How Do I Get My 10 Week Old to Take a Bottle?

you need to have someone try this when you are OUT of the house. They know when you are there and they would rather have it from you. You can also try a sippy cup or just a regular cup. even a dropper. But you shouldnt be the one trying this. I have known many klids who wouldnt take the bottle. some took the Adiri bottle (expensive) but somedidnt so you may just want to skip bottles all together and just go straight to cup. Good luck!

Hi J.,

There is no reason to switch or advance the nipple flow with a breastfed baby. Nature doesn't change your nipple. A BF'd baby can remain on the slowest flow indefinately.

The baby may NEVER take milk in any way than at the breast for you. HE loves his mommy and he knows where to get the most fresh and comforting food. BReastfeeding is more than just breastmilk and he knows this.

You can use a tiny medicine cup or eye dropper (no glass), or medicine syringe to feed him rather than a bottle.

I had this problem with my daughter. We went through about 4 different bottle systems before we found the one that worked for her. We ended up with the Playtex nurser systems, they use the plastic drop in. Once we found those bottles she started taking the bottle much better. Those are the bottles we used for my third too and he had no problem using those along with breastfeeding.

Good luck!

Keep nursing...he likes his mommy. Breastfeeding has a learning curve for both baby and mom. Just relax and hold on to him. The hormones released from nursing will help you be a better mom. The closeness will help him be a better baby. Bottle feeding doesn't do the same.

my son had lots of problems with the bottle too. He was solely breastfed and for us I felt I waited too late to introduce the bottle (around 8 weeks) and then he never wanted to take it and it was several painful months...some things we tried that helped: face him away from mom when giving bottle (like looking away), soak nipple in breastmilk overnight, let him play with the bottle, try different bottles (we went rhough a lot- adiri, nuk, glass bottles, green to grow- what he ended up liking was the playtex drop-ins bottle), don't let him get too hungry because then it can be a frustration thing. Eventually if you keep trying, he will come around but it is a difficult time from what I remember. Good luck!

J.:

I see this a lot in my practice... there are many many possible reasons...

start with, you can use a cup or a spoon to feed him.

Happy to talk with you if you want.

P., RLC, IBCLC
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions
www.breastfeedingandparentingsolutions.com

The key is for you to not be around (babies can smell their moms from across the room). Someone else needs to give the bottle. When you are around, they want you. And isn't that easier than pumping anyway? Take heart ... If you are doing this in preparation for being apart from the baby, don't bother: when you are apart the baby will with some coaxing take a bottle. The trick is for someone other than you (who is very patient because it might take an hour) to walk around holding the baby, cooing and speaking softly to the child. When the baby is relaxed and sleepy, he/she's more likely to accept the bottle. Keep walking while giving it. Best wishes and don't worry.

Did you try switching back to the other level. Maybe it was coming out too fast for him? That being said my son did the same thing around 8 weeks. He had been taking avent bottles since day one(in addition to nursing and then just refused. What I did was bought several different kinds of bottles(with different shaped nipples). We ended up finding one that he would take and the phase passed as quickly as it started. Also try having somebody else give him the bottle while you aren't around. Sometimes they would just prefer the breast and know that you are there to give it to them.

Don't know if this applies to you, but we used Avent bottles to feed breastmilk to our son. Our son always has a few days of "getting used to it" when we switch to a new nipple level. The lower levels are softer plastic than the higher levels. If you use Avent (or maybe for others too), I'd try going back to the lower nipple level for a bit, and then try to change the nipple again in a week or so. We are still trying to work out the change between level 2 and 3. He can totally tell the difference! Good luck! I think it's great you are still giving breastmilk in a bottle--we all do what we can. :)

J., our babies refused the bottle. We tried several things that have worked for others, and maybe one will work for you: different bottles, different nipples, me leaving the house, giving bottles only when slightly hungry and not tire, using mommy's shirt when giving the bottle (for smells), but they didn't work for us. With the first we tried to force it (five consecutive work days separated) and she would take one ounce each day, then nurse all night. Day care kicked her out for lack of eating. We ended up hiring a nanny for the days I work (I work from home). If nothing else works, and you have to go to work, can you come up with a temporary plan to meet your daughter 1-2 times a day to nurse? Once our babies ate solids regularly, they willingly took the bottles. Good luck.

My son would only take the larger, latex nipples on the bottles. I guess it is more like mom's. But I tried smaller ones and silicone and he would refuse refuse refuse. Try switching up the nipple or bottle...also it may be just a phase. Keep trying to give it to him. I know my son has recently started rejecting my breast...but a couple days later he is fine. It is hard when it is happening, but I think they have moods and cycles just like adults.

Good luck.