URGENT! My baby won't take a bottle?!

Nicole mummy

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Hi all, my son is 12 weeks old I exclusively breast feed him and he is a huge 15lb 5oz even tho he has bad reflux and on ranitidine. He has been a nightmare from day 1 basically with everything but breast feeding. He is a little and often feeder and cluster feeds a lot. I'm out at work on Monday which I normally work from home but this is something I can't get out of this time. He refuses bottles, he gags, bites, screams and then he is normally sick. I've tried avent bottles, tommee tippee bottles and like my HV suggested the cheap vary flow pound type ones. I'm starting to now panic as I'm leaving him 9am till 5pm and he never goes more then 2 hours on a good day!! Any advice!!!
 
Have you tried someone else giving him the bottle with you out the room? If he's hungry and your not there he will take it, if a bottle doesn't work try a sippy cup.
 
I have the same problem, my baby is twenty four week old though.

The "if he is hungry he will take it" advice is tripe, so please don't beat yourself up when people say that and he still won't take it.

Everyone has tried to give my son a bottle, me, my husband, my helper, our family, our midwife, my paediatrician, my lactation nurse, our GP, the nurses at the GP clinic, the staff at the hospital feeding clinic, our friends, a perfect stranger in the shopping centre who took pity on me. We have tried every single bottle, every type of teat, we have tried with him sat up, laid down, in his chair, distracting him, with me there, with me not there, milk at room temo, fridge cold, heated up, at night, at day, with the bottle poked through my t shirt, all sorts. But nothing. The feeding clinic staff are amazed by him. He went from 11pm when I nursed him until 4.45pm the following day which we spent at hospital feeding clinic before they finally gave up and had me nurse me. He was starving, and no, a hungry baby won't just take a bottle. If I can't be there and he needs feeding we have to spoon feed which is incredibly time consuming. Or from a big syringe that you can buy at a chemist, sometimes we can drip milk into him that way.

I am not telling you that to discourage you, but to support you. Everyone told me if he is hungry he will take the bottle and then I started beating myself up because he still wouldn't and I must be doing something wrong.

I have just ordered a mimijumi bottle which is our last hope.

Good luck. I hope you can find a solution.
 
My lo is 10 months old and has never taken even one sip from a bottle - he refuses. It's been very difficult at times and I've found this very very frustrating. I'm beginning to feel like all he ever wants from me is bf. he's got two little bottom teeth and has bitten me quite badly a few times, he claws at me in the night and pulls my hair, I'm sore and fed up. I want to stop bf but he won't stop. How can I make him stop? I've bf all 5 of mine and never been in this position! We also co sleep because he refuses to settle or sleep one wink not in my arms or in my bed, I hate it. I hate co sleeping. I've got a 10 month old that dictates what we do!
I'm so so tired, he feeds (what feels like!) all night and all early hours. He then goes to nursery 9-5 there days and I actually look forward to not having a child hanging from my very sore skin. :(
 
Ive been trying to get my nearly 6 month old to take from a bottle too, he refuses. Might take an oz or so but then screams! I don't think there is any miracle advice unfortunately, just a case of perseverance... xxx

tapatalking x
 
Yes my husband, mum, childminder, his big brothers have tried to feed him. I just can't get him to suck even on a bottle. I have even bought all types of dummy's to try and get used to a different texture in his mouth but just gags. The thing is ladies I am meant to be leaving him this Monday for 7 hours I can't expect him to wait that long for a feed he will scream blue murder I am lucky if he goes 2 hours between a feed.
Is cup feeding a 12 week old baby or should I take a syringe in his nappie bag?
My plan today was to nip to mothercare and try all the different types of bottles, I don't believe it will make much difference but I guess it's worth a shot.
I'm self employed (film producer) and sometimes I need to be onset maybe for 5 solid days how are working mums meant to cope if baby won't take a bottle? I just don't understand, it's the same bloody milk! Lol
 
I have the same problem, my baby is twenty four week old though.

The "if he is hungry he will take it" advice is tripe, so please don't beat yourself up when people say that and he still won't take it.

