Desperate for baby to take a bottle.

[Koltans_mommy08]

I have tried everything in the world to get my son to drink from something other than a boob. I have tried different sippy cups and bottles, ive tried formula, juice, water, and breast milk. He will not drink out of anything I am soooo desperate I am going back to school in 2 weeks and when the sitter tries to feed him he goes all day with out eating! Please help!!!!! I dont want to wean completely just during the day when I am at school.

[KerrySmithIBCLC]

How old is your baby? Here is a link to some tips on how to encourage baby to take a bottle:

http://www.breastfeed-essentials.com/offerbottle.html

Just keep offering regularly and try not to get frustrated. Keep in mind that babies are very adaptable and once he realizes that someone else is taking care of him and the breast is not available, he may take the bottle just fine. Other babies prefer to just wait until they're with mom again, and make up for it by nursing more frequently in the evenings and at night (something called "reverse cycling"), and that's okay too.

[Koltans_mommy08]

He is Eight months old now and he has gone to the sitter 4 times Im trying to get him used to being away from me she said all he does is cry. does he need anything during the day to stay hydrated? or is he ok just eating solids?

[KerrySmithIBCLC]

Oh, I didn't realize he was an older baby! A baby that age doesn't NEED a bottle - if he won't take a bottle, I would just plan on feeding him solid foods with sips of water from a cup, at that age. It's possible, at that age, that he may never take to a bottle, but by 8 months, it's generally not totally necessary anyway.

If your baby has not been used to being with another caregiver, it's natural that he would be upset at going to the sitter. Over time it should get better as he gets used to it. If possible, I would start out with short visits to her home, maybe just an hour or two at first, and gradually building up to longer periods.

[Koltans_mommy08]

You have been a huge help thank you!! I will be gone 8 hours a day so i have been very stressed trying to get him to drink from a bottle

[KerrySmithIBCLC]

You're very welcome! Try not to stress - babies are very adaptable, and not taking a bottle is a problem that's very limited in nature, because he will soon be onto mostly table foods anyway.