New Mommy Needs Help!

[Kaliel]

When she was 2 months, she took the bottle from Daddy and would drink out of it.

Now art 4 months, she won't take the bottle, she won't drink the formula, she just wants mommy.

But, mommy had to go back to work, part time a few hours a week to cover bills and such, so I'm gone for 4-5 hours a night.

How do I get her to eat off the bottle when I'm not there?

I'm starting to get to eat from the bottle when I am there, but the technique really needs to be improved. I pumped breatmilk for her and fed her that, and she cried inbetween swallowing. I think she had an ounce, but she really doesn't like it.

I don't want to have to quit working again for a period of time . . . but it may have to be done to get this thing under wraps.

Any suggestions?

Gosh, I didn't think this would be so hard!

Kailel

[Jenne]

:hugz: Everything I've read about this (my kids were gluttons--any food source ok w/them!) says that with time, she'll get used to it. She'll fight the bottle til she's hungry enough to take it.

Sorry this is so hard for you...hope she learns to take the bottle soon.

[Dove]

... erm ... not that I know anything about feeding new babies ...
But I do have a young neighbor who was having a very similar problem,
She said she just kept trying different nipples on the bottles.

Is it possible (again .. what do I know) ... that maybe she needs something a tiny bit more substantial then just milk.

Maybe she's just not getting enough to satisfy her tummy.
Is 4 months to early to start adding a teensy bit of cereal to the milk?

[Chesna]

Try mixing the formula and breat milk.. start with a higher concentration of breat milk than formula.. or if you are out of breast milk.. start by making it real watery..maybe she'll graduly get used to it.. or could it be the typw of formula she doesn't like it.. but over all I agree with Jenne she'll eat when she's hungry.. if your really worried take her to the dr and talk to them.. it will get better.

Chesna

[BrigidMoon]

I used to breast feed and did so for 3 months. Then, she wouldn't take the bottle. That's normal. I gave her to my mama over the weekend and she got her to make the change to the bottle. I personally couldn't do it at the time because I was so full of hormonnes and she cried wanting the breast it would make me cry!!!!

[Dove]

Here’s a thought …
If you're feeling frustrated, scared, discouraged,
Or maybe even a bit irritated that she’s NOT taking the bottle ….
Maybe she’s picking these feelings up from you,
And unable to process the “what’s wrong” …
Only reacting to what she’s feeling.

[Kaliel]

I can try the cereal, but I can't put it in a bottle, baby book says she might choke on it!

It'll take time, but thanks for the formula and breastmilk suggestion!

[AuroraSilvermist]

I found that using a wide-mouthed bottle did the trick. I swear by Avent bottles (http://store.babycenter.com/product/feeding/bottle_feeding/3932). Some babies seem to like the bottles with the collapsable bags inside, but my kids would never take them. I think experimenting is the key, as Dove said.

[Yvonne Belisle]

I used a combination of experimentation and just waiting till they were so hungry they would drink from the bottle. Something else to do is have whoever is going to be watching her give her the bottle instead of you. She associates you with the real deal and just doesn't understand why you are trying to give her something else. Remember they take comfort from nursing as well as nurishment.

[Kaliel]

I know! I've been so bad, she likes to go to sleep while nursing, and she's just not ready for something else. She used to take it when Daddy gave it to her, but now she doesn't even want that! Arg . . . I also do use Avent bottles, I was told that they're great . . . maybe she doesn't like them.

[BrigidMoon]

I know! I've been so bad, she likes to go to sleep while nursing, and she's just not ready for something else. She used to take it when Daddy gave it to her, but now she doesn't even want that! Arg . . . I also do use Avent bottles, I was told that they're great . . . maybe she doesn't like them.
I used playtex....*shrugs* Not sure.

[FlyingBear]

IMhonestO,

4 months is too young for ceral. Those damn infant cerals can cause some serious constipation issues. My ped pushed them for months, when DD finally tried them she was plugged up something fierce! I asked him about it and our ped just shrugged and said that most of the first foods docs reconmend to infant ends up being the same stuff that gives them constipation. He didn't know why tho....

[Teresa]

Babies are very stubborn about change. Stick to Your guns and try some different type bottles and nipples. Perhaps it is the nipple that she doesnt like. They use different muscles when nursing than when drinking from a bottle too so it will still be a change no matter what. It is going to take time and patience.

[ApollaJade]

I can try the cereal, but I can't put it in a bottle, baby book says she might choke on it!



Psssssssh....it really is OK to put cereal in a bottle..my Aunt accidentally bought a fast flow bottle for my cousin..she took it better with cereal, and it helps make the transition to bottle from breast milk because breastmilk is thicker.

[Shana-chan]

She probably -would- choke on cereal if it was in a bottle (there's a reason they put the warnings in baby books, you know), but that might depend on how long you cook it, too. I would NEVER put anything but liquid into a bottle. For one thing, it will clog the nipple and the baby will just get air and have painful gas and hiccups. ;.;

I think the baby might just miss mommy, since it sounds like you've been gone for a few hours every day. Did this start after you started working or before? Anyways, I just recommend keeping her on the bottle. Make sure you're holding the baby when you feed her, and make sure she really -is- hungry when you're feeding her, too. Are you warming up her formula before you give it to her? If not, that might be why she's not taking it.

Anyhow, just a couple suggestions. I'm not a mommy (although I did raise a kitten before), but I have babysat little ones lots before, and I've taken a couple 'parenting' classes (as the high school called them o.O).