Everyone has tried to give my son a bottle, me, my husband, my helper, our family, our midwife, my paediatrician, my lactation nurse, our GP, the nurses at the GP clinic, the staff at the hospital feeding clinic, our friends, a perfect stranger in the shopping centre who took pity on me. We have tried every single bottle, every type of teat, we have tried with him sat up, laid down, in his chair, distracting him, with me there, with me not there, milk at room temo, fridge cold, heated up, at night, at day, with the bottle poked through my t shirt, all sorts. But nothing. The feeding clinic staff are amazed by him. He went from 11pm when I nursed him until 4.45pm the following day which we spent at hospital feeding clinic before they finally gave up and had me nurse me. He was starving, and no, a hungry baby won't just take a bottle. If I can't be there and he needs feeding we have to spoon feed which is incredibly time consuming. Or from a big syringe that you can buy at a chemist, sometimes we can drip milk into him that way.

I am not telling you that to discourage you, but to support you. Everyone told me if he is hungry he will take the bottle and then I started beating myself up because he still wouldn't and I must be doing something wrong.

I have just ordered a mimijumi bottle which is our last hope.

Good luck. I hope you can find a solution.

I agree with everything you have mentioned I feel the same way and my son would rather starve also as it seems. Thanks for the support. X
 
My lo is 10 months old and has never taken even one sip from a bottle - he refuses. It's been very difficult at times and I've found this very very frustrating. I'm beginning to feel like all he ever wants from me is bf. he's got two little bottom teeth and has bitten me quite badly a few times, he claws at me in the night and pulls my hair, I'm sore and fed up. I want to stop bf but he won't stop. How can I make him stop? I've bf all 5 of mine and never been in this position! We also co sleep because he refuses to settle or sleep one wink not in my arms or in my bed, I hate it. I hate co sleeping. I've got a 10 month old that dictates what we do!
I'm so so tired, he feeds (what feels like!) all night and all early hours. He then goes to nursery 9-5 there days and I actually look forward to not having a child hanging from my very sore skin. :(

This is awful broke my heart to read, have a word with your doctor/health visitor hun. If you have a partner maybe get him to do a few nights so you get the rest you need and you get baby away from breast. You poor thing sounds awful. X
 
I used a syringe for my lo because I was trying to get him used to the taste of formula... I think that would be more of a last resort... which I guess you're kind of at now. Can't comment on the cups as not used one but you could try it? It's frustrating! Hope you find a solution soon... xx

tapatalking x
 
My lo is 10 months old and has never taken even one sip from a bottle - he refuses. It's been very difficult at times and I've found this very very frustrating. I'm beginning to feel like all he ever wants from me is bf. he's got two little bottom teeth and has bitten me quite badly a few times, he claws at me in the night and pulls my hair, I'm sore and fed up. I want to stop bf but he won't stop. How can I make him stop? I've bf all 5 of mine and never been in this position! We also co sleep because he refuses to settle or sleep one wink not in my arms or in my bed, I hate it. I hate co sleeping. I've got a 10 month old that dictates what we do!
I'm so so tired, he feeds (what feels like!) all night and all early hours. He then goes to nursery 9-5 there days and I actually look forward to not having a child hanging from my very sore skin. :(

This is awful broke my heart to read, have a word with your doctor/health visitor hun. If you have a partner maybe get him to do a few nights so you get the rest you need and you get baby away from breast. You poor thing sounds awful. X

My partner is very supportive but the only thing that will sooth the baby is bf and so after my partner has struggled with a screaming baby for a while he ends up handing him back to me! There really isn't anything he can do for lo I suppose. We've tried every bottle on the market, cups, syringes and spoons. We've been to numerous bf groups and advisers who have tried all of their tricks to get lo to take expressed milk with no joy - they're baffled and all out of ideas. He drinks juice between 9-5 and has three solid meals but its like when I'm there and he sees me he won't entertain the cup, he has to have bf. when I come home from work, he'll be sitting happily on dads knee, then he'll see me and start to cry. He waved his arms and struggles until I pick him up then he just claws at me and pulls at my top until he gets bf. I then try to get some tea and get the other kids washed and to bed then its bed for us. He'll usually sleep from around 8-9pm til about 2am then he feeds on and off throughout the night and from around 6am til I have to get ready for work at 8am. I'm exhausted :(
 
It sounds like he reverse cycles hun. I do feel for you.
We co sleep as i wouldnt have the energy to deal with 2 under 2. Only thing i can advise is make co sleeping easy for you ie bedguard on your side or co-sleeper cot(google for ideas how to do it cheaply).
Have you tried asking DBM on FB?
I think its just the case of waiting it out and trying to make it easier for yourself. Do you have a carrier? Will he settle if you carry him on your back? This way breasts arent near but you are and you can do other things.

