BF'ing and it worked like a charm.
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  • thehimwithherthehimwithher

    here's my 2 cents fwiw.  i'm not going to give any suggestions b/c i'm guessing you have heard them all.  i will remind you to get the milk really warm and nipple too so that it's like your milk.

    first off, i say keep with the breastflow OR dropins (mine likes drop in latex nipple).  your mother needs to be more persistant if dd took it for mil.  i don't think you are 'being mean' by helping her learn this skill.  your mom has got to help you stick it out if she is going to be your sitter.  also, sounds like your mil has more patience, can she help you out at first too?

    i'm a nurse and i work outside the home part time because I WANT TO.  i have a great job and a career i worked hard to get.  dh would prefere me not to and it would make things easier on everyone but i wouldn't be happy.  it's not always about making everything easy on everyone, kwim? 

    think of taking a bottle as a skill that your dd needs to have to make both you and her happy.  gl

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  • beckysuejune07beckysuejune07 member

    I have also heard to try nursing her and then slipping the bottle in, when she cried, go back to nursing and once settled slip the bottle in again. you might have to do this over and over amongst many crys....be persistant.

    We tried about every bottle out there and finally DS took the medela one that came with the pump, no problem after many months of trying everything else. He refused every other bottle until we tried this one 1 week before my maternity leave ended. I was in a dead panic. But now that I look at all the other bottles I see that many recommended for BF babies are really WIDE, I am pretty small chested so perhaps look for a nipple that "looks like yours".

     

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  • melisgoodmelisgood member

    She won't take a paci (I've tried several...soothie, avent, playtex latex, mam).  I've tried to slip her the bottle while breastfeeding and she won't have anything to do with it.  The weird thing is I know she knows HOW to take a bottle because she's done it with the breastflow and Playtex drop in bottles.  It's like she's just choosing NOT to do it.  I'm not sure if I should keep trying different bottles/nipples???  I don't feel like that's the problem.  It's like she's too smart to be fooled and she wants my boob instead. 

    My mom is very patient with DD....probably too much so actually.  My MIL is PERSISTANT meaning she will continue to keep trying and trying after calming baby down.  I just don't know how persistant we should be each session.  I mean I worry I'm somehow damaging my DD by putting her through this.  I worry about attachment issues....she wants me and i'm not there for her.  How should I handle this? My MIL wants to give more and more bottles a day even if it takes 1 hour of crying and calming down and trying and trying, but it pains me to see this.  

     On another note, DH and I are planning on going out of town for one night about 1 hour drive away and leaving DD with my MIL.  MIL is stopping by the house today after work to try giving DD a bottle again.  Is it a good idea to leave baby with her and maybe she'll learn to take a bottle or will she just get upset and resent me for leaving her?  We're thinking maybe we'll take her with us if MIL has a difficult time coaxing her to take a bottle, but I was actually looking forward to spending some quality time with my busy DH.  Advice? TIA!

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  • liza0828liza0828
    My friend got her baby to take a bottle by running the hair dryer next to her when they gave her the bottle.  It sounds crazy, but for some reason the white noised helped.  Worth a try?
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  • melisgoodmelisgood member

    I have tried to feed her when she's in a swing or carseat, when she's looking at her mobile or with music or white noise sound....NOTHING WORKS!  

    Do you girls think it would be a good or bad idea to leave for one night 1 hour away and leave DD with my mother-in-law?  Is it psychologically damaging for me to leave her for an extended time like that to get her to take a bottle?  I feel like it's the only thing I haven't tried.  I'm trying to decide if I should leave DD or take her with me, but I feel like I could really use a break!  Of course my child's well-being come first.

     I'm trying to decide if I should return to work in 1.5 weeks or not.  I work 12 hour shifts....I thought maybe this weekend would be a good trial run?

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