Refusing the bottle - help

[mea]

Hi,

Quick note before bub wakes up!

Up until Xmas we were giving our BF son one bottle of EBM each day before bed, and occasionally during the day so I could get out for a few hours. Over Xmas we stopped for a few days and I fed him before bed - big mistake. Since then he absolutely refuses to take a bottle. He feeds very frequently during the day so I can't leave him at all to go to the dentist, get a haircut, visit friends etc.

His weight is a bit low and we've been advised to supplement with formula once a day - which we can't do. He is also due to go into childcare parttime at 7 months and I'm worried he won't drink then.

Any tips to get him to take a bottle again? He's 3 months old.

Thanks.

[aardvark]

Try EBM from a beaker cup, or an avent bottle with one of their silicon beaker spouts.

It doesn't have to come out of a bottle/teat.

Neither of my two have been keen on a bottle, but I was still able to leave EBM,they just drank it from a cup with a spout.

[Goosie22]

They know what they want don't they. Mine would never drink from a bottle and I did the same thing as aardvark. If you don't mind me asking what is his weight and who advised you to comp? Breastfeed babies gain weight more slowly than bottle feed(the charts were made from/for Formula fed babies back in the 50's).

http://www.promom.org/images/boyweight.gif
http://www.promom.org/images/boylength.gif

[Goosie22]

sorry I did something wrong it posted twice?

[mea]

Thanks for your advice. I've bought a cup with a silicone spout that says it is for 3 months +, I will give that a try. Do you know if I have to sterilise it?

I'm pretty close to giving up on the bottle idea for now. I'm just a bit concerned because I have to go back to work parttime when he is 6 1/2 months. What if he won't take a cup/bottle then? I'll have a look around to see if there is any advice on this in another thread.

Cheers,
M-A

[rynosmum]

You should sterlise everything until at least 6 months.

My bub did the same thing - took EBM for a while and then just refused it - never to touch it again.

He did take to formula in the bottle though - straight away and loved it. Although then he refused the breast on regular occasions...

Best of luck !:D

[Goosie22]

Hi Mea, Thought I would post these links for you to look at about cup feeding and returning to work. Hope you find them useful.

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/cupfeeding.html

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/canwork.html

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/hints.html

You will be able to manage it, it just takes a little bit of organisation and as you know its better for you and you baby.:)

[reAllytee]

I havent got much to add except about the sterilising the cup as these ladies have given you great advice already ! :D
Just with the sterilising is should be at least done up until 6mths. Just be careful of some of the cups as not all can be sterilised certain ways IYKWIM & i even have one cup that advised for it not to be sterilised at all so that has been put to the side till bubs is older ! If you have a dishwasher though & the cup is dishwasher safe you can use that as the hot water sterilises it.
Good luck !

[CredibleWitness]

Try EBM from a beaker cup, or an avent bottle with one of their silicon beaker spouts.

It doesn't have to come out of a bottle/teat.

Hey great to read this post,... my 13wk older had her last bottle of EBM at 5wks, then the proverbial hit the fan with feeding (combo attachment/thrush/allergic reaction to Daktarin etc etc) and I ended up at the Ivanhoe breastfeeding clinic for a day stay (best thing I ever did and would recommend even if you're not having bf issues) ANYWAY we didn't get around to the EBM bottle again until about a week ago and she won't take the bottle, have tried various bottles, teats, my husband feeding, me feeding etc etc... so I am off to get one of these spouty thingos. We have a wedding to go to Feb 19 so hopefully this is all sorted out by then...!