Those with LOs who didn't take a bottle, come in

EGMphoto · December 2012

Mobile users, subject: Those with LOs who didn't take a bottle, come in

So DD WILL NOT take a flipping bottle. I am getting so stressed and anxious about this, as I have to go back to work after the holidays. I have lots of upcoming sessions that require some travel, and I'll have to be away from her for good chunks of time, ranging from 3 to 12 hours. I am so worried that she'll be screaming and starving the entire time.

We have had DH and my MIL try to give her bottles (of pumped milk). I've given her both frozen and thawed milk (no go) AND freshly pumped milk, so I don't think it's a taste/lipase issue.

She just doesn't "get" how to suck on the bottle nipple. She chews on it, pushes it out/around with her tongue... UGH!

We are using Avent 3 month nipples. Anyone have similar issues and find another brand or type of nipple that worked a miracle for you? I hate to buy millions of different types (as we have done with pacifiers... 5 or 6 different kinds and she won't take ANY) but guess I might have to start trying.

ANY tips? DS took the first bottle of pumped milk we ever gave him and it was so easy. I never thought it would be different with #2- should have figured!

GEM529 · December 2012

DD had this problem when I first went back to work. I tried everything and nothing worked at first. She went the first two full days with no more than 4 oz that DH got into her by a dropper. Then the third day (I think she was hungry enough) that she took the bottle.

We also tried the Avent bottles b/c that is what worked for DS, but she would just scream when she saw the bottle coming and if we put it in her mouth she would either continue screaming or just chew on it. The kind that worked first was MOMMA, but then Tommy Tippy also worked. I ended up buying a bunch of Tommy Tippys and they have been great. We did have a slight episode last week, but we moved her up to the 3month nipples and she went back to drinking just fine.

At first DH would lay her down on her playmat with toys hanging from the bars so she was distracted and that is how she would drink it. Now she is fine to take it normally. I was also about to try a nipple shield to trick her into drinking from something plastic but still at the breast. I never had to try it, but might be worth it. Also, she will only take the bottle if I am not where to be seen. One day after she had been taking the bottle for weeks I asked DH to give her a bottle so I can see how well she was doing and she would have none of that.

Good luck I know how you feel.

ilovelife · December 2012

No suggestions bc dd is just like your dd. Ds took a bottle very easily but dd just plays around with the nipple.

jocymama · December 2012

I don't have an answer- Sorry.

But I have to say your little ones are so stinkin cute!

MRoxy0628 · December 2012

Have you been out of the house when your DH and MIL have tried giving the bottle? My daughter wouldn't take one either and I was so worried that she wouldn't eat when I started back to work. A few people told me that when she got hungry enough, she would take it. It broke my heart to think of her starving and upset, but by the time I went back to work, she had still barely taken one. Luckily, she did take one when I left her that first day at daycare. She didn't drink a ton, but I think by the third day she realized that this was the way it would be. The first few nights we spent a lot of time "catching up", but now she takes the bottle comfortably. She also had little interest in pacifiers, but the only one she had shown any interest in was the Nuk, so that's the bottle we went with. I've heard people have had good luck with Dr. Brown's and Breast Flow. I hope you find something that works soon, I know how stressful it can be!

EGMphoto · December 2012

jocymama:
I don't have an answer- Sorry.

But I have to say your little ones are so stinkin cute!

Thanks!

PamelaC · December 2012

My DS does the same thing pushes the bottle nipple around/out. DH got him to drink 1 oz by walking around with him while he fed him but it seriously took like 20 minutes. The past few times we tried he won't take more than 0.5 oz. I took the rest of the school year off of work, so it's not that big of a deal, but anytime I want to go out and leave him with someone, I feel so guilty knowing he probably won't be eating much if any at all while I'm gone. My DD2 was the same way. I went back to work when she was 8 mths and she fought that bottle so bad. We tried a bunch of different things a ton of different bottles and sippys and eventually she took to a straw cup. I think there are sippy cups out there designed for 4 month olds... I'm about to try that with my DS.

miss50 · December 2012

Sounds strange, and I can't take credit, but someone else mentioned this...

