Taking a bottle

Revez · October 2013

I can't find another post about this so let me know if it's a double post.

LO won't take a bottle, or even a paci for that matter. I can't pump often due to supply issues (my boobs seem to have a mind of their own), but I try to pump an oz or two here and there to practice with the bottle. We've tried a couple of different nipples without success. I've tried to always be out of the room and get DH to give it to her, all I hear is non-stop screaming until she gets the boob. It'd be really great if I could go out with the girls at some point again.

Does anyone have any tricks or a specific brand of nipples that worked for you? And for those of you who've decided to exclusively BF do you just bring LO with you wherever you go? And how did you come to that decision?

I miss wine!!! Thanks ladies!

NikkiD522 · October 2013

I've had a lot of success with the first years breastflow bottles.. They emulate the breast very well and also make LO suck the same as he would when nursing.

WashingtonQueen · October 2013

I am EBF for the second time. My DS is still breastfeeding at 2 years old and he has never had a bottle. I made the decision to do it that way because I had/have the ability to as a SAHM. It is so much more work and more time consuming to pump and clean bottles than it is to just pop them on the boob. There have been times here or there when I fed LO and let DH take them out of the house for an hour or two without me.

Ffrey1119 · October 2013

With me and dh we warmed the bottle up lots like almost to warm and I had to completely leave the house not just the other room, I guess babies can still smell you.
Also try having him wearing something of yours or something of yours with him. And if lo starts crying make him calm before offering the bottle, and don't give in so quick because he will think if he refuses the bottle and cry she will get the breast.
I wish you luck with my first she never took a bottle no matter what we did but try to relax and be calm

RoosterMemphis · October 2013

I've been EBF but I have to be somewhere every week for a few hours without LO. Last week was the first time I did it since being pregnant and left her with DH and she won't take a bottle either. DH fed her with a dropper and she did fine.

rh10264706 · October 2013

We got the kiinde kozi and that did the trick. We tried other warming methods but apparently our lo is very particular about the temperature. If its not just right he screams his sweet little head off.

zora51 · October 2013

LO is EBF. I am still thinking of pumping so I can go out at times, but so far haven't tried it. Some babies just won't take a bottle or paci, no matter what you do.. but the advice given is all great!

Revez · October 2013

Thanks everyone! I'll keep trying different bottles. @rh10264706 I never even thought about LO being picky about temperature, but that's definitely a thought!
I'll give leaving the house a shot this week and see how that goes. That being said, I'm not opposed to EBF either. I guess it's just hard to time things around feedings.

cinderin · October 2013

We only started giving a bottle when DS was about 9 weeks (pumped BM). So far he seems to have no issues with going back and forth between breast and bottle.

we used tommee tippee.

I don't heat up the milk. I do put a little on his lips/tongue and wait for him to open to feed it to him. Sometimes I have to do this 3 or 4 times before he seems interested. I just try to be patient. If he isn't interested, I let him calm down and try again in about 10 minutes.

I did use this as direction: https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/

mommabmb · October 2013

We have had the best luck with the Playtex nipples.

Is it possible the flow isn't enough? Or is there no latching at all?

An LC recommended to me to put BM on the outside of the nipple. I never did it since he took it easily (thank God, I can't BF) but maybe you could try that?

kwrecks · October 2013

We have been really lucky, and had no issues with LO taking a bottle, or having nipple confusion, and she's always taken a paci. When I first decided to introduce a bottle, I talked with my lactation consultant, and she suggested a special needs feeder bottle (https://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/576/specialneeds-feeder). We never needed to try it, but that might be something worth trying!

BlueJewelM · October 2013

I work part time. When the day came for me to go into work for a few hours, I just left him with DH and hoped for the best. Both boys didn't like the bottle at first, but survival instinct must have kicked it because they realized this is the only way they would eat for a few hours!

Katie6202 · October 2013

We had this exact same issue last week. I was this close to putting everything away, but I needed LO to take a bottle so my H could feed her while I'm at work. We tried every single night for a week before she would take it. It was hell, but as of last Wednesday, she started to take it! Incidentally, she also started taking the pacifier the same day. My Advice is to keep trying every day, and to keep leaving the room. We use tomee tippe 0+ bottles/nipples and soothie pacifiers. GL OP- I know how stressful it can be- but keep at it!!

Edit- we also caved and bought a bottle warmer- also seemed to help a lot!!

Revez · October 2013

Looks like I'll be buying a bottle warmer!

Ashesha13 · October 2013

Am I the only one who dreads giving LO a bottle? I went back to work last week and I'm only gone a few hours at most at a time and rush to make sure I can nurse him. I think I've become more attached than he has. I teared up when we first have him a paci knowing he was being comforted by something other than me- hopefully it's just the hormones- I have a freezer stash and bottles and sometimes even pump for fresh milk for him before I leave in case he needs it but haven't had to yet. I kind of want to do it just to get it out of the way. Who knows he may have trouble taking a bottle too.... But i fear he'll prefer it over me. Sorry to high jack

Revez · October 2013

Ashesha13 said:
Am I the only one who dreads giving LO a bottle? I went back to work last week and I'm only gone a few hours at most at a time and rush to make sure I can nurse him. I think I've become more attached than he has. I teared up when we first have him a paci knowing he was being comforted by something other than me- hopefully it's just the hormones- I have a freezer stash and bottles and sometimes even pump for fresh milk for him before I leave in case he needs it but haven't had to yet. I kind of want to do it just to get it out of the way. Who knows he may have trouble taking a bottle too.... But i fear he'll prefer it over me. Sorry to high jack

Not at all! I'm exactly the same way. I just feel like it's necessary that she learns to take the bottle eventually.

She started to suck from a bottle yesterday (just for a minute before having a melt down) and I teared up thinking she'd like the bottle more than me. Definitely hormones... I hope...

Katie6202 · October 2013

I felt the same way. I cried the first time I pumped (@ 6 weeks) and then cried the first time she took a bottle! Hormones.. Bah... (It does get easier though!!)

Want a personalized experience?

Taking a bottle

Re: Taking a bottle

Choose Another Board

Search Boards