How can I switch from breast feeding to bottle feeding? Please help?

Question

I have a daughter of 2.5 months. Since beginning I have been giving her bottle feed once a day but all of a sudden, she has stopped botle feeding. I have to resume work in 3 weeks & situation seems to be difficult. I have tried different t***s, bottles, feeding her from spoon but all in vien. Shew prefers to cry rather than taking bottle feeding . At the end, I have to surrender to her needs. Pleaseee suggest a way out. I am feeling helpless..

Answer 1

You didnt say if you are bottle feeding breast milk or formula.  If its formula, try getting her back on the bottle by mixing in breast milk.  If its already breast milk in the bottle she's rejecting, try having someone other than you give her the bottle.  Sometimes babies will reject the bottle if the alternative (breast) is obviously available.  One other thing to try is to pump as much milk as you can right before your baby's feeding time.  If she tries to nurse and is frustrated by the lack of milk supply, she might be willing to take the bottle.  Good luck!

Answer 2

My baby was exclusively breastfed when I was due back at work. The first few days she refused the bottle and was very thirsty by the time I picked her up. Eventually she understood that when mummy wasn't around, she'd have to have the bottle. She got used to it surprisingly quickly and now takes the bottle no problem. I have known of one lady who's baby wouldn't feed from anything and the baby had to be fed by syringe. This is sometimes the only option until the baby accepts the bottle. You can try a cup as well as some babies quite like this method. Don't worry, it may be a problem for a very short time but it's unusual to persist as a long term problem. If you are breastfeeding and your baby won't drink your milk from another source, she will catch up on feeds when she's with you. That's the beauty of breastfeeding.  

Answer 3

weaning can be quite the challenge, I was there a few months ago, it sounds like she may have a bit of nipple confusion, which really is a pain and sometimes they favour different types of nipples over others.

it also could be that she smells you breast milk and say hey i'm not drinking that when there is something better right there, try getting someone else to feed her the bottle will you only feed by the breast(that's what i had to do till my milk dried up) and also if you have a certain chair where  you normally feed her try feeding her somewhere else; she most likely associates that chair with breastfeeding.

try asking your doctor and/or health nurse if neither works?

p.s. if your using latex nipples try the silicon ones, they are a bit more expensive but sometimes they are worth it. she might not like the taste of latex either.

Answer 4

She is only 2 months old.

This is how children bond with a parent.

At the same time you will have a much more healthy child when you breast feed for awhile anyway.

Its just normal. Rember when there were no bottles, and you had to keep warm around a camp fire?

Well maybe not. neither do I.

But breast feeding is very normal, thats just what they are for.

Answer 5

Oh, just try to stick with it. Hopefully she will get the hang of the bottle. Have you tried the bottles that have nipples designed to mix breast with bottle? I use Avent. But, I only breastfeed for 2 weeks.  

Answer 6

maybe she doesnt like the taste of your milk formula. try switching to another brand, but try to ask your pedia's opinion as to what is the best brand she-he recommends. another thing, maybe the nipple of your feeding bottle is just hard for your baby to grasp. try to check the size, the texture_maybe too hard), etc. i recommend the silicon one. let her get used to bottle feeding.. i know that later on, you can absolutely wean her.  

Answer 7

Awwwww, she really wants to breastfeed. You know, you can still, it will be hard, but I know people who worked full time and would pump on their breaks at work. If you are really against this, Then start by substituting one feeding a day for a bottle. DO NOT give in, if she is hungry enough, she will eat. You have to let her cry, you can't feel bad. Keep substituting more and more feedings until she is completely on a bottle. You can always still keep the night boob feedings since you'll be home with her. Good luck!

Answer 8

What about pumping?  Maybe she's not to keen on the formula you're giving... have you tried switching that?  I've read that some are closer to breast milk than others... on the other hand, maybe she's a bit confused by all the methods you've been trying.  Maybe picking one and sticking with it might be worthwile.  I would probably try a bottle of breast milk.  If she takes it then it's not the bottle itself.  From there I would mix formula with breast milk and slowly reduce the breast milk until she's only on formula.  You could also have someone else feed her the formula.  My cousin was unable to feed her daughter (whom she breastfed) a formula bottle... in the end I watched her for the day and offered her bottles.  She didn't want anything to do with it at first, but she came around in the end.  Probably after she realized breast milk mommy was not there to jump in.  Good luck! =)