refusing bottle help (UPDATED!)

after 3 weeks of trying to get my 10.5 EBF week old son to take the bottle -- we are STILL struggling. (He was started on bottle at 6 weeks for 1X a week, then at 8 weeks we tried to bump it up to more times a week)

Can anyone offer any tips?

We have tried EVERY nipple they make and every FLOW that they make. At first we were trying several different nipples in the same feeding then I read online that you are not suppose to do this because it only confuses them more. So we are sticking with one nipple for a few days and he has taken about 1 oz from the playtex this week but its like after he realizes that its not me, he pushes it away. I even tried an Avent sippy cup made for 3 month olds. Ive tried 2 different formulas but he makes faces at them. So we've been mostly trying with breastmilk.

Everyone tells me one of two things is going to happen. 1) He is either going to take the bottle or 2) he will never take it. I am back at work now so I NEED him to take it.

Any and all tips are appreciated as maybe I havent tried it yet.

Thanks in advance!

We use the Platex Nursers. The only suggestion which you probably already did was to have your DH feed the baby and try it without you in the room. Do this for several attempts before giving up.


Remember... the baby can smell you even if you're across the room!

I have read that you should even leave the house....and keep trying the bottles.. I use the Playtes Natural shape.. maybe you need the faster glow ones....Good luck.. also with the formula are you using power or ready to feed? and whicj omes are yui trying?

Personally I would try to get him to take the bottle of breastmilk first...giving him formula AND a different nipple all at once is a bit too much 'change' for the baby IMO. So stick with breastmilk. If you need help creating a pumping schedule for work, please let me know. I pumped for a year so I might have some good hints for you if you want them.

Use ONLY silicone nipples, not the brown latex ones. The LC told me that most nursing babies will only take silicone. Playtex and Advent make them..not sure about Dr. Brown. Also, you need a WIDE nipple, not a skinny one. Playtex SLOW flow silicone nipples for use with the bag bottles, NOT the Vent Air (which are too skinny IMO).

You will need to leave the house and it will be a bit rough at first but he will get the hang of it. A bottle nipple is very different from the breast so he needs to learn a whole new techique. I would avoid the cup since I don't know of any baby that has ever taken to a cup at this age- other than to play with it.

Also- he may become a reverse feeder. Which means that he will nurse A LOT when he is with you and drink only a little from a bottle just to hold him over until you return from work. This is very common.

Who is caring for him when you go back to work? You may want to start to phase him into daycare and his new schedule a bit early so that you know how things will work out.

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Posted by michele31

I would avoid the cup since I don't know of any baby that has ever taken to a cup at this age- other than to play with it.

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Oh my gosh!!! You're right, NO CUP YET! I'm so sorry,l I thought he was 10.5 months old. So sorry to give mis-information, a 10.5 week old should not take a cup.

I think we've tried ALL of the suggestions above. I do believe that me being in the house has hindered our efforts but its always been Dad that offers him the bottle, I actually only did it 1x or 2x in the beginning and he took some of it.

We only tried formula because we thought maybe he was refusing the bottle because it had moms milk in it. But he only made faces at it. I honestly didnt want him to be on the formula, Id much rather he have my milk.

UPDATE: Today I switched from the Playtex Natural Action to the Playtex Natural Latch -- and he's been with sitters all week, today being day 3. And this afternoon he took the bottle! He had to be half asleep but it's a start!

Thanks for all your tips!!!!!