Jones refuses the bottle 95% of the time. We have tried almost everyday since he was 5 weeks old. We have tried multiple types of bottles and nipples. The only kind he shows any interest in is BreastFlow by First Years.
Tonight I got dressed up (ok, I did my make-up and hair and put on jeans) and met some girlfriends for Mexican for a friend's birthday. Trey and Laura were with Jones. They finally called me after he screamed for an hour refusing the bottle. I didn't even get to order my taco.
Last night he took the bottle from Trey while Laura and I were with some friends for a couple of hours.
It is so sporadic, which makes me a nervous wreak leaving him.
He still eats every 2 - 2 1/2 hours, so that doesn't leave me a whole lot of time.
I have discussed with Jones that it is the same exact milk, just a different delivery method, but he seems uninterested in my logic.
Suggestions? Advice?
Thanks, friends.
And, for your viewing pleasure, here is Jones being totally adorable:
14 comments:
You may want to try the next level of nipple up for whatever bottles you have, which will allow him not to have to work so hard at it. It may "drip" for him and allow him to be lazy, at least until he figures it out. You could also try nursing for a few minutes, then switch to a bottle, so his initial craving is met first, but allow him to continue without the starving frustration.
Also remember he can sense any frustrations you have so remain as calm as you can, which is always easier said than done. Good luck!
hi! i came across your blog from tricia's. i have a 2 year old who wasn't a fan of the bottle, but breastflow was the only one we succeeded with as well.
some things you may have already tried: squeezing some milk in his mouth so he knows what it is. trying different positions besides the nursing position...i.e. sitting him up in your (or the bottle giver!)'s lap.
caedmon went through a phase of commpletely refusing the bottle, so i would nurse him and run, giving myself the most time i could.
good luck!! though it seems like you'll never have more than 2 hours away, you'll miss this one day!!
He is so adorable and handsome!!!
Awe I understand the frustration. :0) Trying the next size up nipple is a good suggestion. You may have already thought of this, but try using fresh milk (not frozen) I read somewhere it can have a different taste. The frozen milk wont be wasted, you can use it later after he gets used to things ( I also used it for mixing with rice cereal) And the temperature can make a difference. We went through this with Gray and he finally came back around to the bottle- by his own choice not anything I did. I think I gave up for a while then one day I tried again and he just took it? But I would try everything before you give up, it will make things much easier if he'll take a bottle.
Hi there! I came across your blog a few months ago and have followed it since. Your little guy is ADORABLE! I'm a new mommy, too! My son Nolan is five month old... and the apple of my eye. We used various bottles in between nursing, and by far the most effective of those was Tommee Tippee. They are sold exclusively at Babies R Us, I think. We did BreastFlow too, but I hated how they always leaked on his little face. Trying the next size up nipple may help too. I'd say maybe he gets too much air from the bottle, but if he refuses it from the start, I guess that's not the problem. Best of luck to you... and congrats on your precious little man!
He is SOOOO cute!!!! I love that you have tried to reason with him!! :) Cracks me up!
He certainly is a cutie!!!! Henry refused the bottle as well and I just toted him around everywhere I went until he was a year old. It worked for us but it certainly would have been nice if he had taken a bottle.
I suggest (although more work for you) pumping right before he is supposed to eat and you give him the bottle many times so he's used to it and comforted with Mom's touch, scent, etc and then gradually let Trey (or whoever) do a bottle while you are there so he can see your face, that's what I did at the nursery because Witt was a little resistant but it only lasted one feeding and now he's a champ and takes it with whoever, whenever b/c it's a lot easier to get it out of the bottle vs. sucking with all he has on you. So yeah you might want to try and faster flow nipple so he can get it a little quicker and easier and he may think 'this ain't so bad.' those are my two cents for the day.
call if you need anything--we moms gotta stick together and help one another :0 And as some would say if they are hungry enough they'll take it (the bottle).
ejw
I know you have a million suggestions of what to do but we had to go up a nipple size or you can take a tooth pick and widen the one you have. He may just have trouble getting the milk. Do you notice him refusing the bottle more when he is tired? Also, Presley did this for about a week and turns out he had acid reflux. Just some thoughts- he will eat...dont worry!;)
Hey Heather - first, Jones is the most handsome baby!! Sounds like you've gotten some great suggestions. Owen took the bottle fairly easily but he was SUPER picky about the temperature. I'm assuming you're warming the bottles, but if not I'd try that. Owen had to have his very warm (it worried me sometimes that it was going to burn him but he loved it), sometimes we had to re-warm it in the middle when we got to bigger bottles. Once I thought about it it made sense since the natural stuff was pretty warm.
You're doing a great job - hang in there!
no advice here, but HE'S SO CUTE!
i miss him already. :(
oh..and i miss you too!
Fortunately, Jay hasn't ever had a problem with bottle feeding so I don't have personal experience. However, my Aunt and Uncle had extreme difficulty bottle feeding their youngest child. She took a bottle early on with very little problems and then it was almost like a switch flipped one day and she immediately refused to take one any longer (they even tried holding out on her for almost a full day to see if she would cave- I am sure earplugs were required for this in addition to Mommy tears). My Aunt became so frustrated and desperate that she turned to the powers that be- the internet- and read EVERYTHING that she could find on getting a child to take a bottle. Luckily she happened upon a site that described covering the nipple with sterile gauze (you can buy it at any drug store and the baby can feed through the gauze) and then feeding the bottle to the difficult baby. I think it was just to give the child a different feel from the nipple although I can't be sure. Louisa (their baby) frequently sucked on cloth- burp cloths, blankets etc so she gave it a try and it worked like magic! They only had to use the gauze for a few days until she got used to the bottle and when she did she took it with no problem and from anyone.
I know it sounds random but maybe it will help... Either way good luck and hang in there!
I got to your blog through Leah Hendrix. She is one of my sister's best friends. I have a 4 year old and 9 week old (same age as Jones....she was born on 4/22). I breast fed my 4 year old and we used Avent bottles. This time I am using the Tommee Tippee. They have a large nipple base which really does simulate a more "real" feel. They have worked great for us. I have found out it is all trial and error in everything with each baby. Hang in there and ya'll will find what works best for you! But give the Tommee Tippee a try. (I have tried about 10 different brands of pacifiers and cannot find one mine will take.....her life and mine would be easier if she could soothe herself with one instead of using me). Good luck!
Hey Heather! My girls didn't like one either! I just bought the tommee tippee for Emerson to use this weekend for the first time! I'm taking the other 2 to the water park and my dad will have to give it to her. . . I'll let you know how they survive! :)
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