He has been taking a bottle with no problems since he was 1 week old. He started with a bottle of formula in the evening and then we added a small bottle of formula around lunch time. Lately, he is just refusing. He is just holding out for the breast. We've tried other bottles and they didn't make a difference. We've started warming the bottle nipple and that seems to help some. Also, if we try when he is not starving, he will take some. I am just at a loss. DD never refused a bottle!

Does anyone have any ideas? I really don't want to breastfeed for the whole year. I like to slowly wean by around 6 months. Help!

By Heaventree on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 10:11 am:

Eve, sorry to hear this. Matthew did the same thing. I went to a lactation expert as I was considering taking some meds that I did not want to expose him to. The only advice the nurse gave me was "It's nothing that 3 days of screaming won't cure". I guess she has a tough love approach. Anyway I opted not to go on the meds and continue to breastfeed. I could not bare to hear him cry like that. We tried everthing as well, warming the milk, warming the nipple, different nipples, different bottles all to no avail.

Again, I'm sorry I know you are going through a difficult time and this doesn't help. I would suggest you call a lactation consultant as they face these kinds of issues every day. Hugs.

There is a bottle out on the market that is shaped like a real breast, I'm not sure it it will help, I'll try to find it in my favourites and post a link for you.

By Heaventree on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 10:15 am:

Eve, here is the bottle I was thinking of:

AdiriBottle

By Trina~moderator on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 10:30 am:

(((Eve))) As you know, I have BTDT with B. She NEVER took a bottle no matter what we tried. I hope you have better luck!

By Emily7 on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 11:27 am:

I ended up nursing for 15 months because dd would not take the bottle at all. She took once in a while for my mom, but that was it.
With my ds he refused the breast completely. Night & Day!

By Eve on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 12:29 pm:

He took 2 ozs by bottle just now! I find he does better if I nurse him and then give him a small bottle. I guess I'll just keep at it! Thanks everyone. It's good to know I am not alone in this experience!

I've seen that bottle! I might have to check into that. Thank you,Cori.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 02:57 pm:

Eve, I'm glad he took a bottle for you. I was still working when my babies were little, so it was a good thing they would take a bottle. I nursed and pumped what I could, but they both ended up with some formula anyway.

3 days of screaming? Good grief. No way would I have made it through 3 days of screaming.

By Kaye on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 03:45 pm:

As far as what to do when you wean, babies dont' need bottles. You can wean straight to a cup instead. I introduced the cup to my kids young (at 2-3 months). They loved it. It sure made the transistion go smoother.

By Reeciecup on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 10:48 am:

When I was transitioning my dd I was very confused when she refused a bottle from me. Someone told me that of course she wouldn't take a bottle from me cause I had the real thing! She would take a bottle from daddy or sitter with no problem just not me until we stopped nursing completely at about 7 months.