[Dove]

Psssssssh....it really is OK to put cereal in a bottle..my Aunt accidentally bought a fast flow bottle for my cousin..she took it better with cereal, and it helps make the transition to bottle from breast milk because breastmilk is thicker.Yup ...
And as far as cereal in the bottle,
That's the way LOTS of Moms transition babies from milk to cereal.
They start by using just a weensy bit of cereal, mixed with the milk.
Just enough to make the milk less thin.

And from what I understand ...
You just open the hole in the nipple ever so slightly to alow the milk to be sucked through.

I know Mothers use that trick with the cereal.
My only question was in the age.
I'm just not sure if 4 months is old enough.

What about using your computer "search engine" to check out some of this??

[ApollaJade]

no...you dont cook it first. baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad....you put dry cereal in the formula and it dissolves, but it adds the little bit of substance...putting just regular baby cereal in a bottle....no I wouldnt dream of that...

I've taken smart sitter and babysitting courses too..and I have 6-7 years of experience

[ApollaJade]

Yup ...
And as far as cereal in the bottle,
That's the way LOTS of Moms transition babies from milk to cereal.
They start by using just a weensy bit of cereal, mixed with the milk.
Just enough to make the milk less thin.

And from what I understand ...
You just open the hole in the nipple ever so slightly to alow the milk to be sucked through.

I know Mothers use that trick with the cereal.
My only question was in the age.
I'm just not sure if 4 months is old enough.

What about using your computer "search engine" to check out some of this??

ditto..we replied at the same time :)

[Dove]

ditto..we replied at the same time :)*laughing*
Yup .. we did didn't we!! :smile:
Good on us!!
What's that old saying about brilliant minds ???

[ApollaJade]

OT: Great minds think alike :)

[GEBS]

Yup ...
And as far as cereal in the bottle,
That's the way LOTS of Moms transition babies from milk to cereal.
They start by using just a weensy bit of cereal, mixed with the milk.
Just enough to make the milk less thin.

And from what I understand ...
You just open the hole in the nipple ever so slightly to alow the milk to be sucked through.

I know Mothers use that trick with the cereal.
My only question was in the age.
I'm just not sure if 4 months is old enough.

What about using your computer "search engine" to check out some of this??
My son started his cereal at about 6 months but my nephews all started at 4 months. My older brother started at 3 days :eek:
Another note about cereal - The doctor said to start with rice but it always made my boy constipated. He did very well with barley though. If she starts having problems with the rice ask your doctor how soon you can try another type.

I agree with what others have said. Experiment with different nipples and maybe different types of formula.

Good luck to you _pounce_ and don't worry too much. Like someone before me said, she'll eat when she gets hungry enough.

[MorningDove030202]

I would have done it that way too. I tried to work when he was 4 months old, and I was miserable, so I quit. Thank the Gods, that I could nurse for 14 months, and by then he was having sippy cups of cow milk, so when I had to stop brestfeeding cold turkey, he was ok with just milk. He never realy did use a bottle. Boobs are wonderful, until babies have teeth!

Dove


I used to breast feed and did so for 3 months. Then, she wouldn't take the bottle. That's normal. I gave her to my mama over the weekend and she got her to make the change to the bottle. I personally couldn't do it at the time because I was so full of hormonnes and she cried wanting the breast it would make me cry!!!!

[Aowyn]

It seems everyone has pretty much covered all my ideas already although I do remember a type of bottle that might help its called an Adiri bottle. They are shaped just like a breast (the whole bottle not just the nipple).

I had to give my boy some rice cereal in his formula when he about 4 months, he didn't choke. As for preventing clogs all we did was use the next stage nipples and as others have already stated you only put a tiny bit in anyway just enough to thicken it up some this was suggested by both our pediatrician and a nurse friend of mine. I think sometimes that the babycare books think we are all morons that would not be able to gauge the right amount to put in there. We ended up using stage 2 Avent nipples but if she won't go for Avent just keep trying different nipples.

The best way to choose one that is right for her would be to take a long hard look at your own nipples then try to find a bottle with a nipple as similar to your own as possible. Good luck!

[Ravyn Sylverwyng]

It is safe to start feeding a baby infant cereal at the age of six weeks, even though most books will tell you that it isn't safe until the age of two months, or eight weeks. This came from a peditrician that not only has taken care of my children, but was also a neonatal doctor. So, I'm assuming that she knows what she is talking about. You don't put more than a teaspoon of cereal in the bottle to begin with, and they won't choke on it. Once, they get used to it, then you can add milk to the cereal until it is a paste like consistancy and feed it to them. But, another thing that has been mentioned is if you stay away from rice, the baby shouldn't get contipated. Use this only in the case of diareahh (sp?). Oatmeal cereal is safe.

[Amethyst Rose]

One thing that no one has mentioned is that around 4 months the baby has started to notice that here's a world around her. She may not want to eat, because she's too busy looking around her and paying attention to all these new things she can see and process all of a sudden.

On my breastfeeding mailing list, there was always a new mom that complained about her baby not wanting to eat at 4 months. It is important to remember that babies will not let themselves starve. I know that that's hard to remember and to not stress out about, I was there not too long ago and i remember.

Definately try out different nipples...we went through about 5 different kinds... turned out he prefered the Nuk nipples. And you could try a different formula. I don't really think that cereal is necessary.