Hints or Ideas for Getting Baby to use a Bottle

stephysd

My little lady is now 5 months old and I am back to work. She has been going to daycare for the last 6 weeks but for the last 2 she has been refusing to take the bottle from them. Does anybody have any hints, suggestions or tips that I could give the daycare? She was exclusively breastfed prior to daycare with maybe 2-3 bottle feedings. She had been taken the bottle okay up until her 4 month shots and then she seemed to start refusing it. She is at a daycare facility and there are two caregivers in her room during the day. So different people do try to feed her. I know they have even sent her over to the toddler and preschool room to have those teachers try. She'll tolerate a pacifier but does not really like them and completely refuses them at home.

The main baby teacher has been out for a week so I am hoping that things will improve this week (as it seemed with the two teacher aides being in there all day that they just less patient with trying different things). Main teacher asked if they could try some of their bottles to see if she would take a different type (I told her to go ahead as I was going to buy a few different ones this weekend for them to try and loved the idea that this would save me from having to waste money on something she may not like)

I feed her at 7:30am before dropping her off at daycare. I go up and nurse her on my noon hour and then usually pick her up at 5:15pm. Last week, daycare called that she was crying uncontrollable at 2:30pm on Thursday so I took her to have her ears checked (as she had been pretty unsettled Wednesday night for me) and they were fine. Went home with her as daycare was concerned about her crying and she ate and slept for two hours. The only time she had eaten on Thursday was when I nursed her. So I told daycare on Friday to push her trying to take the bottle, but if she is refusing and getting really hungry to call and I could run up and feed her during my 15 minute breaks. She took 4 ounces Friday morning on top of my usually nursing and then I get a call from them at 2pm that she was fussy. I went to nurse her and she ate. Fast forward to Monday (yesterday) and she refused the bottle in the morning, and I get a call at 2:45pm that she is crying again. I go and feed her and she nursed for maybe 7 minutes. She was not really hungry but just starting to get hungry. I dropped her off this morning and the first thing out of the aides mouth was 'So we call you when she gets hungry right?'.... um no. You try to get her to take the bottle and if she gets uncontrollable then you call me. Thankfully the main teacher was there and said that they would work with her and the bottle. I feel now like the aides are not even going to try to give her a bottle.

So thanks for letting me rant... I was really upset with this yesterday. It was the perfect Monday for my incredibly crappy end of the week before. But if you have any hints I could try please let me know. Me and hubby have a weekend getaway planned in two weeks and I don't want her to be a stinker for my mother who will be watching the kids.

DawnieB1977

Unfortunately I've had to supplement with formula early on with all my three due to them losing too much weight, so they never had any problems taking a bottle. However, when my son went to a childminder when I went back to work, when he was 7.5 months old, he point blank refused to take a bottle from her. He never had any interest in food either, so he'd go from 7:30am until about 4:15pm with nothing at all, then when I got him home he'd drink loads!

I think childcare just need to persevere with the bottle, because they can't rely on you to keep dropping everything. They're being paid to look after her. I'd assume if she gets hungry enough she will take the bottle, but if they keep calling you, she'll learn to expect that.

MeepleMuppet

Try another type of nipple. The fact that she took a bottle before months without any trouble, and not liking pacifiers may be her asserting herself regarding preference. Try another brand, shape, or flow. She may be becoming frustrated with slow flow nipples because of increased sucking ability (or vice versa, fast flow is too much and she's frustrated). I also think the daycare is doing her a disservice by continuously switching the routine. She needs to know what to expect and get comfortable with that. They sound incredibly impatient to me!

tinybry

my daughter never took it - but she didn't really need to so I wasn't motivated to keep trying. My son took quite a bit of persuasion (he just loved the breast... !) but we found a quiet space, a softer teat, almost hot milk and distraction through singing and talking to him meant he eventually took it without really realising he was and then he was fine again. Hope she gets there, I know how stressful it is.

lisapr123

I think it's pretty normal to exhibit different behaviors for different caregivers. My daughter was breastfed for a while, but has primarily been bottle fed both formula and breast milk. She started 2x a week day care at 9 months and she barely drinks there. She seems very happy overall....naps well....plays with the other kids...only cries when the big kids leave for school (she's at a home day care). But she doesn't drink much there.

Oddly, though, she eats very well for the sitter and not-so-well for us at home.

I'd suggest staying tough and not running over there (other than the planned lunchtime feeding). That's what my daughters doctor suggested for me, anyway. (I teach about 2 minutes from the sitters house so I, too, could run over there a few times a day). Eventually, she'll come around. Or perhaps it's a good time to have them introduce solids. Maybe she'll take those.

I will add my sis-in-law exclusively breastfed both her kids until 12-13 months. They never took a bottle. She's typically gone nearly 12 hrs each day, with varying shift times. They just ate a lot when she was around....not so much during the day. They're perfectly healthy 3 & 5 yr olds. As long as she's not losing weight, she'll be okay.

stephysd

Thank again for listening to my rant. Update is that she is taking the bottle! Just needed the main teacher back to keep the others in line I guess. First bottle they tried she took after a little bit of coaxing. It has a medium flow nipple so I am going to go get medium flow nipples for her bottles and see if that will help. They are going to keep using that bottle until I can get the new nipples. Went up at noon today and she was still full so we sat and played for my 30 minutes. We had started foods at home, but I want to make sure we are okay with no allergies before I give them the go ahead to start with that food. She's only had it 3 times and most of it ends up on the bib. Plus this gives Daddy a chance to feed and bond with her.

Cheeky_and_Geeky

Glad to hear she's doing better! My daughter refused a bottle. After spending easily $50 on bottles, we found that she took Dr Brown bottles the best. I heard Playtex are good too.

Juslane

Agree with all ladies who said try different nipple I too spent too much money on Medela, Dr. Brown's, and Tommee Tippee
All failed with my daughter. She really likes the Comotomo bottles