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Breast to bottle help please !!!
Hi Guys, I'm new to this so please be gentle. I'm not to sure If I'm on the right forum but here goes. My son is 26weeks on Tuesday, I have breasted solely from day one. For the past 4weeks I have been weaning him, which has been going great and he has 3 solid meals a day plus breastmilk morning, night and whenever he wants it during the day. The problem starts now, I NEED to get him on a bottle.. We have been trying for 3 weeks everyday, whenever he is hungry. At first it was a no go, but then 2 weeks ago he took one. Then the next day he had 3 full bottles 7oz, his dad even gave him a feed which was brilliant. Then his teeth started hurting him (he already has his bottom 2). And he wouldn't take a bottle at all. I decided to give it a miss for a day, till he was feeling better. So we started again 1 week ago, he wouldn't take it at all at the start then yesterday he took one in the morning and the day before he took 2. I don't think it's because he doesn't like the formula or the bottles with him taking it previous times before. But when I tried yesterday afternoon and bed time also this morning he was having none or it. It's a bit hit or miss really. He knows it's coming and fights it ie. tensing up. When he takes it he actually try's pulling it to his mouth so he does seem to like it. I'm really confused to why he will take it sometimes and not others? We are using nuk bottles (this is the 4th brand we have tried) its the only one we have had any luck with. And using aptimil milk ( this is the 2nd brand) he wouldn't even have s&m anywhere near him. I want/need to get him to take a bottle for my sanity lol. Also I go back to work soon and I work from 3-8 which is past his tea and bed time so I'm not going to be here to breasteed him. I've also tried breastmilk in a bottle and he won't take that either. Sorry for the babbling on and just suck as to what to do Thanks jaynie x
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Have you tried giving him the bottle when he isnt that hungry? Might sound daft to do that but he feels hungry and wants his milk the way he likes it. It is easy and its what he is used too. He doesnt want to fight with something new. I used to feed my little ones enough to get them to settle and put some breast milk into the bottle. Let them play with it, try it etc at a time when they werent starving as when they are they have no patience. After you have fed hima bit, try the milk on a spoon so he knows what it is, or in a cup. Let him play with the cup with it in etc. But really, best thing is not to give it to him when he is hungry or upset as it will just upset him more. Hope this helps x
hi jaysam
i ebf my son to 26 weeks, but from 2 months we tried to get him to have the odd bottle of ebm to get him used to a teat as im a shift worker and was trying to ensure he'd do both well inadvance of my return. it took 2 months of very regulat trying, using any teat under the sun!
The best advice i can give is dont force it - have a little gentle go then give in and bf. as if you ever push it he will see the bottle as the enemy. Warm the milk a little and the teat and always let someone else give the bottle - with you totally out of eye and earshot. He probably takes it sometimes and not others because sometimes its just about a drink, and others its about the cuddle and the emotional security of a breast feed.
Although my LO was a younger baby when he first accepted bottles, in the end the health visitors advice worked - make it totally unlike the breast feeding experience - which meant a different person, feeding him sat in the car seat facing him. my mum talked to him about what a good boy he was and he laughed and thought it was a game (i was no where near). once he had a few bottles he didnt see them as a threat and would have a bottle of ebm in his daddy's arms when i wasnt there for bed time and happily took breast and bottle.
maybe you consider keep the AM feed going for a bit so he doesnt feel he looses the snuggles completely, it will help with your return to work still having that connection with him x
As crazy as it sounds, have you tried cup-feeding using a doidy cup? At this age he will have built up the mouth muscles needed for breastfeeding, and as the motion that they use to draw milk out of the breast (pressing the milk ducts against the soft palate at the back of the mouth to drain milk rather than sucking) is similar to drinking from a cup, rather than a bottle, he may feel more comfortable taking milk from a cup. The doidy cup is open (rather than a closed cup with a spout) so he will need to be held while drinking but it may be worth a go if he really isn't getting on with bottles.
Either way, all the best with it and let us know how you get on xx
As your kid is 6 month old and has never tried for this bottle feeding, you may have to try out several different kinds of nipples. You might have the most success with a nipple that is similar to the pacifier that he uses, if she uses one. Let him chew on it, suck on it, and generally experiment with it until he is comfortable. Start by giving him bottles with a drop of breastmilk on the nipple so that he knows there might be something good to come and he is encouraged to suck on it. By doing this repeatedly he will get in practice with its use.