3 Month Old... Trying to Wean from Breast to a Bottle, Need Advice

Updated on April 14, 2010
A.R. asks from Dallas, TX
4 answers

Ok, so I have to wean my baby girl from breastfeeding to the bottle due to some medical reasons. She WILL NOT take a bottle from me or my husband. She was taking them OK at first, but now she just screams and cries. I don't know what to do! It's been so upsetting for me. Has anyone experienced this? If so, what worked for you?

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C.C.

answers from Dallas on

I've been through this -- successfully -- three times. You don't mention if you're using expressed breastmilk or formula. If formula, then it's a double-whammy for you -- both weaning to bottle and formula. If possible (and maybe it's not due to your medical reasons), do it one at a time -- wean to the bottle with expressed breastmilk. Once your baby is comfortable taking from the bottle, then move to formula (best way is a mix of breastmilk/formula, gradually reducing the breastmilk until there is none).

I don't believe the type of bottle is a big factor. My daughters were all successfully weaned to the traditional Playtex disposables -- so either I was very lucky they all just happen to like the same bottle, or it really just isn't that relevant. But I do firmly believe that the mom can't be the one to initially do the bottle feeding. Dads can be successful as long as mom isn't in the room. Maybe it is because the baby "smells" you or she is just aware of your presence, but either way your baby recognizes you (and your breasts!) as the primary food source which is why she doesn't see the sense it taking a from a bottle from you. I was fortunate enough to have my MIL's assistance. But even then my girls initially balked at the idea even though it was breastmilk in the bottle. So they went a little hungry for about two-three days. And I don't mean they were being starved! They would take some of the bottle-fed breastmilk but then reject it. So we put it aside and didn't cave in to breastfeeding. And yes they cried and fussed, but then we would just give them the bottle again and they would drink a little before rejecting it again. So ultimately they got just about the same amount of food, but in sips throughout the day. But within a few days each of my girls finally started figuring it out and started drinking consistently from the bottle. And then I was able to feed the bottle to them.

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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

I had to work backwards from bottle to breast with my preemie son and what worked for us was to use the Playtex nursers with the brown latex nipples. They are super soft like the breast and with the drop ins you can squirt a tiny amount of the warm milk in their mouth so they know why you are sticking the nipple in their mouth. Do you have any time at all to slowly introduce formula by mixing it gradually in with breastmilk. Don't be shocked if she's not happy about the taste change if it's immediate. Best to you!

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M.K.

answers from Stationed Overseas on

I never bought into the whole have someone else feed the child because they can smell you thing. My daughter took bottles fine from me and BF fine for 17mo. I would try to find a different bottle. Like Dori said find one that resembles your breast the most and feels like that too. For us it was the playtex silicone nursers. Worked great for us until I was able to switch her over to sippy cups.

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Q.P.

answers from Orlando on

This was my frustration a few months ago. My daugter hated the bottle and This was my frustration a few months ago. My daughter hated the bottle and I didn't understand why because it was the same milk. So after talking to my doctor about it she told me that your baby can pick up on your smell. She knows you are the one providing her food and would rather have it from you. She also told me to get someone like a grandparent to feed her from the bottle and for me to leave the room to get her more accustomed to receiving milk this way. I decided to do it over a weekend so there would be more free time. It works for me as long as I was consistently giving her the bottle. Hope this helps

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