warm up the nipple a bit. and then suck on it. should have your smell/taste, or whatever. worked for us. she likes medela. good luck.

cmarie520 · December 2012

DS had a hard time taking bottles in the beginning but his issue was his gag reflex. We use Tommee Tippee bottles and he was able to transition well from bottle to breast. Do you have a baby consignment shop by you? You might be able to find bottles cheaper that way if you decide to experiment with different kinds. Good luck!

mrsbhk22 · December 2012

I've been battling this too and it sucks. We finally found that she would take playtex drop in with the fast latex nipple. The milk had to be plenty warm. Here's the kicker: I had to warm the nipple in hot water too. She still doesn't like it, but she'll eventually take it.

Good luck! Hope you find something that works.

KellersPrag · December 2012

Make the bottle HOT. Just not scalding. Seriously, give it a shot. Once the hot milk gets into the nipple and in her mouth, she may take it. My kid won't even take freshly expressed milk.

Hyaline · December 2012

Sounds like DD--the "playing" with the nipple part. How long do you let her mess around with it before giving up? Even now that DD knows how to use the bottle, she still has to play with it for a good 5-10 minutes before really getting down to business. I'll be thisclose to giving up and just whipping out a boob, and then she latches on. I have to just let her mess around.

Having DH or me do it made no difference--if anything, I'm more patient and practiced with her at this point so she takes it from me more often.

I also noticed that she was better with it when she was in her carseat or bouncer or propped next to me--rather than being cradled. No idea why. Maybe she associates being cradled with BFing or maybe she just likes the angle I can get when she's more upright.

We're using the Medela bottles and nipples that came with my pump. We did give another brand a try at one point and she really rejected those, so we've stuck with what she's ok with.

bosha711 · December 2012

DS gave us a really hard time with bottles (and he never took a paci, either). What eventually worked for us was TT anti colic bottles with slow flow nipples to start & the milk had to be heated really, really, really warm.

CdnFarmGirl08 · December 2012

Yup, mine refused for about 2 weeks as well after previously taking it!

I tried AVENT 0-3 month nipples, tommee tippee, playtex and some others. He would just play with the nipple as well.

I don't know if anything different finally worked, but one day he just took it and it was from me too. I made sure the bottle was very warm and I warmed up the nipple as well. Now he will take both the Tommee Tippee and Avent bottles, but does better with Tommee Tippee. The AVENT one seems to go to fast and he would choke more. I also bought the TT ones that were for senstive tummies so they have a little thing in the middle that helps control the air flow or something like that.

Bookelly · December 2012

Hyaline:
Sounds like DD--the "playing" with the nipple part. How long do you let her mess around with it before giving up? Even now that DD knows how to use the bottle, she still has to play with it for a good 5-10 minutes before really getting down to business. I'll be thisclose to giving up and just whipping out a boob, and then she latches on. I have to just let her mess around.
Having DH or me do it made no difference--if anything, I'm more patient and practiced with her at this point so she takes it from me more often.
I also noticed that she was better with it when she was in her carseat or bouncer or propped next to me--rather than being cradled. No idea why. Maybe she associates being cradled with BFing or maybe she just likes the angle I can get when she's more upright.
We're using the Medela bottles and nipples that came with my pump. We did give another brand a try at one point and she really rejected those, so we've stuck with what she's ok with.

Hyaline- do we have twins? I could've written this post, almost word for word. We use the Medela bottles, LO prefers to be fed in her carseat or her rock and play, and she messes around with the nipple for an extended period of time before she decides to eat. We also make sure to feed her as soon as she wakes up; if she's super hungry, she gets worked up too fast and refuses the bottle.

AKB090609 · December 2012

What ended up working for us was: playtex drop ins with latex nipples, we have to make the bottle very warm and warm the nipple as well.

jrsmama2010 · December 2012

DS2 has taken a bottle from day 1 BUT Nuby sent us a bottle that is now his favorite and I think you have to buy it off amazon bc it's sold over in the UK...I think... Or maybe write or call them an they might send you one to try

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