Forget the Bottle, I Want the Real Thing!
Uh, that's not gonna work.
My girlfriends and I try to plan things every so often that don’t involve our kids. It’s usually an afternoon of scrap-booking or getting together to watch an episode of some cheesy reality show. (The Bachelorette is our choice of cheese right now). Usually these get-togethers occur at someone’s house, and since we all live in the same neighborhood, it’s pretty easy to just pop over for some quality girl time while hubby watches the kids.
For our next girly gathering we’ve decided to venture out of the neighborhood and into downtown Beaufort for some wine tasting action! Oh yes, we’re actually going to have hubbies drive us out and pick us up so that we can enjoy a glass of wine or two, maybe some live music and lots and lots of fun and laughter.
I’m so looking forward to this because it’s rare that my friends and I are able to have a decent conversation without being constantly interrupted by our kids.
Here’s my dilemma: I’ve got breast milk in the freezer so that Kevin can give Saioa her nighttime feeding, but she will not take the bottle! She absolutely hates it! I’m so glad we decided to do a trial run before my evening out as a grown up or else Kevin would’ve had one cranky baby on his hands!
Right now I’m in the process of trying different bottles and nipples hoping she’ll decide it’s not so bad. But so far when Kevin tries to give her a bottle, she gets very, very upset. So upset that she doesn’t even care that there’s valuable sustenance coming out of it. And if you’re a breastfeeding mother, you know what I mean when I say that breast milk that’s stored in the freezer is liquid gold! Now, if only someone could explain this to my baby.
Does anyone have any tips for me? How did your baby take the bottle for the first time?
Hey Mamta,
I had trouble getting Nora to take the bottle too and was never successful. However I have read a LOT about it and had numerous conversations with multiple lactation consultants. This is what the ‘experts’ say:
1. Start giving the bottle around 3-4 weeks. That’s long enough to establish a good breastfeeding relationship and soon enough to teach them to adapt. (Sorry, I know it’s too late for you on this one but I left it in here in case it might help other moms)
2. You (Mamta) can’t be anywhere near the baby. It would be best if you go out of the house. If she smells you or hears your voice she won’t take anything but you.
3. Dad should drape a piece of your clothing over his shoulder so your scent is there confusing baby/helping her to feel comfortable.
4. Dad can hold the bottle under his armpit and baby in the typical breastfeeding position (more like what your baby is used to)
5. Warm the milk. It should be 98.9 degrees (body temperature)
6. Try feeding her at different times… before she’s hungry, when she’s hungry, etc.
Best of luck!
Kelly
Mamta, Hi, I’m a friend of Kelly’s
We had troubles getting our daughter to take a bottle from her dad too. He worked at it FOREVER, but finally got her to take one. Here are a few things that worked for us.
1 – We followed the 3 – 4 weeks to establish good breastfeeding and I don’t know that I would do that again. Since she got a good latch right away I think by introducing the bottle sooner she would have gotten used to feeding by different methods. I know Kelly said that your daughter is past that age, but just thought I would throw it out there. If the latch wasn’t there in the beginning I think I would have still waited the 3 – 4 weeks.
2 – I took a shower or went to grocery shop or workout while he was trying. At first I felt awful about leaving husband while baby was upset, but it really did go better without me there.
3 – Echoing Kelly, the temp of the milk made a difference. The warmer the better (obvs not hot).
4 – The armpit thing didn’t work for my husband, but what he did was lay baby face up on his legs (perpendicular to his body) and hold the bottle between his hands so that his index fingers massaged her cheeks at the same time. It was like she couldn’t figure out how to suck from the bottle (we tried half a dozen different bottles and nipples, Avent finally worked for us) and squeezing her cheeks helped her figure it out.
Once she finally got it she had no problems switching between me and the bottle. She, however, did not like taking a bottle from me and only did it as a last resort.
Good luck!
Sara
These are great tips! And I did make the mistake of being in the same room when Kevin tried giving her the bottle, I forget they have noses like bloodhounds and can smell us! But that’s the one thing other moms keep telling me, is to not be anywhere near.
I’m definitely trying all of the above though! Thanks!
Hi Sara, mine was a champion nurser from the start too, and we also followed the advice of not giving a bottle for a solid 4 weeks. I think she probably would’ve done fine though, she took the pacifier early and there was definitely no nipple confusion there.
We haven’t tried Avent though…. that may be next on my list.
It’s kinda encouraging to hear it took you guys forever… I have a feeling it might take us a while too, but we’re going to keep trying!
Thanks!