hi, my son is 10 weeks old now. i have been breastfeeding since day one, and i think i waited too long to try to introduce a bottle. i bought a pump because i am going back to school/work in september, and i still want him having breastmilk, not formula... i have pumped and tried to have his dad feed him, but he just puts the nipple in his mouth and cries. i tried bottle feeding him a few times, and he does the same thing. he eats the drops that fall out, but he doesnt suck and close his mouth around the nipple. has anyone else had this problem? i cant leave him for more than an hour as it stands now...he screams if i am not there to feed him! does anyone have any ideas/suggestions on how i can "teach" him to drink from a bottle? i still want to nurse while i am with him, i just want to know i can confidently leave him in september, and he wont starve :)
thanks ↓
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Name: schreck | Date: Jul 18th, 2008 7:16 AM
I had this problem but my dd was 3 months and it took me until 4 months to get her to take a bottle. Once I found a way to "teach" her it only took a couple of days. I googled my problem and then combined some of what I found. I think the most important thing to do is try at every feeding. Let him refuse it (push it away, turn his head) 3 times. Let him calm down a between each try. Then take him to do something else (play, talk to him, bouncy seat) for 5 min. then let him nurse. If you let him nurse right away after trying he learns that he gets what he wants if he holds out long enough. Hope this helps and good luck. ↑
Name: kimberly | Date: Jul 18th, 2008 12:08 PM
You can also try to place him skin to skin (like you are breastfeeding) and place the bottle in his mouth instead of your nipple. I did this with my son and he started taking a bottle from me just fine. Eventually he started taking it from anyone with no problems. ↑
