9 weeks breastfed now struggling to introduce a bottle

Joined : 17 Jun 2008 Posts : 12

hi,

im struggling i want my baby to take EBM from a bottle as i plan to go back to work. she is 9 weeks old and brastfeeding really well, but introduction of the bottle is a nightmare. lots of gagging, pushing away and crying.

i try to give her a small amount in the bottle when she is nearing a feed and nice and calm but it doesnt work.

i am starting to worry as it is important to for both of us for her to learn, i use a cold water milton steraliser, and quite small teats.

any tips would be helpful.

nac

What I could recommend is try tips from below, one after another, or combining few together:

Offer 1/2 to 1 oz bm in a bottle and only when baby is not hungry as a "play" thing. No more as its a shame to waste bm and no less as it will be not enough for her to have taste.
Encourage baby to open wide for the bottle like he should be for the breast by stroking his lips from nose to chin with the nipple, until he opens, then gently allow him to accept the bottle into his mouth and allow the milk to flow into the nipple.
You could try to get someone else than yourself to offer bottle to baby, as she is associating you with breastfeeding which is not only way of eating but source of comfort and pleasure.
Offer only when she is not hungry;
you could wrap bottle in your tshirt or nightie, so it smells like you;
Instead of pushing the bottle into baby's mouth, try laying it near his mouth and allow him to pull it in himself. Or, tickle baby's mouth with the bottle nipple to get him to draw it in.
try different temperatures of milk- some babies like milk warm some like it cold;
Bring bottle teat to room temperature;
try out different types of teats: silicone and latex; different brands, but keep in mind to use only newborn size teat,as this one brings milk to baby in a closer way to breast nipple;
try different possitions;
try offer a bottle when she is asleep;
continue with trying out different method of feeding: cups, spoons, syringes, droppers, etc. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/alternative-feeding.html

more on http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/bottle-feeding.html

I strongly encourage you to read about nipple confusion http://breastbuddies.nice-forum.com/breastfeeding-and-nutrition-f24/nipple-confusion-t333.htm
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Joined : 03 Sep 2007 Posts : 141 From : Berkshire

The bottles I found Ellie got on best with were the Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature bottles. These are supposed to be more like the breast. Certainly the Boots ones I bought (they were self sterilising and I thought that would be a great idea as I wasn't using them that often to start with) but she just couldn't get on with the shape.

Also we found she would take more from somebody else (nursery staff and Daddy) than she did from me. Though TBH at 9 weeks I think it is probably teat shape that is the problem rather than the problems I was getting when I tried to get Ellie to take a the bottle at 4months.
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Me 32, Hubby 33, our first child Elena, was born on the 7th August 2006. Can't believe she is now 2. Trying for our second.

Joined : 17 Jun 2008 Posts : 12

thanks for the advice- i took on board various ideas - the tommee tippee bottles were great she at least entertained the idea. its still an on going project, we do two play feeds a day, i call them bonus feeds and she is getting there. still on her terms though!

nac

Glad things are going your way (of sorts Razz

)
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