She won't take a bottle...

[@llli*star.sapphire]

Help - We can't get DD to take a bottle... We've tried the Breastflow, Avent, Medela, Gerber (basic). She fusses and doesn't want anything to do with it. As suggested, DH has been offering the bottles so she doesn't refuse it just because it's me. Because of timing and DH's work schedule, we've only been able to offer the bottles in the evenings. She's 2 months old today and we've been trying for about a week. Did we wait too long? Now what? We've got another month before I have to go back to work and she goes to daycare. She's got to be able to eat during the 10 hours that I'll be away from her.

Has anyone else faced this? What did you do to overcome it? We've read through the links on kellymom. Maybe we're not offering the bottle correctly? We've done it with me in the house and with me out of the house. Maybe she's too hungry by the time we offer the bottle? Right now, she's eating about every 2 hours or so. Should we offer a bottle after an hour? Quiet room or busy room?

Both DH and I are so frustrated right now... Will we have to resort to a sippy cup? I don't know if the daycare will agree to do regular cup feedings since those take so much more time and there's one caregiver to 4 babies.

[@llli*star.sapphire]

(bump)

Today, I nursed DD and then introduced a Medela bottle with just water to her. I put it to her lips and she didn't do anything with it. I put it in her mouth and she could taste the water because she made a face but wouldn't suck on the nipple.

The Medela nipple looks almost identical to the Gerber nipple except that the Gerber nipple has a slight bulb on the tip.

I would really welcome some suggestions...

[@llli*fitmama]

I wouldn't stress too much. When she's at daycare, she will accept the bottle once she realizes that's the only way she'll get fed. She may fuss about it for a while, but eventually she'll accept it. And don't worry-- she won't starve.

I just had emergency surgery last weekend and DS2 had to take bottles for most of the time I was in the hospital. He protested at first, but he took it when he was hungry enough.

DON'T give your LO water.

[@llli*quickmommy]

We had the same problem with my DD. I never introduced her to a bottle till she was about 2months old and then she would not take it. Her doctor told me to take her and leave her with whomever was going to be watching her when I went back to work. She told me to leave the house and but not to go far just incase. She told me to have the daycare provider to work with her till she took the bottle. She said that the baby could sense me in the house and that was why should would not take a bottle. I thought this sounded silly but it worked. I wasn't even out of the driveway and she was taking a bottle. We have also noticed that she likes the milk very warm like it is when she is nursing. In fact her bottles normally has to be warmed again during a feeding. Good Luck!

[@llli*star.sapphire]

Thanks for the suggestions and words of encouragement, Mamas! We're going to try again tonight after DH gets home from work. I've got 2 bottles with about 1/2 oz each. Hopefully, one of them works, or both!

I went to my LLL meeting today and someone suggested a NUBY sippy cup. Has anyone tried that?