help teaching 4 m.o. breastfed baby how to occasionally take bottle

[ommom]

hi all,

our sweetie has been exclusively breastfed for 4 mo. now and we've been trying to teach her how to take a bottle so i can occasionally go teach a 1 hour yoga class & return and whoever is taking care of her can respond if she cues for hunger.

we're working our way through different slow flow nipples (avent, playtex, dr. brown's). my husband & a woman at the Y tried and no luck. she ends up crying inconsolably for a LONG time which is heartbreaking.

i just tried for the 1st time w/cuddles during the day when she was slightly but not super hungry and she licked the dripped milk & pushed out w/her tongue and drank maybe .15 oz. then i gave her the boob and she nursed to nap.

any advice, tricks, help to teach a breastfed baby how to take a bottle? i am thinking to stop teaching if she doesn't figure it out soon because she is SO distraught when hungry and i'm gone and caretakers can't respond...

thanks!

[mysticmomma]

syringe, finger feeder, cup and wet nurse are all alternatives.

[ommom]

thank you for the outside the box ideas mysticmama!

[foreverinbluejeans]

I wouldn't risk a bottle for a one hour class. If your baby gets hungry she can waith for you.

[heinz28]

Any other tips, moms?

I'm in the same boat except that I will be gone for longer stretches. My LO took a bottle early on but began refusing it about a month ago. She's 3 months old and we weren't consistent about giving her a bottle. She allows the bottle in her mouth, plays with it, but doesn't really suck anymore.

Also, can you explain what a finger feeder is?

[crayfishgirl]

back-to-work bottle issues

I went back to work 2 weeks ago (after 8 weeks leave...not enough!) and my daughter was taking a bottle like champ during "practice". However, she boycotted it from day 1 of me going back to work. I can be somewhat flexible with my job and live close to work so I have been going home to feed her twice a day (my husband is the at-home parent). However, I can't miss this amount of work on an ongoing basis. We've tried eyedroppers and cups, which FAILED...even when my husband tried when she wasn't really hungry.

My questions are:

1. Is it a matter of her getting hungry enough (which is what her pediatrician says)?

2. Should I try giving her a bottle/cup/eyedropper (instead of my husband, who only offers the bottle when I'm not there)?

3. Are we doing her a disservice by me coming home (i.e. making the transition harder)?

She's 10 weeks now and not a gentle crier....when she's upset she'll turn purple, choke, back arch, the works....and she can carry on in that hysterical state for a long time. Obviously, this is distressing to all of us.

[emmalizz]

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