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Infant feeding

How do I get DS to take a bottle again?

5 replies

suzi2 · 05/05/2006 22:34

DS is 9 months. Since he was about a month old he has had a bottle of expressed milk at bedtime. However, a few weeks ago my DH was away for a week and I struggled to express so we had to go back to a boob feed for bedtime. I wrestled DS to take this feed (I seem to have a very slow let down and he's not in the mood for trying hard at bedtime) and after several nights he started taking it although he still prefered a bottle when I had a little milk.

Since I have got him to take a boob feed again, I have taken a more relaxed expressing schedule and what I have expressed has gone into the freezer so I can have a night/day off. I really thought he would always be happy to take expressed milk. BUT it's all gone wrong... DS now won't take a bottle! I've tried it at various times of day. DH and my MIL have tried too. He'll take water from a cup and not milk.

How can I get my night off if he won't take the expressed stuff? Any tips for coaxing him back onto the bottle?

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suzi2 · 06/05/2006 19:36

anyone???

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lummox · 06/05/2006 19:39

what a pain.

have you tried switching very quickly to a bottle in the middle of a breastfeed?

also, have you tried with milk that you haven't frozen? it might taste a bit different. you could go back to the frozen milk once he's used to the bottle again.

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beansprout · 06/05/2006 19:41

I haven't had to deal with this one, so sorry if this advice is rubbish, but if it were me I would use some of the advice that is given when giving a bottle of ebm for the first time i.e. that only dh does it, you are not around to step in etc. Could you try a bottle from you in the day so he gets used to it again but without the pressure of it being bedtime?

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notasheep · 06/05/2006 19:42

sorry i am no use,my ds was the same,he would only have breast and if i went out he wouldnt wake up.

If you are determined you will have to be so strict with yourself,i think he would take it eventually when he is starving but then there is so much emotion to deal with-with ds crying and you wanting to feed him.
Hope you make it

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suzi2 · 06/05/2006 20:25

I can't handle him crying with hunger. A day off isn't worth it for that! It's such a pest as he took one for ages and it's only taken a couple of weeks off for him to get out of the habit. I'll give the non frozen milk a shot though