https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Jul 2026 18:43:10 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bottle-war#post-2124480 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 15:24:18 +0000 gingerbebe 2124480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son has been bottlefed (mostly pumped BM) for the most part since he was a month old and he still went through a bottle rejection phase starting around 12-13 weeks and it lasted until like 5.5 months! I have no idea why, he just did not want to take the bottle. For a while I could try and nurse him a little and do a switcharoo or get him to take some ounces during his dreamfeed, but he ditched that late feed around 4.5 months and refused to be tricked by the boob to bottle switcharoo. Pediatrician said they start learning to express their ability to refuse at that age, they start to get really distracted, AND their growth velocity slows all at the same time so even breastfed babies can stop nursing as well, although the boob has the benefit of being comforting. We had one or two days when he hardly took anything and I was losing my mind about dehydration, but it really did pass. We were miserable for so long because it took like an hour for every feeding but he suddenly just started drinking like a champ one day.</p> <p>Here's what worked:</p> <p>- We kept a stash of toys next to our feeding chair so we could dangle a toy over his face to bat at while using the other hand to slip the bottle in his mouth to drink while distracted.</p> <p>- Look into his eyes and sing a song really animatedly to distract him.</p> <p>- Sped up his nipple flow. At one point we used TWO nipples in each feeding - the slower one at the beginning when he was actively sucking and then the faster one towards the end just to get as much to dribble into his mouth as we could.</p> <p>- Start the feeding in one place and then move to another place in the house midway through, again to distract.</p> <p>SAHMs I know who EBF on demand have told me the Adiri Natural Nurser has worked for them, if you think it might be the bottle itself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bottle-war#post-2124366 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:45:59 +0000 theotherstark 2124366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: haha no. To be fair, my husband has been working such long crazy hrs that we haven't really had a chance to really try for a few hrs. Bah. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bottle-war#post-2124364 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:45:36 +0000 Jess1483 2124364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For awhile, once I'd treated the milk, I had people give him syringes of milk. It wasn't ideal, but he would get a little bit that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bottle-war#post-2124361 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:43:27 +0000 FaithFertility 2124361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@theotherstark: UGHH really??? Did he ever? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bottle-war#post-2124359 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:42:46 +0000 FaithFertility 2124359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: These babes are something else.... :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bottle-war#post-2124358 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:42:29 +0000 theotherstark 2124358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>H still isn't taking one either :bummed: These babes!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bottle-war#post-2124357 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:41:33 +0000 FaithFertility 2124357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: I know, I am just such a wimp to her crying :( I honestly don think I could do it.......I know she would be ok, but I pray something gives before we get to that point</p> <p>I am ready for a night out with DH or just to be able to leave without the fear of the clock..... ya know?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bottle-war#post-2124353 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:39:29 +0000 FaithFertility 2124353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: hahaha we have tried it all seems she does best in her swing with him on the floor.....lol</p> <p>No she will not take it from me either.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bottle-war#post-2124348 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:36:49 +0000 Jess1483 2124348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: ok, just wanted to check first, because I tried all the tricks, but none worked. Ok, so here are some suggestions:<br /> Have him give her a bottle in the bath<br /> Have him try it outside<br /> Have him try it while he is wearing something you've worn/slept with<br /> Alternatively, have his feeds be totally different than you--have her face out, or in a car seat or bouncer. Have him play music, just whatever he can do to make it a different experience than nursing.<br /> I totally remember the frustration, and it was so awful. For everyone. Will she take a bottle from you? Or not at all? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bottle-war#post-2124347 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:36:46 +0000 Corduroy 2124347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I spent my whole maternity leave trying to get LO to take a bottle. We had a few bottle boot camp days where I would leave home and wait until she took the bottle. Each time I broke before she took the bottle. Eventually it took three 9 hour days in a row at daycare before she would eat. I felt awful about it but her doctor and daycare assured me she would eat when she felt life it and as long as it was offered to her and she rejected it was ok. Some kids are very strong willed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bottle-war#post-2124346 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:36:38 +0000 snowjewelz 2124346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh no I am sorry she is still not taking one! </p> <p>I will add that recently, now that K is a distracted nurser, she is distracted at the bottle to unless she's super hungry. So sometimes we have to go into a dark room and I might even have to play some white noise from my phone so she can focus! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bottle-war#post-2124337 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:32:02 +0000 FaithFertility 2124337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: Thanks for input :) Yes I have tasted it and more times than not it is fresh pumped milk.... and I have tasted frozen milk too, still tastes sweet </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bottle-war#post-2124331 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:27:00 +0000 Jess1483 2124331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is it pumped milk? Make sure it tastes ok. This sounds a lot like my son, and I tried to force the bottle for two months after he stopped taking it before I bothered to taste it. I have high lipase in my milk and it was gross--tastes like soap and metal. Eventually I was able to treat the milk and he would take little bits, but I had pretty much traumatized him and he never really took a bottle. It's unlikely to be your issue, but possible. Definitely worth tasting (make sure to taste not very fresh expressed--should be at least a few hours old to check (however old it is when you offer). If this is your issue, let me know and I can give you more info. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bottle-war#post-2124322 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:22:02 +0000 FaithFertility 2124322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is 14 weeks old, she took a bottle 2-3 times a week from DH from 2weeks old till little over a month ago...... when she just stopped! She will not take it anymore, she will gum the nipple/play and does at times get milk out for 10-20 minutes and then is over it quickly...<br /> He has tried it all........ different nipples, me gone, different holds, different temps........<br /> Today I left to get hair done and basically would not be back in time for her next feeding, DH tried bottle and it was the same game he calmed her when she got cranky and tried again and she was livid at that point, he said he couldn't do it anymore :( poor guy! </p> <p>I thankfully don't go back to work for months but I feel like the longer it takes the harder it will be...</p> <p>I don't want to have her cry it out and give in, and honestly I don't think she would...</p> <p>Anyone experience this and have luck with LO just finally taking it??</p> <p>I am hoping as quick as she decided no more she will change back! </p>