Tapatalking so cant see signatures
 
I haven't asked on FB, no, that's an idea.
I do use a carrier but I had to put him around the front because he was pulling my hair.
I must admit, I hate the co sleeping, it's really getting to me now but I haven't the energy to struggle getting him to sleep then in and out by the seconds to bf then waiting until he is fast fast asleep before creeping out, scared he would wake. I suppose I made a rod for my own back thinking it would be easier.
 
I haven't asked on FB, no, that's an idea.
I do use a carrier but I had to put him around the front because he was pulling my hair.
I must admit, I hate the co sleeping, it's really getting to me now but I haven't the energy to struggle getting him to sleep then in and out by the seconds to bf then waiting until he is fast fast asleep before creeping out, scared he would wake. I suppose I made a rod for my own back thinking it would be easier.

Try DBM, maybe people will have ideas. I hated co sleeping but now dont mind after making it comfier.
We got him.out of our bed at 10 months but it was a nightmare couple of weeks. I had to sleep in his room and gradually cut down on number of feeds.
I dont know how it will work with reverse cycling though. Big hugs hun, hope you OH is ok
Tapatalking so cant see signatures
 
I haven't asked on FB, no, that's an idea.
I do use a carrier but I had to put him around the front because he was pulling my hair.
I must admit, I hate the co sleeping, it's really getting to me now but I haven't the energy to struggle getting him to sleep then in and out by the seconds to bf then waiting until he is fast fast asleep before creeping out, scared he would wake. I suppose I made a rod for my own back thinking it would be easier.

Try DBM, maybe people will have ideas. I hated co sleeping but now dont mind after making it comfier.
We got him.out of our bed at 10 months but it was a nightmare couple of weeks. I had to sleep in his room and gradually cut down on number of feeds.
I dont know how it will work with reverse cycling though. Big hugs hun, hope you OH is ok
Tapatalking so cant see signatures

Thank you, I think we have some difficult times ahead of us :(
Oh is not too bad, on a chemo break and two monthly reviews :)
 
I bf'ed for 14 months, the whole 'if he's hungry he will take it being tripe' is rubbish as some babies will take it! My lil one would refuse a bottle and would be a nightmare if I was about but when I was out he would take some milk from a cup from DH.
 
It isn't rubbish, it is true. Hungry babies don't always take bottles that is a fact.

And if you say otherwise I will buy you a return air fare to Singapore to come and give my baby a bottle;-)
 
I think all babies are different what works for one will not work for another. I can't seem to get my son to take a bottle no matter what I try. The real test for him is Monday when he will be without me for 7 hours personally I can see me getting a phone call to come and feed him. X
 
Some babies possibly will take it if they are really really hungry but mine won't.
I had to go to London overnight a few months back, I left tonnes of expressed milk. I thought he'd have no choice but to take it if I wasn't physically there. My mum called me to tell me he hadn't drank a drop since I'd left. I raced back in the 7am train. Got back about midday and the baby bf furiously for the rest of the day. He literally took no milk at all while I was gone. At first he was hysterical, then he'd cry himself to sleep, then he was just sad and subdued. My mum found the whole experience really stressful and upsetting. Now everyone refuses to mind him for me :(
 
Awh gosh ladies sounds like a nightmare! I guess I'm "lucky" in the fact that because H has been such s nightmare with bfing he has learned to drink from anything. He's been syringe fed, cup fed, had e different types of bottles & 2 different types of dummys. BUT he will only bf using nipple shields, and refuses the nipple, so swings & roundabouts I suppose!

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 4 Beta
 
My lo is refusing a bottle. He has in occasion, (maybe 4 times) taken a few oz's (3 at most). I've tried avent, tommy tippee and mimijumi. I thought I'd cracked it with the mimijumi as he fed so well the first time I tried then after that he was a nightmare.

Oh has tried feeding him but he just gives up after 2 mins of tears and passes him back to me! Not at all helpful :-(
 

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