By Sr Teresa Hayward (RN, RM, Lactation consultant, Infant & Paediatric Nutritionist, Baby Sleep Consultant)
Occasionally a baby who is being breastfed will refuse to accept a bottle. This can be especially disconcerting if the mother works outside the home or needs to be away for more than the interval between feedings. Try these suggestions!
Don’t wait too long
Any time after 6weeks is a good time to introduce a bottle. Sooner may interfere with the establishment of good breastfeeding. Waiting too long may result in a baby who refuses the bottle. If you wait until baby is over 3months you will struggle to get them to take a bottle. If you are going to start introducing formula, this should be done at least 1month before going back to work, not the week before.
Too many changes for baby, is not fair on baby, and they will feel stressed and will feel your stress, and fight bottle
Have someone else give the bottle
Many nursing babies won't take a bottle from their mother. The baby can smell her and knows that there is something better at hand. Have someone else give the bottle and the mother may have to leave the room, or even leave the house.
Sometimes an experienced grandmother or day care provider will have success transitioning the baby to the bottle when the parents have been unsuccessful.
Try different holding positions
Some babies take a bottle better cuddled in the nursing position. Others do better in a totally different position. Try propping the baby in your lap with his back to your chest. The baby will see the room while drinking the bottle (don't forget eye contact later); or prop the baby on your slanted forelegs, like in an infant seat, and give the bottle while looking at him.
Give lots of lap time
Using a bottle should not reduce the amount of time that the baby gets being held, cuddled and loved.
Allow the baby time to adjust
Gently stimulate the baby’s mouth with the teat and allow the baby time to become familiar with it.
Try letting the baby play with it like a toy at other than feeding times. Let the baby get familiar with it on his own terms!
Try motion
Sit in a rocking chair or gently sway back and forth.
Try different fluids in the bottle
Some babies prefer breastmilk in the bottle. Some prefer that the bottle contain something other than breastmilk.
Try different times
Anticipate feeding times and try when the baby is not too hungry. Or try when the baby is hungry and might be willing to accept anything. Try putting the bottle in the baby's mouth when he is drowsy or sleeping.
Warm it up or cool it down
Try warming the fluid in the bottle and warm the teat to body temperature. A warm teat feels not too different from the warm breast.
Put it in the refrigerator to chill it down (teething babies like this).
Try different teats
Features to look for in bottle nipples
• Size of the base (wide, medium or narrow)
• Length of the shank (short, medium, long)
• Flow rate (slow or newborn, medium, rapid) Wide base Medium base Narrow base Try medium base, long shank teat with a slow flow first for an average size newborn. For an older or larger baby try a wide base teat with a slow flow. They are usually the best for going back and forth from breast to bottle. Give a variety of teat shapes and materials a try. And be sure to get the baby's jaws over the base of the medium or wide base teat. This is similar to the positioning on the nipple and areola. The baby should be able to go back and forth from breast to bottle more easily when the nipple is used properly. If the flow seems too slow and the baby becomes frustrated, try enlarging the holes in the nipple with a hot needle or purchasing nipples rated for a faster flow. If the flow is too fast, the baby will have a panicked look on his face, cough and sputter, and milk may leak from his lips. Obtain a slower flow teat. Ideally the bottle feeding will take the same amount of time as a typical breastfeeding. That may be 10 – 30 minutes depending on the age of the baby.
Keep trying a variety of strategies, eventually something will work!
If you are still struggling, please feel free to contact a Lactation and feeding specialist. I do bottle training with a lot of moms and babies. As a mom whose daughter refused the bottle, I know the frustration. Feel free to contact me at 0824009501. A consult is R350 which can also be claimed from most Medical aids
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