Baby refusing breast for bottle

[Hangin_On_AGS]

twice this week mia has refused the breast but would finally take a bottle. I really don't want her on a bottle I love feeding her. She normally has no issues, she is normally a great eater.. she is starting to teeth bf mommas help!

 

[TheNewMrs]

Don't give her a bottle?!
She will take breast if she knows there is no option. This is the problem with introducing bottles so early, baby doesn't have to work for the milk it just comes, whereas breastfeeding happens when the baby "milks" the breast and it takes a lot more effort and they prefer the fast flow.

Just don't give her a bottle and she will breastfeed. If you need to be away from her, have someone cup feed her instead.

 

[pinklightbulb]

I would try not to bottle feed in that case I know it's easier said than done at times though.

 

[Hangin_On_AGS]

Umm wow ok ladies what do you suggest i do instead when she is so hungry that shes been crying for quite sometime and is refusing to latch do I just keep starving my baby and let her scream?!?!?

This was the 3rd bottle shes gotten in her life once because i had ate something that she couldnt handle so i had to pump and she got stored milk and these two times where she sat and screamed for an hour refusing to latch...these last two bottles i gave her enough to calm her down and than immediately put her to breast which she than would latch. Anyone have any actually helpful advice?

 

[chrislo4]

I would offer her a bottle or cup if she point blanks to refuse your breast. Sorry but i'd rather my LO took milk in any form and than getting no intake at all. Your HV could be a breastfeeding specialist or could ask someone on the team who is to offer adivce. I found mine very useful when i couldnt get Lucie to latch properly. I hope others can offer advice for you xx

 

[New Mrs W]

Do you know how long your letdown takes? I guess if it is slow she may be getting frustrated and of course the milk is readily available in a bottle. Have you tried hand expressing for a minute or two before putting her to the breast? That way the milk is there already for her. Hope that helps x

 

[Hangin_On_AGS]

My let down is instant she gets milk on first suck. And i can tell cause immediately she starts with big swallows.... does anyone know if this might be related to her teething?

 

[misspriss]

What type of bottle? Slow flow? Is it really slow? I have been through 4 bottles types before I found a nipple that he could eat out of when I am at work and not cause preference. We tried (and didn't like or caused preference) AVENT natural, Platex drop-ins with latex nipple, Lansinoh mOmma, and BARE. We are currently using Medela Calma (which I tried to avoid because it was so pricey) and if anything I think his latch has improved and we have had no problems going back and forth.

Also, when going back and and forth we had to use nipple shields twice to get him back on the breast, but we used those before and had recently weaned off them. They may give your LO the more "bottle feel" when at the breast.

 

[pinklightbulb]

Well, I would cup feed in that case then if you don't want her preferring the bottle. Some babies refuse breast very easily after taking a bottle, especially young ones who are almost exclusively BF and don't have to work as hard at feeding from a breast vs a bottle, which is easier for them.

 

[Hangin_On_AGS]

Well it turns out she appears to just be on a nursing strike. The LC it is probably her teething that is turning her off to eating but she is still hungry so she's gonna get pissed. and not to worry just be patient and she will come back. I really didn't need the no bottle advice cause I'm sorry I follow the cardinal rule of always feed the baby no matter what. I wanted to know if anyone knew why she was striking but I finally got the answer from my local lc...

 

[TheNewMrs]

Nursing strike at less than 3 months? That's interesting advise.... Never in all my BF counselling time have I heard of that, first for everything I guess.
Will you use a bottle for now or cup/syringe feed? What did the LC suggest?

 

[readytotry]

Hi hanging. I'm glad you got to see a lc. I think people were just suggesting that a cup might be preferable to a bottle because baby might get used to the bottle. Don't think anyone meant it as criticism. It's horrible and stressful when your baby won't feed. I remember feeling really hurt and rejected during nursing strikes.

My Lo used to have funny phases with bfing when she was about 4 months (although she also refused a bottle). It might well have been teething although it could also have been that she was getting more alert and was too distracted to want to feed. What I found worked was getting to her as soon as she woke up and was still drowsy. She would latch without even thinking about it and once she was on would have a good feed. It usually only lasted a day or so. Hopefully will be the same with your Lo.

 

[Hangin_On_AGS]

readytotry, that's what the lc reccomended because she normally naps around the time that she is striking.
this is the funny thing she doesn't strike all day it gets worse at night. She also said since she isn't a good napper during the day she might be getting so over tired that she won't eat. So Tonight we are going to try and put her to bed early.

Yes Mrs a nursing strike because she has been teething really bad for the last 2 weeks. And that is the same time this started. So i'm going to give her a bottle when she is starving and won't calm down to get her calmed down enough to latch onto me. And she will get a bottle when I have to leave her for a few hours in 2 days.. and she will be okay because she isn't going to get a bottle unless I absolutely have to.

 

[TheNewMrs]

readytotry, that's what the lc reccomended because she normally naps around the time that she is striking.
this is the funny thing she doesn't strike all day it gets worse at night. She also said since she isn't a good napper during the day she might be getting so over tired that she won't eat. So Tonight we are going to try and put her to bed early.

Yes Mrs a nursing strike because she has been teething really bad for the last 2 weeks. And that is the same time this started. So i'm going to give her a bottle when she is starving and won't calm down to get her calmed down enough to latch onto me. And she will get a bottle when I have to leave her for a few hours in 2 days.. and she will be okay because she isn't going to get a bottle unless I absolutely have to.

Sounds like you feel like you are sure this will all be fine, please let me just caution you about bottle feeding so early. If there is another way to get milk into her (cup, syringe, finger dropper) it would really be worth considering.

I'm only speaking from experience because my own BF journey ended and bottle feeding was a huge factor. I hope it works out for you both.

 

[misspriss]

readytotry, that's what the lc reccomended because she normally naps around the time that she is striking.
this is the funny thing she doesn't strike all day it gets worse at night. She also said since she isn't a good napper during the day she might be getting so over tired that she won't eat. So Tonight we are going to try and put her to bed early.

Yes Mrs a nursing strike because she has been teething really bad for the last 2 weeks. And that is the same time this started. So i'm going to give her a bottle when she is starving and won't calm down to get her calmed down enough to latch onto me. And she will get a bottle when I have to leave her for a few hours in 2 days.. and she will be okay because she isn't going to get a bottle unless I absolutely have to.

Sounds like you feel like you are sure this will all be fine, please let me just caution you about bottle feeding so early. If there is another way to get milk into her (cup, syringe, finger dropper) it would really be worth considering.

I'm only speaking from experience because my own BF journey ended and bottle feeding was a huge factor. I hope it works out for you both.

At 2 months and 3 weeks, that is pretty close to 12 weeks. Most US moms don't have more than 12 weeks of leave if they have to work and HAVE to introduce bottles. It isn't that early. The OP is obviously comfortable with bottle feeding and it works for MANY, many US moms, so it can be easily done at that age.

I wish the OP the best of luck! It sounds like you are comfortable with what you are doing and have the support of a LC.

 

[Hangin_On_AGS]

She is 12 weeks the ticker is really dumb. She is currently happily suckling away on mommy half asleep just snuggled into mom's beast. This is bliss!