How to get baby to take the bottle? Please help
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I thought this would be impossible but did it at 7.5 months as I was back to work at 9 months. Sounds crazy, but just had to refuse the boob for long enough for him to realise there was no other option. Keep offering bottle, and after a few days he was 100% on bottle and drinking more and more. By late afternoon I tended to give in (because boobs hurt), and gave a feed. But then went back to offering bottle again next day. Easier to do once they are eating some solids and taking water so you can give them another option. Before my hard stop on feeding I tried all the bottles, but honestly I don’t think, it made any difference. Kept the teat to the recommended size as faster flow is harder for breastfed babies I think.
@Sacha did you offer breastmilk in the bottle first?
@Natalie i wanted to try to refuse the boob but I’m worried about a nursing strike? I read it means baby will refuse to eat and it will cause other issues.
@Natalie did you put breastmilk in the bottle?
Yes always breast milk
@Natalie how long did it take ?
It took me a couple months of trying every night for some time before my baby would take the bottle so not sure what exactly helped but we did various things from tips I read here: pace feeding with baby sitting upright, trying while baby wasn’t too too hungry, then trying when baby was actually hungry. Making a relaxed environment with sensory lights projected on the ceiling and music, changing bottles and teats (we landed on lanisoh), if possible someone else feed so baby isn’t trying to feed from breast. We just offered like 20 ml at first to see and to not waste it, and only upped once he started drinking it properly. Patience was key, (I understand not everyone has that luxury or time though) and then one day it took and he was interested and then less distressed. At the time I didn’t see how it would ever be possible to be where we are now but persistence of offering it every single day did help us.