Scared after previous nipple preference experience!

[Sandstress]

My DD1 never nursed, due to NICU issues- I EPed for her for 16 months.

My DD2 is a good nurser, growing fantastically. I started giving her bottles (few a week) around week 5, and this week (week 11) she has been refusing them. I go back to work in a week.

My question: I'm so afraid of nipple confusion (after previous experience) that I"m afraid to think "out of the box" and try faster flow, smaller nipples, or things like cups, sippies, and such.

Tell me what you did to keep nursing relationship while getting stubborn nurser (she has her own sort of nipple preference!) to eat for daycare provider.

[ewe+lamb]

This sort of situation is far more common that you think!! If you are wanting to avoid confusion i would highly recommend the Medela Soft Cup, it's a great alternative to the every day bottle with artificial nipple - it is a bottle with a cup like nozzle and you can regulate the flow, amount the lot!! I think you can find it on the LLL website or just google I'm sure it'll come up.

Do not be surprised if your little one turns to reverse nursing - nursing more at night rather than the day, you may want to think about co-sleeping if you don't already or at least give yourself the opportunity to work out other sleeping solutions - lying down to nurse is quite an advanced nursing position for babies so if you don't already you may want to practice this. You could give you care provider an item of clothing of yours to hold when it's time for your baby to get their bottle and see if that helps, sometimes it just takes for mamma not to be there for them to take the bottle. Insist to your CP that they don't give a bottle just before you come to collect your little one so that you can nurse as soon as you get there - helps keep up a good supply. I'm sure others will come back to you with lots of other great tips. Good luck and I'm sure it'll all work out fine.