Help with Weaning: Breast to Bottle - Dallas,TX

I have two ideas where you might be able to find some help.

ONe is the yahoo group, For BAbies Sake. It is a breastfeeding support group that also meets on Tuesday nights at 7pm in S. Arlington. It is run by very knowledgeable lactation consultant named Mellanie Shepperd.

Second is the site www.kellymom.com

Good luck

I had the exact same problem with my baby girl who is now 7 he would not take a bottle for the longest time. I about went broke trying every bottle and nipple. Finally what worked for me was breastmilk in the bottle with a faster nipple instead of the slow ones. Maybe she was just mad that it would not come out as fast. This finally worked when she was 4 months old. I didn't have to quit breastfeeding either because she would drink more breastmilk in a bottle than from me. She is now in the 75 percentile and thriving! Hope this helps!

C.

SAHM of 7 month old baby girl and 27 month old boy and married to my highschool sweetheart for 6 years now!

I would have to agree with the whole slow flow/fast flow thing. My dd was not a very good nurser - she would get tired & fall asleep after about 2 oz. When I finally switched to bottle (playtex)at 4 weeks she would suck so hard that she would invert the nipple into the bottle. I cut the infant nipple into an "x" (which is what the juice nipples are like in the store) and she was instantly a happy baby. As long as she doesn't gag or choke - that would mean too fast. I would also check with a consultant - they have all sorts of knowledge on these issues.

Maybe try the Adiri Natural Nurser (adiri.com) I have not used one, but I recently took one out and looked at the bottle at Babies R Us and I was amazed at how similar to the breast it was. Also have you tried warming the nipple before feeding her a bottle?

J.,
I too had this problem, except my daughter was 6 months old and would have nothing to do with the bottle. I tried every bottle out there. I had to go to a sales conference (I worked from home and was able to nurse full time). My husband and mother took the week off to watch her and wean her. She didn't eat for a few days (of course I'd nurse her in the morning and at night). Finally, by the end of the week, she took the bottle (Avent). The next week I started nursing her again full time and my husband had to wean her all over again a month later, then I just went full time bottle. Tips for you - make sure you're not the one trying to feed her a bottle, in fact, when someone tries to give her a bottle, you may want to leave the house for a bit. Just keep trying, she'll get it! Good luck!!

My daughter is almost 10 months old and has been taking a bottle since she was 1 month old, but I still breastfeed her at night. Because of that, she still does not like taking a bottle from me sometimes. The thing that helped and still helps is for my husband to give her the bottle. She will take it with no problem from him. As for the bottles, I use the Playtex wide bottle. It has the shape of the breast and seems to work best for transition.

Hi J.,
Since I had to go back to work at 6 weeks, I started introducing my son to the bottle at 3 weeks old. He had a difficult time and just would not take it. I tried about 3 different bottles/nipples to no avail. My pediatrician suggested that I have someone else give him the bottle. He also told me that I had to "be strong" (in a nice way) and not give in. He suggested that I stay out of my baby's sight if possible. So one day when it was time for a feeding, I prepared a bottle of breastmilk, went into my bedroom and let my mom give him the bottle. While I was in bedroom, I had prepared to do some thing to keep me busy, such as cleaning my bathroom, sorting laudry, etc. After about 4 heart wrenching hours of hearing him cry, he finally took it. I have to admit it was difficult but having my mom help was extremely helpful. I would also suggest asking your pediatrician for any advice if you haven't already done so. Good luck!
J.

I have heard letting someone else feed her the bottle. That she may be resistant to mommy feeding her, but possibly better for someone esle(in the beginning). I used the Avent bottles and had no trouble switching from breast to bottle.

Hi J.,

Try Born Free bottles or Avent bottles--their nipples seem to be the only ones that my children would ever use. Also, have someone else feed her the bottle if you can. I've noticed with my 6 week old that if she even hears me while she's being fed a bottle, she cries because she would much rather nurse.

Good luck! I feel your pain...I've had one problem after another trying to nurse my newborn daughter, too, but you have to do what's best for both of you.

Sincerely,
Jacqueline

I did both breast feeding and bottle. It makes it easier to get off breast milk later. I like the Doctor Brown bottles for bottle feeding. It should not be one or the other. Continue breast feeding until the baby is about 9 months. My baby was never ill during this time.

L.

I didn't have trouble getting my daughter, now two, to take a bottle, but did have many problems. I used the Playtex VentAire. AS far as the breastfeeding, I finally got everything figured out and did breastfeed her for 13 months. I don't want to add more confusion, just maybe a solution while you are struggling to get her to eat, but... I do know of a great lactation nurse who has a store in Grapevine, "The Nesting Place" who helped me a lot and I can offer lots of advice on different problems and solutions that I faced if you want help in the mean time. I did find that it took a lot less time to breastfeed than to pump and clean all those bottles. I do recommend the bottle as well though so you are not always the one having to feed and miss out on things while doing so. You will work it out and she will be fine! Send me a note if I can tell you my story or help in any way. -T.

Ask your husband or somebody else to feed her. Because if sheel feels and smells is you, she will refuse the bottle since she is used to breastfeeding. Try Dr. Brown bottles. I think they are the best.

Try having somebody else give her the bottle with breast milk with you out of the room. She can smell you and knows you're there so she'd rather eat from you. Also, try an Avent bottle or a Playtex natural, that will be trial and error till you find one that's right for her. And when you are weaning make sure to mix the breast milk with the formula in a 3 to 1 ratio and then 2 to one and then 1 to 3 before switching completely to formula. It'll be far easier on her digestive system and you!

I couldn't get my son to ever take a bottle, but there is a bottle out there that looks and is shaped like a breast. Its soft and has come in handy in this situation. Good luck!

Neither one of my daughters wanted to take a bottle, especially not if it had breast milk in it. With my oldest, I had to use watered down juice bottles and plain cold water in a bottle to get her used to latching on to it. After she got good at latching onto the bottle, I would put formula in it and offer it to her when she was NOT hungry. That way she didn't get angry with the bottle because she was starving and wanted to nurse. After she figured out that the bottle was okay, she started eating formula from a bottle but she never would take breast milk. The whole process took a couple weeks. She was and still is a bit head strong =)
My youngest was a bit easier. She would only latch onto the bottles that come with the Medela pump though. You can buy them at Target. When she was 4 months old, I started working one day a week so I had my babysitter start her on cereal made with breast milk while I was gone. Once she started eating cereal, she started taking the bottle much easier. Again, it took a couple weeks though. Good luck. I know its frustrating and hard!