Community› The Bump Message Boards› Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
New Discussion

Baby started refusing the bottle at about 3 months: any tips?

bohemianlcbohemianlc member
edited January 2015 in Breastfeeding
My baby is 3.5 months old and suddenly started refusing to take a bottle when he was a little shy of 3 months old. He had been doing fine transitioning between bottle and breast since he was 3 weeks old, so this is weird to me! I'm not working outside of the home, so it's not as huge of a deal as if I were leaving to go to work every day. With that said, it is nice to be able to give him a bottle if my husband and I decide to go on a date night or I have to run some errands. 

Anyone else experience something like this and have some tips? He had been doing well with the Dr. Browns bottles; I'm not sure if I should try a different brand. Now when anyone tries to give him the bottle, he just rubs his gums on the nipple and becomes "hangry" (lol) until I show up to feed him. About a week ago, he took part of his bottle while my mom was watching him for a bit, so it seems to me that he simply prefers the breast, not that he has somehow "forgotten" how to eat from a bottle. 

He goes to the doctor again in about two weeks, so I plan on bringing it up when we are there. He's eating well otherwise and it's certainly not the end of the world if he doesn't want the bottle, but maybe one of you has a magic trick that could help us out. :)

*Edited to delete typo
Report Reply to Post

Re: Baby started refusing the bottle at about 3 months: any tips?

  • Melody330Melody330 member
    Short answer : yes. This has happened to many of us unfortunately. Basically the exact thing happened to me right before I went back to work. If you use the search function on the board you will find a ton of tips! Here is a few of what worked for us:

    -Be consistent, but not pushy or stressed about the bottle. I don't see a reason to switch bottles.

    - Giving only an oz at a time as not to waste BM. I would leave the room for a while when DH have a 'practice' bottle and finish the feeding on the breast.

    - Running the nipple under hot water right before giving him the bottle. This was the game changer for us. Even at 10 months old, if someone didn't do this he would refuse.

    DS is now off bottles, since he never really took to them well. So we had to introduce a straw cup around 6 months when he was refusing.
    Good luck!
    imageimage
    Cooper & Melody.     My Rescues <3
    image

    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • bohemianlcbohemianlc member
    Thanks for the advice; those seem like some great tips, @Melody330. I especially like the one about the hot water. Even when he was taking the bottle well, he was very sensitive to the temperature, so that may help. 

    I'll use the search function and check it out to see what has worked for other mamas. I'm a FTM and most of my family members and friends have given formula to their babies, so these boards help a lot with any breastfeeding dilemmas. Thanks again! 
    Report Reply
  • Melody330Melody330 member
    No problem! I didn't have any friends of family who breastfeed either, so no one could help with his bottle issue either! It's frustrating, but try not to stress.

    imageimage
    Cooper & Melody.     My Rescues <3
    image

    Report Reply
  • Brandiewine11Brandiewine11 member
    I asked this same thing a month or so ago! The hot water trick worked, but we also had to change bottle brands. DS will not take a bottle from me though, or from anyone else if I'm anywhere nearby. Good luck!!


    image
    Report Reply
  • bohemianlcbohemianlc member
    Thanks for all of the tips. I definitely think he is beginning to teethe, as he has been constantly covered in drool for the past few days and loves the teether I have been offering to him, so that may be playing in to the situation. Planning on trying a few of these tips this week! 
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"