no bottle mama i want boobie

[ZenA1201]

I was going to have my mom in law watch my 6 month son the other day and then i thought "will he take a bottle" Ive been a sahm and no reason to pump, or suppliment.. he did have a bottle a few times about 6 weeks of age just for practice, and that was it. SO i tried giving him a bottle (well hubby and 10 yr old son did first with me not in room) and then i tried. We waited and tried again about 45 min later... DS just plays with nipple in his mouth and thinks it is a chew toy. I then nursed him and he had a full meal. What do i do now? What happens if i get sick or worse yet become unable to BF, how is my son going to eat? Should i continue to try a bottle or go for a sippie? Any tips on getting a child to take a sippie cup so early? Any one else have similar problems?

Julie

[amyamy1973]

I had that problem with my first child. DH ended up spoon feeding her EBM when I was away and then she would do a sippy cup. At six months I wouldn't try so hard for the bottle. Are you starting on solids yet? If so, that might help with the spoon feeding. Good luck.

[BoobySnacks]

I wouldnt worry...DD wouldnt go near a bottle for any reason no matter what!!! She was babysat only a few times during dental appointments as a baby so I didnt worry about it much until I had to have my root canal. I was at the dental office for more than 4 hours and I was worried sick about her. She made it through without eating and only played with a bottle of EBM at 8 months old. If you want to go out, he will probably ok even if he won't take anything until you get back for a couple of hours, just have the babysitter offer EBM in either a bottle or sippy. If it was an extended period of time that you had to leave him, he would eventually take something before he starved or dehydrated, it is human instinct. I would try different nipples if you want him to start taking EMB more and see if there isnt one that he prefers. Neither of my kids took a sippy that young, they would only play with it, but it is worth a try. Good luck!

[jaw1574]

Yeah, I hear ya! I EBF my son as well for 7 months and we never used a bottle or cup in that time. As PP said, I would not worry about it! I had the same concern as you at one point, but I figured as long as I had a frozen pumped supply ( as an emergency supply should I be unable to nurse/get home) then the baby would eventually take it ..be it by spoon, cup, or bottle). Nothing has happended ( thank The Lord) and the bottles that I purchased prior to delivery are still stored in a bag. Do not feel like you cannot go out, if you have started trying solids or water ( I have always given DS water right from the water bottle) this should help fend off hunger a bit should you be gone over a couple /few hours! I hope this is helpful!

[Brianna]

I wouldn't worry about babe not taking a bottle. If you get sick, the best thing to do is nurse baby. Your antibodies will be passed to baby through your breastmilk and will help protect baby from your illness. This is not to suggest that a breastfed babies doesn't get sick, but antibodies in breastmilk do add an extra layer of defense that a formula fed baby doesn't have. Why would you suddenly be unable to breastfeed? Your milk supply will not disappear overnight even if you do get sick.

If you need/want to leave baby with a sitter, could you nurse right before you left and be back in time for the next feeding. When Rylan was younger, I would take him to MIL's house and wait for him to nurse well. After he nursed, I would leave. I was only a phone call away if he needed me. Around 8 months old, Rylan started using the Platex soft spout sippy cups. We had to try several cups before we found one he would take.

[Jacksmommy]

I wouldn't worry about it either. My baby never took a bottle. I'm also a SAHM. I always just nursed him.

[RedheadbyChoice]

I wouldn't worry about it at all either; I'm a SAHM and my kids have never taken EBM in a bottle or in a sippy; I don't pump.

Is it possible to nurse babe and then take him to MIL so you can do a few things, coming back in an hour or two, whenever he would need to nurse again?

As for sippy cups, there are tons out there, just give them a whirl.

[DecemberBaby]

If it is necessary for you to give him the bottle I would say persistence is key. My DS would not take a bottle to save his life and I needed to leave him with my mother for 4 hours. He eats every hour! My mother was the only one who could give him a bottle at first. My DH could not even get him to take it. So try someone other than your DH or DS to start out with. Now when I have to leave him with my husband or mother I am not worried. And I rarely do leave him, but he takes a bottle fine now. He is 4.5 months old.

[Stephanie]

I would give it a try with MIL and see how it goes. My dd was a big time reverse cycler (I worked outside the home). For a while, she would basically go all day with out eating, but she wouldn't fuss.

Feed him right before you leave, and stay close to see what he does. You should be able to get the normal time in between nursings and maybe a bit more.

[SingingMom]

Many babies are too smart to take a bottle when momma is right there. Just because he won't take it from you doesn't mean that he won't give it a try when you're not there and he's hungry.

[USAFeyez06]

Ah yes, this is all to familiar. My little one was the same way. I tried everything... different bottle, sippy, feeding syringe, spoon... you name it, me or the hubby tried.

They only thing that worked was the Adiri bottle... it is rather expensive, but is shaped like moms nipple. My dd played with the nipple or chewed on it in the beginning, but I kept trying (until she was frustrated, of course) and eventually she began to take a half ounce, then an ounce, then 2 ounces, and now she is up to about 3 ounces. LOL

The Adiri bottle has proven successful for multiple mommies on here, so it may be work a shot if you need to leave for a while. And remember, it may not happen the first, second, or even third time. Just keep practicing with whatever your lo seems to not get as frustrated with.

GOOD LUCK!

[ZenA1201]

i know i posted this a while ago, but thanks for the tips.. Went to dr today for 6 mos check up and asked her about bottles too, she said same thing.. if he gets hungry enough, he will figure it out... i was mostly worried about the HUGE what if i get in car wreck and end up in a coma or even worse. She also suggested to try cup with apple juice, its sweet and they love it, so we did this evening... my little Clay has a sippy cup figured out.. I only put about 2 oz in but he was mad when it was gone :( thanks for allyour tips